SPENCER Hurd, 14, won Haworth Hawks’ annual junior closed competition for the third straight year – but faced his closest match yet.

Runner-up Morgan Reed, 12, had only a slight advantage with a handicap of one point, and did not look like causing Spencer problems as he won the first two games.

Then Morgan dug deep and won the next two games, holding his nerve when reaching 10-10 to get the necessary two points clear.

The fifth and final game was just as thrilling with some fabulous rallies, both players displaying great skill as Spencer edged home.

Both players are part of several Haworth Hawks teams in the adult Keighley & District Table Tennis League, which is halfway through the winter season.

Hawks A lead the First Division, while Spencer’s junior team, HH Sparrowhawks, are top of the Second Division, two points ahead of adults HH Merlins.

Morgan’s team, the HH Kites, have a game in hand and are seven points behind St Wilfs B, who head Division Three.

Morgan has an impressive win rate of over 90 per cent, leading his adult team-mates in the player averages. Not to be outdone in Division 3, Jack Webber, 86, of the Nomads E Grumpies, shows age is no barrier with his own player average in the division’s top ten.