Page 48 - royal-times-15-16

Girls’ Table Tennis Boys’ Table Tennis

Back Row (L-R): Katie Dunne, Emma Bell, Charley Flint, Katie Griffith Back Row (L-R): Adam Dunne, Adam Smyth, Dermot Plunkett, David
Front Row (L-R): Hannah Lynch-Dawson, Lydia McConkey Nzewi, Robert Matthews Front Row (L-R): Joshua Hall, Stuart Smyth

TABLETENNIS

When Mr.Plunkett first entered team in the Ulster The U15 girls also won the title easily defeating Monaghan
Championship eight years ago little did he or anyone know Collegiate on a 5-2 score line. Not to be outdone, our
what success awaited the Royal. Thanks to the great U19 boys pulled off the shock of the year by beating hot
coaching provided by clubs such as Drung, Drum, Bilis and favourites Molone College 5-4 in one of the closest and
Belturbet, a steady stream of top class players have passed most tense matches the Royal has ever played in. The
through the Royal School, in our first year the u19 boys won highlight was David Nzewi coming from two sets down to
the coveted Ulster Senior Title before losing to a Wexford win the deciding set 12-10. All six boys excelled over the
school in the All Ireland semi-final. The following year the four rounds to take the cup home to Cavan.
boys went an extra step before losing the All Ireland final to As well as winning three of the six titles we have won
an excellent Cork side. numerous league titles across all six groupings. In fact
Since then the girls went on a winning streak backboned by the only Ulster Title we have yet to win is the U13 Boys but
players such as Hannah Lynch-Dawson, Rachel Hall, Helen hopefully that will not be the case for much longer.
McDermott and the McConkey sisters. In eight years the As well as having Irish number 1 Hannah Lynch-Dawson
girls have won four U13, four U15 and five U19 Ulster titles. lifting many single titles, Joshua Hall became the second
They also have backed that up with two U15 and two U19 boy after James Dawson to win the Ustler Senior Boys
All Ireland titles.
Singles in 2015. He followed that up by retaining the title in
This year we have a chance to return our All Ireland as 2016. Katie Dunne, Mark Williamson and Andrew Hudson
the U19 Girls won Ulster with a hard fight 5-4 win over put in great performances to finish 3rd in their respective
Ballyclare Academy. With Hannah Lynch-Dawson and age groups. At the time of going to press our three teams
Lydia McConkey in fine form we took a large lead but are preparing for the All Irelands in Tallaght where no doubt
Ballyclare fought back only to lose in the end. they will do themselves, their families and the school proud.

48 The Royal Times 2015-2016