Table tennis: Paul Drinkhall helps England reach European Team Championships play-offs

Triple national champion Paul Drinkhall inspired England to a crushing 3-0 victory over Netherlands to their place in the European Team Championships qualifying play-offs.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Mar 2017, 17:20 BST

Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:06 BST

Paul Drinkhall controls a backhand during his win over Ewout Oostwouder (Photo: Michael Loveder)

Drinkhall was far too strong for world No 288 Ewout Oostwouder, winning 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-6).

England were already 2-0 to the good after David McBeath beat Rajko Gommers 3-1 and Liam Pitchford edged a thriller against Laurens Tromer 3-2 (12-14, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 14-12),

Drinkhall, who retained his national men’s singles title at the weekend, said: “After the Nationals I was mentally in a good place.

"I tried to keep my focus and my game followed. It was a good all-round performance.”

It meant England finished second in their group behind Greece and will now face Slovakia, home and away, in the play-offs in April. The winners will qualify for the top division at the Europeans later this year while the losers will go into the second tier.