The second annual clash of the Weymouth and Portland District Table Tennis League and its Blackmore Vale counterpart took place at the Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre on Friday 30th March 2007. Last year's event (the first to be held) was played out in Weymouth and Portland's territory at Dorchester and saw the then home district run out victors by the end of the evening. As a result, the Blackmore Vale contingent had its mind on levelling the score when this year's match got underway at 7.30pm at the Stur' Centre. At the higher end of proceedings, Weymouth's extremely able lady player Isobel Teruel did battle with four first division men from Blackmore Vale - Clive Cornford: Adrian Grimstone: Karl King and Julian Joynes. Ms Teruel succeeded in beating all four of her male opponents, 3-0: 3-0: 3-1 and 3 -2 respectively - a very impressive performance. The overall result in this group was 33 legs to 29 in favour of Weymouth and Portland.

By the end of the evening, Blackmore Vale did in fact succeed in turning the tables on last year's outcome, but the more important thing was the good spirit from every participant which underpinned the match, ensuring the entire event was convivial and enjoyed by all. An excellent array of sandwiches was laid out in the Football Club after the match which was greatly appreciated by all who dropped by for a relaxing post-match half hour. Many thanks to Blackmore Vale's organisers - we very much look forward to next year's event when the two district leagues will meet once again to engage in another battle royal The remaining Blackmore Vale players from the other four groups however, fared better with the final result coming in at 170 legs to 110 to Blackmore Vale. The Vale's Peter Anderson had a full-stretch tussle with Weymouth's Brian Roberts when he just managed to pip Brian 12 -10 in the fifth and final leg. Competitors from Blackmore Vale's group 4 acquitted themselves very well overall, lotting up an impressive 48 legs to 8 win over their Weymouth and Portland rivals. And when Ronnie Shaw (Blackmore Vale's group 5) got off to a slow start against the capable young Alex Ryall, going behind 11 - 9: 13-11 in the first two legs, he dug deep to win the next three 12 -14: 4 -11 and 5 -11 to help his group run in a 37 -18 leg victory overall.

05 April 2007 : Gary Gray

Blackmore Vale Group 2007

Weymouth Group 2007