BLISLAND, Helland A, North Hill A and Bridgerule A all advanced into the semi-finals of the North Cornwall Table Tennis League’s Handicap Knockout Cup last Thursday night.

The evening’s most thrilling match took place at Budehaven, where Kevin Tarling won a deciding set from 12-0 down against Andrew Ward to help Blisland edge out Budehaven B.

In a see-saw match, which saw the momentum shift at every opportunity, the home side clawed their way back into the contest from 4-2 down until Tarling’s timely intervention.

Chris Mill won two out of three for Budehaven while Tarling was in top form all night, coming back from large deficits to win all of his matches.

There was a much more one-sided affair on the other table as Division One leaders Helland thrashed Division Three strugglers Budehaven D 8-1.

Despite starting 17-0 down in four of the nine matches, the visitors — consisting of Mike Fisher, Ritchie Bartlett and Ingus Abolnieks — used their variety of serves to bamboozle the hosts, knowing that they could ill afford any mistakes. Nathan Jukes did beat Abolnieks in the opening match of the night, but in the end the quality showed.

North Hill, who are currently second in Division One, comfortably overcame a Launceston side who are slowly climbing up the second division table.

The home side used a regular Division Three player in Hannah Luckhurst who easily won her two matches, while her mother Shirley Luckhurst did likewise.

Adrian Davis also grabbed a solitary victory while Karen Horrell and Stephen Parsons won one each for the visitors.

With the match already won, at 5-2, both teams decided to call it a day.

The other quarter-final at Bridgerule was a funny game with the home side surging to the final post by winning five straight games at Crackington B.

Despite being defeated, Crackington gained some respectability by winning the last four in a losing cause.

Alan Quilter and Ben Tole picked up two wins apiece for the home side while Ray Bewes also scraped through in his first match. Robin Evans was the star performer for Crackington with Keiron Chatterjea and James Ellis also picking up a victory.

The semi-finals take place next Thursday night with Bridgerule hosting North Hill and Helland welcoming local rivals Blisland.