IT WAS a long wait, but for the first time in 40 years a Southampton table tennis player was selected to play for England.

David McBeath, from the city's Waterside club, turned out for the national under-13 side against Wales at Cardiff's Welsh Institute of Sport.

He and fellow countryman Liam Pritchard were pitted against Welsh pair Adam Draper and Patrick Thomas in four singles and one doubles match.

Draper, the stronger of the Welsh players, beat Pritchard 3-0 in the opener.

Having rather nervously lost his first game, McBeath staged a determined fightback in the next to level the match 1-1.

The Welsh youngster re-established command at 2-1 but, despite trailing 10-8 on his own service in game four, McBeath showed calm to weather the two match points and win 3-2.

A quick and efficient doubles win tipped the match in England's favour and Pritchard made sure of overall victory by beating Thomas. But McBeath didn't ease up against the dangerous Draper, squeezing a close contest 3-2.

McBeath represents Waterside in the British Junior League and has also played at senior British League level.

Locally, he plays in the Southampton Premier Division and was supported in Cardiff by members of the Waterside coaching and playing staff. He and teammate Matthew Ware are members of the England Development Squad of high potential players from around the country.