Billy Pegg — unbeaten in singles against Stoke

A Shropshire team has reached the national finals of the English Table Tennis Association’s prestigous Willmott Cup.

Bridgnorth A, representing the Telford League, made it through the zonal round with a series of stunning individual performances.

Their cause was helped by red hot favourites Derby withdrawing at the last minute from Saturday’s tournament at Bridgnorth’s Oldbury Wells School.

Joe Hurdley, in action

But that should not detract from the quality produced by Telford duo Billy Pegg and Joe Hurdley gainst a highly rated Potteries side and also Leamington Spa.

Pegg was unbeaten in the opener against the Stoke-based side, but was forced to work hard against James Ward – currently ranked in the top 10 of English junior table tennis – before finally triumphing 7-11 11-9 8-11 11-7.

Former England international Steve Slater was coaching the Pottiers side but his son Shaun was given a three game lesson by Shropshire No 1 Hurdley – 11-9 11-7 11-8.

The hosts’ only weakness appears to be the doubles combination, as the visitors clawed back into the match 11-9 11-7 9-11 11-9.

But Pegg’s outstanding attacking form gave Telford the victory by beating Slater 11-5 11-4 11-3, the final dead rubber went the way of the visitors as Ward beat Hurdley 11-7 6-11 11-9.

The final match of the day became a must-win decider with Leamington – and Bridgnorth A were in no mood to miss out on the national finals of the men’s top club tournament against seven other sides in Derby on May 22.

Pegg dug deep to beat Tristan Gretton 17-15 11-8 11-1311-6 and Joe Hurdley increased the pressure with a sublime display of power hitting to beat Mark Jackson 11-8 11-6 11-8.

Yet again the doubles partnership did not gell as Leamington hit back to win 11-7 8-11 11-8 11-7 and trail 2-1.

Pegg put the result beyond doubt by beating a determinded Jackson in five tight games and 20-year-old Hurdley wrapped up the 4-1 victory by beating Gratton 11-8 17-15 11-8.