THE fourth and final round of the regional league of the National Cadet Team Championships for players aged under 15 was held at Ledbury Leisure Centre last Sunday.

Six teams from Malvern, Evesham and Hereford had been battling it out since autumn of last year for the chance to compete in the championships at national level. In the event the final result could not have been closer. The Malvern A team (Ben Salisbury, Jack Higgs and Mark Griffiths) and Evesham Tigers (Martin Brown, Luke Moffat and Leon Williams) began the day level on 74 points each with Hereford A still in contention on 63.

At the start of the last match Malvern only needed to draw (three points) against Tigers to win the league. Malvern began in style winning the first two sets but Tigers fought back hard winning the next three to take a lead 3-2. In a nail-biting finish Jack Higgs just managed to beat Leon Williams in the final game to gain the draw and clinch the league. The final positions of the leading three team were Malvern on 100 points, Evesham 99 points and Hereford 84 points.

Other players who contributed to Malvern's success during the season were Nick Smith and Geoff Burford.

Around 30 players from the three leagues took part over the four weekends of play and all came away with a great credit from the competition often producing a display of table tennis of great maturity that belied their age.

Event organiser Bill Nelson said: "It's heartening to see young people showing such determination, sportsmanship and good humour when playing competitive sport and the coaches from the local table tennis leagues in Malvern, Evesham and Hereford are to be congratulated for producing such fine young players who are sure to be among the stars of the future."