The Official Website of the British No.1 and Triple European Champion
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UNDER 21 MEN’S GOLD 12 Mar 2010 Friday started as expected, Paul easing his way through the group stages before meeting his first real match in the quarter finals in the form of Derbyshire’s Liam Pitchford – the man of the moment in many people’s eyes who has recently climbed into the top ten of the European Junior Boys rankings. The match was a superb spectacle but despite Pitchford playing some great attacking shots, Paul was able to soak up the pressure and counter with his own brand of attacking table tennis to move to a relatively comfortable 3 – 1 win. In the semis Paul opponent was another young and much improved player – Hamsphire’s Matthew Ware. Matt got off to a great start, playing up and with nothing to lose he managed to take the first game before Paul’s extra experience under pressure saw him edge the 2nd at deuce. After winning the 3rd 11 – 4 the match seemed to be heading the same way as the earlier Pitchford encounter, but Ware played worked incredibly hard and managed to take Paul to a deciding fifth end. However on this occasion Paul was able to move up an extra gear, utilising his extra touch and variation around the net followed up by strong opening shots to cruise to a confident 11 – 7 win to move into the final. The final saw Paul take on Gavin Evans, another fantastic young player who has really came back into form of late and not an easy opponent – Gavin is one of Paul’s closest friends on the circuit but certainly knows how to fight! The first game saw Paul really find his best game for the first time all day; he barely put a foot wrong beating Gavin 11 – 0 with almost every shot being either a strong third ball attack from behind his service or a re – loop from an Evan’s opening. The rest of the match was never going to be that easy, and Gavin fought and managed to rally extremely well to take the second and third games after some spectacular table tennis. A slip in the fourth game was to prove the turning point in the match. After retrieving what seemed like an endless stream of smashes from the Evans forehand, Paul threw himself across the court and into the barriers attempting to return a wide angled drive – he landed awkwardly and for a moment it looked like the match might have to end prematurely. Fortunately (for Paul at least!) he was able to play on after a minutes respite, and managed to impose his power play onto Gavin to take the fourth to set up a fifth and final end showdown, Paul’s improved service playing a key part in enabling him to move in strongly with well placed third ball attacks. The fifth game promised to be a battle from the first stroke and didn’t disappoint. Gavin fought to the last and showed some real signs of improvement but after trailing two points from the very beginning of the end Paul did not relinquish the lead, again serving well and moving into the table to play some awesome cross court backhand topspins that had the crown gasping. Paul finished the match strongly and took the title 11 – 8 for the second consecutive year. |
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