Star Paving Services North Norfolk Table Tennis LeagueTHE league got into full swing with the first round proper of the Knockout Doubles Cup.The Sharks trio of Keith Register, Phil Baker and Nigel Hayward-Surry had booked their place in the last 16 at home to Alpha's Dennis Elliott, Dave Johns and new signing Ivan Hewitt.

Star Paving Services North Norfolk Table Tennis League

THE league got into full swing with the first round proper of the Knockout Doubles Cup.

The Sharks trio of Keith Register, Phil Baker and Nigel Hayward-Surry had booked their place in the last 16 at home to Alpha's Dennis Elliott, Dave Johns and new signing Ivan Hewitt.

Elliott and Hewitt won a tough opener 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-8 over Register and Hayward-Surry. After that, the Alpha team pulled away at crucial times while the Seaflames trio had an off night. The Alphas soon booked their quarter-final berth.

Register and Baker got their act together to win a dead rubber in five over Johns and Hewitt, but Alphas won 5-1.

Cromer Tennis Club saw the Aces team of Geoff Long, Clive Smith and Ron Povey host the Beta line-up of Chris Johnson, Matt Robinson and Philip Stone. Long and Povey squandered three set-points in the first and a 5-2 lead in the third as Johnson and Robinson won the opener 16-14, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9 and soon Beta were 3-0 up in the tie.

The fourth battle saw Smith and Povey take a 6-0 lead in the fifth decisive set, but Johnson and Robinson - who had blown three set-points in the third set - took the next four points before levelling at 7-7.

However, Aces took their first point with a 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 win. In the sixth battle Robinson and Stone fought back from two sets down against Long and Smith to win in five and close out Beta's 5-1 win.

The new venue of Gimmingham Village Hall made its debut as Specials Jonathan Care, John Miller and John Short hosted one of this season's new teams, the Barracudas. Seaflames regulars Derek Philpott and Rod Hill lined up for the visitors and were joined by Nigel Pegg, making his return to the league after a year out.

The closest match saw Miller and Short defeat Hill and Philpott 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 14-12 but it was a case of the Seaflames pairings improving through the night, while overall the Specials were too strong as they won the tie 6-0.

At Hunworth two matches took place simultaneously at the new venue of the village hall as new team Poachers (Barry Evans, John Chevette and Andy Wood) hosted the Deltas (Phil Mole, Jamie Carter and Edna Stone). This was an exceptionally close match with the Deltas 5-1 win including a 11-5, 18-20, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 win for Carter and Stone over Chevette and Wood.

One of the biggest characters in the league's 45 year history made his return to the tables after several years absent as Haken Bennell teamed up with fellow Outlaws John Hancock (Jnr) and Colin Humphreys for a 5-1 win over the Cobra line up of Alex Spragg, Adam Brown and John Vaughan. Four matches went to four sets.

Sidewinders raced to a 5-0 win for the loss of just one set against Pirates and the other two ties in the round were postponed.

Knockout Doubles Cup round one: Sharks 1, Alpha 5; Aces 1, Beta 5; Specials 6, Barricudas 0; Poachers 1, Delta 5; Outlaws 5, Cobras 1; Pirates 0, Sidewinders 6.

Knockout Doubles Cup quarter-finals draw: Sidewinders v Beta, Specials v Delta, Seals/Dolphins v Alpha, Outlaws v Goblins/Crosscourts.