MORE than 50 players in three age groups demonstrated the strength of junior table tennis in South Dorset as they contested the inaugural Weymouth & District League’s schools’ tournament.

Dorset development coach James Lewis attended and was very impressed with the standard of entrants at the Redlands Sports Hub, with representation from Budmouth College, Wey Valley, All Saints, Chickerell, Holy Trinity and St Osmund’s.

The under-13 boys’ event was certainly the most competitive section with 26 entrants enjoying play in six round-robin groups, with the group winners progressing to the quarter-finals stages alongside the two best runners-up.

Eventually, Ethan Gear edged out fellow Holy Trinity pupil Luke Dadds in the first semi-final, where five closely-fought sets umpired by school mentor Phil Horne ended with a 17-15 triumph for the former.

However, there was to be another five-set thriller in the second semi – this time Dominic Webb just getting the better of Jamie Blair 11-8 in the fifth but Blair, two years younger, had worked Webb hard with a number of forehand winners.

Later Webb finally took the honours as he outwitted Gear 3-1 in the final while in the girls’ under-13 event Budmouth’s Snigdha Maganti (a semi-final winner against St Osmund’s Lottie Small), who regularly attends coaching sessions at Wyke Community Hall, showed her greater experience in a 3-0 triumph over St Osmund’s Emma Samways, who had defeated Megan Dean in her semi-final.

The boys’ under-16 event saw Budmouth duo Tom Cherry and Sam Millar emerge from the qualifying groups unbeaten while under-16 girls’ champion Lily Cherry also qualified for the semis where she was just overhauled by Millar 3-0 with two of the sets ending 12-10.

Tom Cherry got the measure of Bradley Webb 3-0 in the other semi – 14-12 in the third set – to set up an all Budmouth B final with Millar.

The pair had already met twice in tournaments earlier in the season and with the record standing at one win apiece it was sure to be a closely fought match. But this time the honours went to Millar in three sets – the third ending 14-12 in his favour.

Elsewhere, in the under-19 category, Weymouth League Division Three champions George Cunningham and Tim Austin of Budmouth both led the way and it was no surprise to see the pair meet in the final with the former taking the honours with a 12-10 final set victory.

Sports development officer Ben Heath from Weymouth College, who had kindly hosted and sponsored the event, presented trophies to all the finalists while Lewis congratulated all the players on the standard of play and their sportsmanship.

* The Weymouth & District League, together with Redlands, are collaborating to create more opportunities for young players.

Coaching and practice currently takes place on Monday and Thursday evenings and anybody who is interested in taking part can contact development secretary Andy Millar on 772743 or email a_millar@tiscali.co.uk