Sports News

Table Tennis Zone 7 Finals, 15.01.22

On Saturday 15th January, the boys under 11 and girls under 11 table tennis teams went to Morpeth School, Tower Hamlets to represent Greenway at the English Schools Table Tennis Butterfly National Team Championships Zone 7 Finals.

In the boys under 11 category there were 6 teams split into 2 group stages. The team would play each other in their groups with the winners and runner up in each group progressing to semi-finals to determine the finalists.

Greenway got off to a flying win in their first round of matches winning 7-1 against their first opposition. Strong performances from Lucas and Daniel W set the team up well and these were then backed up quickly with comfortable wins from Alf and Toby. They would now face the other team in their group to determine if they would progress as runners up or winners. After a difficult round of matches, Greenway progressed through as runners up having lost 5-3 to the next school. This included a huge comeback performance from Lucas against the opposition rank 1. He came from 2 sets down to take the match 3-2. Although Greenway were defeated this time, all of the boys fought hard; ensuring each set was tight and each match even tighter. This meant they would face the winners of the other group.

In their semi final, Greenway came up against some very strong opposition. Greenway continued to battle hard and tried everything they could. This was probably the best they had played all day, as they raised their game to standards that I think even shocked themselves. In the end, they were defeated by the eventual winners of the event but not without making it a tough ride for their opponents.

This boys team are now the most successful Greenway boys under 11 table tennis side have ventured farther than any previous team. It was a fantastic effort from all and terrific to see them reach the semis at the first ever time of asking. Well done to Lucas, Daniel W, Alf, Toby and Ben H for their terrific efforts. It was great to see how hard they battled to make every opponent work as hard as they could for every point.

Meanwhile, the girls under 11 side had the pleasure of playing on Morpeth’s London 2012 Olympic Tables. Tables worthy of the phenomenal play we saw all day. The Greenway girls came determined and soon got to work.

In their first matches of the day they got off to a flying start, defeating St John’s CE 8-0 including a hard fought display from Clemence against the St John’s rank 1 which went down to the final match.

Next up was Culverstone Green which proved to be a tighter affair. However, the Greenway Girls proved to be too much again coming out 8-0 winners. A notable match this time from Ava as she dropped her first match 16-14 but then blew her opponent away with 3 quick matches; 11-0, 11-4 and 11-3.

Lastly was the highly anticipated Earls Hall; a formidable force on the table tennis national stage in the under 11 boys and girls categories. Greenway knew this would be a tough round of matches. Riley battled back from a set down to win 3-1, Lucy also played phenomenally in a tough game which saw her come out on top 3-2 and Annabel H continued her winning streak after a dropped set of her own to win 3-1. The final score, 7-1, which meant Greenway were crowned the zone 7 winners again for the 3rd time. This means Greenway go through as Zone 7 winners to the Regional finals (National Semi Finals/Last 16) in Bristol in February. A win here would seem them through to the national finals and top 4 in the country.

Well done to Riley, Clemence, Lucy, Annabel and Ava! Fantastic resilience on show from all and a strong mindset. On to the next round!