YOUNG James Rule was the main man when Ryedale Sports Club held its annual table tennis tournament.

Twenty-two members competed for two trophies, with Rule taking the main title after beating Dave Quinlan in a final that finished at midnight, despite some good retrieving from the back of the court by the latter.

Adrian Greaves meanwhile, lifted the handicap cup after beating Pat Swindell 37 points to 33 in that final.

The event had started with four groups.

In group ‘A’, Paul Cresswell – a recent signing for Ryedale League side Ryedale ‘E’ – was too strong for his five opponents and went through to the semi-finals as pool winner, with John Gascoyne second with four wins from his five matches. Greaves was the group handicap winner.

Rule topped group ‘B’ after beating Trevor Teasdale, Peter Lee, Mike Fenby, Stephen Temple and Gerald Cosens. He was also the handicap winner of this group.

Group ‘C’ consisted of Ken Pidgeon, Titch Temple, Quinlan, Russ Scott and Ray Mitchell. Newcomer Quinlan won all his games with ease, also taking the handicap crown.

Group ‘D’ was more of a mixed bag with Swindell and Alec Hodgson winning three matches each in the main event, and Jean Wardman and Swindell three each in the handicap. Hodgson went through in the main event on points, having totalled 102 to Swindell’s 99, and Swindell went through to the handicap last four on points, edging Jean Wardman’s 95.

In the last four, Quinlan beat Creswell and Rule beat Hodgson. Those two main competition finalists lost their respective handicap semi-finals, though, to Swindell and Greaves respectively.