NICKY MASON is in the sort of form that could earn him a recall to the England table tennis team at the age of 34 after a five-year absence.

The Eastbourne ace returned to the Grand Prix circuit after a three-month absence at Great Yarmouth last week and reached the quarter-finals after crushing Horsham teenage prodigy Dominic Hall 21-4, 21-9.

His bid for the semi-finals was only ended by a 21-18, 21-8 defeat against England squad man Darren Blake (Surrey).

Mason has also moved up a place to No.11 on the England men's ranking list.

He is in confident mood and declared: "I'm only playing to 50 per cent of my ability.

"More match play and I will be able to stop young England squad players like Blake."

But Mason was part of a Hastings team whitewashed 8-0 by leaders Pontypool in the British division one.

RITCHIE Venner was undefeated as Horsham beat Darlington away in the British premier 8-6.

Adrian Moore and Christian Thompson scored two wins.

England No.1 veteran Nigel Eckersley (Uckfield) sealed victory in the final match by overcoming Andrew Wilkinson in three games.

Horsham are now set to secure second place and pick up a £1,000 prize.

ENTRIES close this weekend for the Sussex Newman 2-Star Junior Championships (March 27) and the Sussex Newman 2-Star tournament (March 28) at the Cardinal Newman School, Hove.

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