Boy wonder!

IT’S MINE: winner Amir Hussain

TABLE TENNIS: OLDHAM table tennis ace Amir Hussain struck double gold for England at the annual Primary Schools’ International Championships.

The 11-year-old Greenacres Primary School pupil was part of a four-strong team against Jersey, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales in the tournament, held at St Bede’s RC High School in Blackburn.

The squad was aiming to retain the title won by England last year in Jersey - and didn’t disappoint as Wales was brushed aside 8-2 in the final. Hussain then added the individual title.

Having beaten team-mate Jamie Liu in the quarter-finals, Hussain faced another England player in the last four in the shape of Joshua Weatherby, and he came out on top in a close match 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 2-11, 11-6).

In the final, he met Joseph Roberts of Wales and again prevailed in a five-setter, winning 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Meanwhile, in the Oldham and District Table Tennis League, Coldhurst ‘B’ won the Division Three Cup after beating Honeywell ‘E’ 538-521 in the final.

Honeywell Lane received a 58-point advantage and appeared to be comfortably-placed having kept a lead of 49 points with three games remaining. But Coldhurst had other ideas. Neil Chapman pulled back 13 points, but then an outstanding display from Tim Vaughan gained 31 points over Bernard Davies, leaving Honeywell only 5 points ahead with the doubles to come.

Vaughan (+54) and Chapman (+17) had the momentum and comfortably gained a further 22 points to win by 17 points to complete an amazing turnaround.