Loveridge retains title on her return to local tables

ALICE LOVERIDGE (pictured) made a winning return to the local table tennis scene, retaining the Spot For Sport trophy that she won 12 months ago.

In a very entertaining final, she secured an exhilarating five-game triumph over the in form Phil Ogier.

The tournament itself is unique as every round from the group stages right up until the final are drawn.

The implications of this format mean that the normally seeded players were potentially in for tougher matches earlier on in the tournament and it also gave a great opportunity for some of the improving players to make their mark if the draws were kind to them.

Surprise results were few and far between in the group stages with only two notable results that went against the form book.

Second Division stalwart Rob Vile scored a highly decisive straight game victory over First Division Specsavers player Jeremy Tan.

However, he failed to build on this win and failed to qualify from the group, missing out to Loveridge and the ever improving Joshua Stacey, who booked their place in the next round.