Matt joins an exclusive table tennis club (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Matt joins an exclusive table tennis club

5:00pm Thursday 28th January 2010

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MATT Wright became only the fifth player to take the Clacton and District League’s handicapped singles trophy on more than one occasion – and he’s still only a junior.

Reprising his success of 2006, 16-year old Wright (+1) produced an outstanding performance which belied his modest league form to overcome the challenge of another gifted junior, 13-year old James Denyer, (-6) 10-12, 11-1, 11-9, 12-10.

Despite his handicap disadvantage, Denyer refused to compromise his natural free-flowing style, but Wright responded with a fine counter-attacking display interspersed with top-drawer, hard-hitting winners – including a couple of rare backhand gems.

It produced a final of high quality and entertainment between the two outstanding players on the day, with the ever-improving Wright earning the plaudits as a deserved winner and Denyer enhancing his reputation as a talent of the future.

On his way to the final, Wright had disposed of Tony Edmonds, reigning champion Tony Oswick, Mike Vilka, Jason Gale and, in the semi-final, Mark Gale, the only match in which Wright was taken to a fifth set in the whole tournament.

Denyer (-3) had a tough first match, beating Annabelle Rodriguez (+1) 12-10 in the decider, before breezing past Chris Petrou and Neil Crook and then winning his semi-final in four against one of the tournament’s surprise packages, Adam Wilkin.

For a full report and pictures from the competition, see this week's Clacton Gazette.

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