WEYMOUTH’S young table tennis players had another successful year in the National Cadet League.

Five Weymouth teams entered the four division southern round of the competition based in Southampton, which had been expanded to include more teams from as far afield as Reading.

There was gold medal success for Weymouth D as winners of Division Four, despite starting the day four points behind Southampton D but they ended up four points ahead, helped by a 7-2 success over the Southampton team.

It was a team effort over the rounds with Sam Melhuish, Ted Paul and Jean Baker all finishing with 88 per cent win ratios, well supported by George Ackerley (77) and Ethan Bilsland (66).

There was more medal success in Division Two where Weymouth B finished second to Bournemouth C.

Weymouth B started the day two points behind the Bournemouth team, but a fantastic 6-3 win over their main rivals put the Weymouth side one point ahead with one match still to play.

However, Bournemouth C completed a 9-0 whitewash against another Bournemouth team and Weymouth could only win their final fixture 6-3 to finish two points behind.

Jess Moggeridge was the star of the day with a perfect 100 per cent win ratio and was well supported by Ethan Bingham, Ollie James, Jaimee Browne and Edith Dedman throughout the rounds.

Weymouth A went into the final day’s play with a good chance of a medal in Division One, but were missing their top player from the round before, Tom Lydford.

Ethan Bingham was promoted from the B team and together with Jed Brackenridge and Ben Howe they were involved in some superb hard-hitting matches.

They just missed out on the medals to finish third behind Winchester and overall winners Southampton A, who thoroughly deserved their victory.

Weymouth C played in Division Three and ended the tournament in third place on 32 points just behind Southampton B, the two teams played a closely fought 3-3 draw in the final round with Richard Lane starring by winning both of his matches.

Lane finished with an 80 per cent win ratio, Ella Stanton (65%) and Sophie Storey (40%).

Weymouth E, comprising of Lewis Sumption, Joe Bingham, Holly Calton and Tom Hepburn, also competed in Division Four and finished third picking up some excellent points with improved performances in the final day’s play to end up 14 points ahead of Generation II B.

New players aged eight to 15 are now welcome to join the squads for training for next season’s competitions, which begin in October.

Contact Andy Millar for further details (a.millar212@gmail.com or 07710507075).