HEREFORDSHIRE 1st gained five points from a possible six from their first round of matches in Veteran Division 4C of the English Table Tennis Association County Championships at the Kingfisher Table Tennis Club in Reading.

The team was represented by Dave White, Andy Castle, Nigel Foreshew and Pauline Hart.

The morning started off against Kent 4th with Castle and Hart losing in the second mixed doubles match as Kent fought back to level the match at 5-5, with both teams picking up a point each.

Scores: Nigel Foreshew 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 and 10-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6. Andy Castle 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 and 11-8, 11-8, 11-6. Dave White 7-11, 11-13, 10-12 and 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8. Pauline Hart 10-12, 4-11, 11-9, 4-11. Mixed doubles 1 White and Hart 11-13, 6-11, 4-11. Men’s doubles Castle and Foreshew 7-11, 9-11, 10-12. Mixed doubles 2 Castle and Hart 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 4-11.

Against Hertfordshire 5th, it was again down to Castle and Hart to try to secure victory with Herefordshire leading 5-4 when they stepped up for their second mixed doubles match.

And on this occasion, the Herefordshire pair were victorious, coming out on top in three sets to secure a 6-4 win.

Scores: Nigel Foreshew 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 and 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7. Andy Castle 8-11, 6-11, 9-11 and 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7. Dave White 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 and 6-11, 4-11, 6-11. Pauline Hart 5-11, 10-12, 7-11. Mixed doubles 1 White and Hart 9-11, 11-9, 11-5. Men’s doubles Castle and Foreshew 5-11, 11-6, 10-12, 5-11. Mixed doubles 2 Castle and Hart 12-10, 11-8, 11-3.

In the final match against Berkshire 5th, the teams were locked at 3-3 before wins for Castle and Foreshew in the mixed doubles and then Foreshew and White in their second singles matches set up an unassailable lead.

The match ended 6-4 but Herefordshire's two points took their tally for the weekend to five from six ahead of their final double fixture, which is scheduled for March 21.

Scores: Nigel Foreshew 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 and 6-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4. Dave White 7-11, 11-1, 11-6, 8-11, 14-12, and 11-8, 14-12, 14-12. Andy Castle 12-14, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11 and 11-5, 11-6, 11-7. Pauline Hart 7-11, 5-11, 1-11. Mixed doubles 1 White and Hart 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11. Men’s doubles Castle and Foreshew 11-7, 11-6, 11-3. Mixed doubles 2 Castle and Hart 8-11, 15-17, 4-11.

Previously, in Veteran Division 4D Herefordshire 2nd and 3rd had also travelled to the Kingfisher Table Tennis Club in Reading for their first set of fixtures.

The second team was represented by Harry Jutle, Steve Knight, Mark Stubbs and Pauline Hart with Brian Kitchener, Steve Brown, Dave Hallam and his wife Liz Hallam representing the thirds.

It was not a happy trip for the second string who lost three matches and picked up just a single point from their inter-county match with their third-team rivals.

Against Hertfordshire 6th, Herefordshire were beaten 6-4.

Scores: Harry Jutle 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9 and 11-13, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7. Steve Knight 5-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-6 and 6-11, 8-11, 5-11. Mark Stubbs 13-15, 9-11, 5-11 and 9-11, 9-11, 9-11. Pauline Hart 12-10, 12-10, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9. Mixed doubles 1 Stubbs and Hart 8-11, 8-11, 9-11. Men’s doubles Jutle and Stubbs 11-5, 12-14, 5-11, 11-9, 0-11. Mixed doubles 2 Knight and Hart 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 6-11.

Against Kent 6th, Stubbs and Hart's dominance in the final mixed doubles was little consolation with the county side going down 7-3.

Scores: Mark Stubbs 11-8, 5-11, 4-11, 11-9, 10-12 and 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10. Harry Jutle 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 9-11 and 9-11, 6-11, 8-11. Steve Knight 3-11, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11 and 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 7-11. Pauline Hart 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10. Mixed doubles 1 Knight and Hart 8-11, 7-11, 4-11. Men’s doubles Knight and Jutle 5-11, 3-11, 11-7, 8-11. Mixed doubles 2 Stubbs and Hart 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9.

Against Berkshire 4th, Herefordshire had held their opponents at 2-2 and were still in with a chance of a point going in to the final mixed doubles match.

But Jutle and Hart were beaten in four sets for a final score of 6-4.

In the final match of the weekend involving Herefordshire's second and third teams, the husband-and-wife pairing of Dave and Liz Hallam gained a win over Stubbs and Hart in the final mixed doubles to ensure that the honours ended even at 5-5.

Scores: Steve Knight 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5 and 11-5, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5. Harry Jutle 8-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-5, 9-11 and 11-8, 11-2, 2-11, 11-6. Mark Stubbs 11-2, 12-10, 11-6 and 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-2, 6-11. Pauline Hart 2-11, 4-11, 8-11. Mixed doubles 1: Stubbs and Hart 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5. Men’s doubles: Jutle and Stubbs 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 1-11. Mixed doubles 2: Stubbs and Hart 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11.