The New Milton Table Tennis Club had an excellent week in the Bournemouth & District league by winning seven out of their nine matches, one of those wins coming at the expense of one of their own teams in a local derby. The club is absolutely delighted that 16 year old Kai Major (pictured below) has won a Premier hat-trick in only his second league match since returning from a serious illness. Kai had treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, at Southampton Paediatric Oncology Unit throughout 2016 and was classed as being in remission in January 2017. Kai, who was voted the club’s most improved player in 2014, says that he is thoroughly enjoying getting back to playing competitive table tennis, and it shows. On top of his Premier treble, he medalled during a Junior 2-Star event last month, and he will be representing Dorset in the Finals of the Under 19s National Schools Championships in Wolverhamption in April.

It was a good night all round in the Premier for Milton’s youngsters in the B team as they improved on a first round away draw against Broadstone A by beating them 8-2 at Mudeford Wood. Just turned 15 Jack Trafford matched Major’s hat-trick, Trafford’s second of the campaign, and 19 year old Andy Tipsana chipped in with the one win. The doubles were needed for maximum points and Major and Trafford had a real fight on their hands against the more experienced Broadstone pairing. It went all the way to five ends but the two lads displayed a collective wit and maturity beyond their years to win out 11-9 to earn their plaudits.

Div 3 saw the J team (Plamen Petrov, Sid Daynes & Mike Roberts) avenge their first round defeat at the hands of their H ream by walloping them 8-2 in their return match, courtesy of hat tricks from captain Roberts and the red hot Petrov.

The F team starring Steve Cheesman, Ben Greene and super-sub Plamen Petrov completely reversed their 3-7 away defeat at Breamore by doing the same to them at the Grange. Captain Cheesman led from the front with his fifth hat trick of the campaign and Greene and Petrov bagged a brace apiece, all of them getting the better of the very tricky former Miltonian, Geoff Ware.  Full results details are below:-

PREMIER

New Milton B 8 Broadstone A 2

(Andy Tipsana 1, Kai Major 3, Jack Trafford 3)

DIVISION 1

New Milton C 6 Lynwood B 4

(John Millward 1, Shaun Newcomb 1, Brian Bickell 1)

New Milton D 6 Bmth Sports E 4

(Frank Handy 0, Paul Iliffe 2, Gerard Redman 3)

DIVISION 2

Broadstone E 3 New Milton E 7

(Simon Golding 3, Bev Scott-Johns 0, Simon Daish 3)

New Milton F 7 Breamore 3

(Ben Greene 2, Steve Cheesman 3, Plamen Petrov 2)

DIVISION 3

Merton G 4 New Milton G 6

(Chris Pusey 3, Dave Cuddon 2, Terry Jenvey 1)

New Milton H 2 New Milton J 8

(H Team: Ian Linney 1, Lewis Reading 1, James Harper 0)

(J Team: Plamen Petrov 3, Sid Daynes 1, Mike Roberts 3)

DIVISION 4

Winton YMCA F 10 New Milton K 0

(Sid Daynes 0, James Harper 0, Mike Gent 0)

DIVISION 5

Merton J 6 New Milton M 4

(Taki Hall 2, Dominic Stainton 0, Stuart Burton 2)