Coard is the king

Coard is the king

10 October 2012

ANNAHILT number one Roy Coard won the Liam Polly Cup singles competition, the first of the Lecale Table Tennis League’s charity events, by beating the former twice winner Martin Pickles in a final over four sets.

On his way to the final, Coard was in supreme form with his opponents struggling to get to grips with his powerful hitting from both wings.

With holder Jack Cash unavailable due to work commitments and Peter Clarke a ‘flu victim, Coard and Pickles seemed the most likely candidates for the title.

In Group 1, Pickles finished in top spot without ping a game, although Joe McConville should have taken the first game after leading 7-2 before going losing 12-10, 11-9, 11-9. McConville also found St John’s star Vincey Poland in tremendous form and lost in four sets.

While Coard comfortably won Group 2 in first place — despite struggling shaking off the challenge of spin master Jim Sterling in a tense five-setter — Peter Doherty, Sterling and Philip Cullen, making a welcome return to competitive play, were left to battle it out for the second spot which Sterling eventually secured.

Barry Dickson finished top of group 3, with Garrett Cullen in second spot. Megan Mc Manus can feel pleased with her performance in a tough group which also included new team mate Noel Breen who on this occasion gave a below par performance.

Jim McStravick was favourite to win his group, but found Jay McAllister in defiant mood form and needed five games to see of the Killyleagh legend. Mark Cullen looked impressive in his first outing of the season, taking McAllister all the way before going down in five, while Arnold Morgan showed good form in all his matches. Anne Poland can also be pleased with her efforts against strong opposition scoring well in all her games.

In the first quarter-final, Cullen took the third game off Martin Pickles before losing in four. McStravick saw off the challenge of Jimmy Sterling in straight games. Vincey Poland, who was delighted to be at this stage in a major competition, also lost in straight games to Barry Dickson, while Coard’s power was too much for McAllister and he too won in 3 games.

McStravick always fancies his chances Martin Pickles, but at 2-1 down the De La Salle No. 2 decided that he had had enough of trying to play his opponent at his own game, a tactic which was never going to succeed, and threw in the towel.

Team mates Coard and Dickson knows each other so well that this one was always going to be close. Coard won the first 11-7, Dickson the second 11-9. The next two games were equally close, before Coard booked his final place by coming home 11-8 in both.

In the final Coard quickly raced into a two-game lead with patient build up play and selected forehand smashes. Holding two match points in the third, he let his opponent off the hook and lost 13-11.

In the fourth he quickly pickled up where he had started and built up a commending lead. Although the former champion continued to narrow the gap, Coard came home 11-8 for his first Lecale title.

The organising committee would like to thank all competitors for their participation and generous donations for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Appreciation is also extended to Peter Deeny for his usual faultless display at the referee’s table and De La Salle High School for staging the event.

• The Lecale League programme kicks off for the senior division on the week commencing October 15 and for the intermediate division on the week commencing October 22. Fixtures can be found on the Lecale League website.