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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 131

National Table Tennis Finals
17/05/2008
(National Competition, UK Finals)

Knocknamuckley travelled to Kirkham, near Blackpool in England for the UK National Table Tennis Finals. They were up against five other companies from around the UK; 1st Burton in Kendal, 44th Glasgow, 1st Grangemouth, 48th London and 11th Northampton. The teams were split into two groups of three, the top team in each group meeting the second placed team from the other group in the semi finals, and the two teams finishing bottom of each group playing in a 5th/6th place play-off

The draw paired Knocknamuckley with Glasgow and London in Group 2.

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a 6-3 or greater win, 2 points for a 5-4 win, 1 point for a 4-5 defeat, and 0 points for a 3-6 or greater defeat.

Group 1

1st Burton in Kendal 9 v 0 11th Northampton
1st Grangemouth 9 v 0 11th Northampton
1st Grangemouth 7 v 2 1st Burton in Kendal

1st Grangemouth 6
1st Burton in Kendal 3
11th Northampton 0

Group 2

v 44th Glasgow
(Group Stage)

Knocknamuckley's first game in the National Final pitted them against the champions from 2005, 44th Glasgow. The first set of games went strongly in the Scottish sides favour as they won all three matches, all by the scoreline of 3-0.

1st Round 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 3 44th Glasgow

Glasgow were firmly in control going into the next set of games, and despite the best efforts of Stephen Russell, Andrew Poole and Gregg Harrison, who managed to win a set, they were unable to turn the match round, as Glasgow again won all three games, and with it the match and all three points.

2nd Round 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 6 44th Glasgow

In the final set of games Glasgow again showed their undoubted quality as they completed the whitewash to win the game with an emphatic scoreline, again only Harrison being able to pick up a set against very strong opposition.

Final Result 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 9 44th Glasgow

44th Glasgow 8 v 1 48th London

v 48th London
(Group Stage)

Needing a win against 48th London to progress out of the group and into the semi-finals Gregg Harrison got Knocknamuckley off to a convincing start with a 3-0 win, the companies first win of the Finals so far. London won the other two games in the round against Stephen Russell and Andrew Poole to lead 2-1.

1st Round 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 2 48th London

The second round of games began with a defeat for Stephen Russell. Andrew Poole managed to defeat his opponent, for his first win of the tournament so far. Gregg Harrison narrowly lost out 3-2, in a match which could have pulled Muckley level.

2nd Round 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 4 48th London

Knocknamuckley were left with everything to do, needing to win the final three games to progress to the semi finals. Despite their best efforts they weren't able to do this, as Harrison lost 3-1 and Russell lost 3-0. On a brighter note Andrew Poole was able to continue where he left off in the last match and get his second win from three in this tie.

Final Result 1st Knocknamuckley 3 v 6 48th London

44th Glasgow 6
48th London 3
1st Knocknamuckley 0

The defeat against 48th London meant that Knocknamuckley missed out on a place in the semi-finals and instead entered the 5th/6th place play-off against the team who finished bottom of the other group, 11th Northampton.

The afternoon saw the knockout matches take place. In each game the first team to reach five wins won the match.

Semi Finals

1st Grangemouth 5 v 0 48th London
44th Glasgow 5 v 2 1st Burton

Play-offs

3rd/4th Place Play-off-
1st Burton 5 v 1 48th London

v 11th Northampton
(UK 5th/6th Place Play-off)

After a long season 11th Northampton were the opponents in the match which would decide whether Knocknamuckley were the 5th or the 6th best table tennis team in the United Kingdom. The game got of to a good start for the side representing Northern Ireland, as Andrew Poole won his game 3-0 to continue his fine form, Gregg Harrison won in a deciding set 3-2, while Stephen Russell lost out to his opponent, giving Muckley a lead of 2-1.

1st Round 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 1 11th Northampton

The second round of games saw Stephen Russell defeat his opponent 3-0, while Harrison lost out by the same scoreline. Poole was also defeated, drawing the scores level.

2nd Round 1st Knocknamuckley 3 v 3 11th Northampton

In the deciding set of matches the two sides entered all square. Andrew Poole lost his match, leaving Harrison and Russell needing to win to claim the win for Knocknamuckley. Harrison won his game, with the match going to a deciding set. Russell who had led his opponent 2-0 was pegged back to 2-2. In the decider the player from Northhampton kept his momentum going to scrape home 3-2, and give the win to 11th Northampton.

Final Result 1st Knocknamuckley 4 v 5 11th Northampton

Final-
44th Glasgow 5 v 0 1st Grangemouth

44th Glasgow were awarded with the trophy after a fine performance throughout the final, which saw 27 wins out of 30 games.

A 6th place finish is not what the Knocknamuckley side had hoped for, but they acquitted themselves well in the finals, to finish 6th out of all the companies in the United Kingdom is a very noteworthy achievement, they have definitely done themselves, the company and their coach, Donald Moneypenny proud.

Team: Harrison, Poole, Russell.

Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 131

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