TWO former champions have won through to the last four of this season’s Stafford Table Tennis league men’s singles.
In the qualifiers at Stafford Leisure Centre on Sunday a total of nine events were contested, including the Stan Edwards men’s singles, where former champion Zia Khan won through to play Colin Burgess.
The other semi-final will feature another previous champion Adrian Hough who will face the up and coming Jake Westwood.
In the men’s doubles, Westwood and Khan combine to face Gareth Dunn and Burgess. The veterans final features the current holder Hough against Khan.
The over 60’s competition enters its second year and will see a new name on the trophy as Cyril Merriman takes on Graham Fairhall.
In the ladies’ singles event the current and twelve times holder Alison Phillips will be up against last year’s beaten finalist Varaya Meredith.
Last year’s defeated finalists in the mixed doubles, Hough and Phillips, meet Westwood and Meredith, while the ladies’ doubles sees Phillips and Alice Maud take on Meredith and Emily Pinnell.
The handicap singles sees Westwood play in his fourth event of the night against Kieran Jones. In the handicap doubles the father and son combination of Dave and Will Ferry take on Dunn and Phillips.
Finals night is at the league headquarters, Burton Manor Sports and Social Club, on Saturday with matches starting at 7pm.
On the league front, Stone B went down 9-1 to second place Manor Vikings, before gaining a crucial point in a draw against Lea Hall B. Westwood was unbeaten for Lea Hall.
The Vikings went on to defeat Manor Defenders 6-4 as Dunn won six out of six and Burgess five. There were maximums for Will Ferry and Hough as Manor Marauders defeated St Leonards B 7-3.
Burntwood Community have moved joint top with St Leonards A in division two with a 10-0 win against St Leonards Villains and a 5-5 draw with County Officers A, for whom Nigel Cotton won three.
Saints A retained a share of the lead with a 6-4 victory over St Leonards E, with doubles form Barry Hughes, Jim Kelly and Alistair Tallis.
St Leonards Bullets maintained a three point advantage in division three after whitewashing County Officers E. Officers B overcame their own C side 6-4, as Chris Wells picked up a treble.
Weston Pioneers claimed a fourth league success with an 8-2 result against Weston Voyagers as Roger Peet won his three.
In group B of the handicap cup, Weston Pioneers won 5-4 against Officers D.
