Press Report

Luca Mariano, a member of the Eastlea Wanderers Community Table Tennis Club in Canning Town, as well as a member of the Newham Sports Academy in Stratford dominated the play at the Essex Closed Tournament on Sunday 14 January 2007, at the BATTS Club in Harlow. Luca took no less that three titles, annexing the Under 18 Boys Singles, the Under 15 Boys Singles and the Under 18 Boys Restricted Singles.

Luca's success in the Under 18 Boys Singles was the real high-light as it was the least expected of his three wins and he earned his success the hard way. He needed five games to dispose of George White (Becontree) in round one (11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7) and although he beat Lawrence Wilcox (Colchester) 3-0 in the Quarter-Final the scores were very close : 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 to be precise. Luca came through his Semi-Final by beating Robin Onyelekere (Becontree) 11-2, 11-13, 11-6, 11-4 which set him up for a clash against the higher ranked Greg Green (Colchester) in the Final. Greg had impressed by beating Bradley Hudgell (Chelmsford) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 in his Quarter Final and he came past Joe Stannard (Havering) 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7 after a very closely fought Semi-Final encounter. Stannard had earlier scored a fine 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8 victory over second seed Anil Vekeria (Ilford) whilst Vekeria had also made his mark when he was a narrow first round winner against Andrew McEwan (Braintree) 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9.

Greg Green looked to be heading towards the title as he built up a two-nil lead in the Final but Luca hit back strongly and after a really hard-fought encounter it was Luca who finally came through to win 10-12, 8-11,11-9, 12-10, 11-8.

Luca's great day saw him take the Under 15 Singles title as well (without the loss of a game) as he disposed of Ishaan Sood (Becontree), Jack Weir (Becontree), Chris Penrose (Romford) and Alexander George (Harlow) 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 in the Final. George's route to the Final had been somewhat more difficult and he needed all his cunning to see off Robin Onylekere 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 20-18 in his Quarter-Final, after the closest match of the day. George had another real "hum-dinger" to contend with in his Semi-Final and he just prevailed 11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8 against second seed Anthony Kent (Becontree).

The Chelmsford girls Hannah Pitt and Stevie Pell dominated the Girls events with Stevie taking the Under 18 title by beating Sara Akata (Becontree) narrowly 11-2, 15-13, 11-9 in her Semi-Final and her Chelmsford team-mate Hannah 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 in the Final, her first win over the higher rated Hannah. In her Semi-Final Hannah had beaten Claire Austin (Chelmsford) 11-4, 12-10, 11-4. Hannah had her revenge in the Final of the Under 15 Girls Singles and this time she beat Stevie 12-10, 11-9, 8-11,

11-6 after a very evenly contested match.

Top seed Philip Lawson (Braintree) dominated the Under 13 Boys Singles with wins over Jack Baker (Becontree) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 and Alex Donkor (Eastlea School) 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 in the Semi-Final. This set him up for a Final clash against James Austin (Chelmsford) and he came through over four ends to win : 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4. Austin had previously done well to beat Aaron Horton (Harlow) in his Semi-Final 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6. Donkor who has only been playing ten months showed real tenacity to edge out Sukrit Sood (Becontree) 11-13,.5-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-7 a round earlier.

A tired Luca Mariano completed what for him was a superb day by adding the Under 18 Boys Restricted Singles title to his other two trophies. This time he came past Christopher Bragg (NETTS) 11-7, 11-7, 14-12 and George White (11-9, 11-7, 11-6) whilst Philip Lawson proved a "difficult nut to crack" in the Semi-Final. Luca needed four games before he eventually won 11-3, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4. The Final was also close and Luca must have been somewhat relieved when he finally ended the challenge of Chris Penrose 4-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10. Penrose had also impressed greatly on his march towards the Final and he saw off Alex Donkor 11-4, 11-7, 11-5; then Dacre Pell (Chelmsford) 11-3, 11-7, 11-7 and then Robin Onyelekere 11-8, 12-10, 11-8. Chris can certainly be pleased that he gave such a good account of himself in the Final as well.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Essex County Table Tennis Association