TABLE TENNIS - BUCS Silver medal for Cambridge
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Cambridge gained entry to the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) semi-final after coming second in the BUCS Premier South league, and defeating Warwick 10-7 in the quarterfinal.
Raphael Assier, Shaun Hall, Jan Natolski, Hamish Yeung and physiotherapist Tabea Selbmann were to take on Nottingham in the semi-final. Natolski and Assier had problems against top two Mark Simpson and Job Phoenchoke, giving Nottingham a 2-0 lead. Yeung and Hall fought back, both winning 3-1 against James Berry and Navinder Matharu respectively. Phoenchoke’sexplosive forehand proved too difficult for Yeung and Natolski, not helped by Natolski’s battle with the referee for foul serving. Hall battled with Phoenchoke, and produced a classic block down the line to win 11-9 in the fifth. Assier also battled with Phoenchoke in a crucial match that ended in a deuce in the fifth loss after an unbelievable series of edge balls, whilst Hall lost his match to Simpson 3-0. Natolski cruised to a 3-0 victory against Berry and a 3-1 victory against Matharu. Yeung beat Matharu 3-1 and showed promise against Simpson and Phoenchoke but lost 3-1 and 3-2 respectively. Hall had no problems against Berry, winning 3-0.
Assier grafted a win against Berry 3-2, and the score was Cambridge 8 – Nottingham 7 when Assier played Matharu. Tension reached an all time high and the Sky Sports microphone and camera increased the pressure further. Assier didn’t disappoint, bravely going for a big forehand topspin to take the game 11-9 in the fifth. Result: Cambridge 9 – Nottingham 7.
In the other half, London Met turned up with only two players and David Meads beat Ashley Willets 3-2 to clinch the victory for Loughborough.
In the final, Assier and Natolski were first up against England numbers 9 and 13 Tim Yarnall and David Meads. Assier raised his game appropriately to take the first game against Yarnall, but Yarnall went on to take the next three. Meads was also too strong for Natolski and won 3-0. Yeung gave a strong effort against number three Mark Armstrong but lost 3-1, whilst Hall had no problems against Chris Dukes, winning 3-0. Natolski followed with a 3-1 win against Dukes, and Armstrong was too powerful for Assier, winning 3-0. Hall defeated Armstrong in a very verbal but entertaining 3-2 battle. Yeung beat Dukes 3-2 but Hall lost 3-0 to Meads and Yarnall, as did Yeung and Natolski. Result: Cambridge 4 – Loughborough 9.
Highlights of the BUCS Table Tennis Finals will be shown on Sky on the 7th April 2010.
