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TABLE TENNIS
All the
up-to-date news from Boston Table Tennis League scene
by Mick Williams
Index
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February 2007 |
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Click here for: Results round-up 2006-2007 season |
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News for week ending Sunday February 25 This was supposed to be a week free of league matches
when the competitions were due to be played. But as the response to enter
these had been so poor, the organisers had no other option but to cancel
them. However some of the more enterprising teams played, Stickney A
pulling in their backlog of Yates and Greenhough Division One fixtures
with three games inside a week with mixed results, these being one win, one
narrow defeat and one heavy defeat. The week started reasonably well, meeting
high-flying Graves Park C, who although winning most of their matches, they
are mostly by narrow 6-4 scorelines. Stickney found Mick East in unerring
form, winning his singles and although Geoff Bourne and Andrew Benjamin took
a leg out of him, the result was never in question. Martin Walters chipped in
with two, beating Benjamin in three. Meanwhile against Bourne, he crept home
12-10 in the fifth in a game that swung both ways. James Quinton never got
his game together, surprisingly going down in five legs against Benjamin,
losing in five against the experienced Bourne but having no trouble with
Hartnett, beating him in consecutive sets. With only the doubles remaining
and the game in the bag the Park may have been guilty of complacency but were
shaken when Bourne and Hartnett took the first end 11-7. The Park pair of
Walters and Quinton hit back to level winning 11-7 but Stickney responded
brilliantly to win the third. Again on the backfoot the Park responded to
narrowly take the fourth but undeterred by this Bourne and Hartnett gathered
themselves making a big push in vital end. This was as close as the first
four ends, the Stickney pair holding on to win it 11-9 making the score a
respectable 4-6 defeat. Two nights later in a relegation clash, Stickney
visited Lodgers A, who in a effort to pull away from the bottom of the table
had Graham Lacey turning out for them. It was Stickney who drew first blood,
Paul Hartnett (with his all out attacking style), narrowly beating Trev
Blackbourn. But Lodgers gradually took control of the proceedings,
Lacey beating Benjamin in four, while Ian Stones required five to
see off the challenge of Geoff Bourne. Lacey extended the lead even further
with a comfortable win over Hartnett and Blackbourn added to the
ever-widening lead with a excellent win over Bourne. Stones, who was having
to work hard to win games, was involved in another five-setter, before
overcoming Benjamin, while Lacey completed his hat-trick with a straight sets
win over Bourne. Stones who seems to love extended games, was involved in
another long game with Hartnett but after four tight ends which left it at
2-2. Ian won the vital one 11-3 with something to spare. Blackbourn despite a
third leg hiccup had little trouble with Benjamin and Graham Lecey seeing
thde team home and dry left the area. This seemed to have an effect of the
Lodgers pair who promptly went on to lose the doubles, giving Lodgers a
much-needed 8-2 victory, but it still sees them stuck in the relegation
dogfight. Three nights later Stickney were on the road
again, this time visiting bottom of the table Wrangle, who so far this season
haven’t been able to buy a win. As so often this season, Stickney opened the
scoring, Paul Hartnett beating Dave Coulson. But the lead was short-lived,
Dennis Pattrick beating Geoff Bourne, and Dave Coulson adding to the lead,
with a none too convincing victory over young Benjamin. Stickney pulled back
to level the score, Hartnett disposing of Pattrick in quick time (two
out-and-out attacking players) but Wrangle edged ahead again Coulson after a
first end slip comfortably beating Benjamin. Game six and it was level once
more, Bourne needing five set to dispose of Cooper, while Benjamin gave
Stickney the lead for the first time beating Pattrick 11-7, 11-4, 11-8.
Stickney were now in the driving seat, Hartnett making sure that they were
not going to lose by beating Cooper 11-5, 17-15, 8-11, 11-7 and to put
the issue beyond doubt, he (Hartnett) combined with Bourne to comfortably win
the doubles guiding the team to a 6-4 victory.
The three teams challenging for second place are
all failing to rack up the big wins that are needed to open a gap on their rivals. Shodfriars B emphasised the above this week
narrowly beating Graves Park A 6-4, Alan Ashberry once again winning his
singles, although being made to work hard against an impressive Rob Smith,
Rob taking the first end with some powerful forehand drives. However,
Alan changed his game a little and recovered to win the next three sets,
albeit very closely to run out a 5-11 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 winner. Scott Sykes
and Roger Hooton had a less than impressive evening picking up one each, both
of them defeating the hard working Phil Brooks, who must have felt fate was
not on his side, taking both the aforementioned Shoddy’s players to five.
Smith and Langley picked up two apiece for the Park, narrowly beating Sykes
and Hooton, most of these games being very close and on another night could
have swung the other way. Sykes was particularly unlucky against Smith and
with the sets at 2-2 and leading in the fifth he faded in the latter stages
to lose 10-12. Therefore the doubles proved to be the vital game, the Shoddy’s
pairing of Sykes and Ashberry winning the first fairly comfortably. Brooks
and Smith hit back to take the second but the Shoddy’s pair recovered and
after a shaky third end just scraping it 13-11, they eased home 11-7 in
the fourth to guide the team to a 6-4 victory. This was not a good result for the Park and they
have now slipped into the second relegation position. However, their run in
to the end of the season is so much easier than the majority of other
teams, who are just above them and still within reach. Penmaen recalled Andy Gilbert who never put a
foot wrong, comfortably beating Tim Day and although Pete Evans ran him close
in the third, the result was rarely in doubt. Jimmy Brewster never looked in
trouble when easing home in both his games, while Brett Heppenstall cruised
past Day but in the best game of the night he (Brett), found Evans a tougher
nut to crack. Pete sprang the surprise of the night winning the first 11-5.
But Brett hit back to take the next two 11-7, 11-9. The smart money was on
Penmaen gaining a clean sweep but Evans brushed aside his opponent 11-6 to
set up a critical fifth. This again was one that swung both ways, both
players having the chances but at 10 all there was nothing to separate them.
This continued point for point until at 14-14 when Pete broke the deadlock,
winning the next two points to give Lodgers their deserved game.
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News for week ending Sunday February 18 With the Yates and Greenhough Division One
all but sewn up, Penmaen A virtually ensured that they would retain the
title, this week beating second placed Lodgers G 7-3 and a few night later
getting the better of fourth
placed Shodfriars B 9-1. On paper it doesn’t look like a bad result for
Lodgers. But when one considers that Penmaen only had two players, it looks a
bit superficial. By the same token when they (Penmaen), can field Brian Hill
and Jimmy Brewster together, who needs a third player. The game with Lodgers
was fairly one-sided but Mark Hulme took Jimmy Brewster by surprise, winning
the first end 11-8. Stung by this, Jimmy exploded into action and while
only scraping the second 11-9, he won the next two seemingly with something
to spare. Kelvin Clements also astonished Jim, pushing him all the way
in the first end, just going down 13-15. But here again, Jimmy coasted
home in the next two for victory. As expected none of the Lodgers lads could
match Brian Hill who then combined with Jimmy to wrap up the doubles for
a 7-3 victory. Against Shodfriars B, Penmaen were back to a full
strength, Brett Heppenstall joining the big two. All of the games were
in fact three-enders and although Alan Ashberry ran Brian Hill close, losing
5-11, 10-12, 9-11, the result was rarely in doubt. Brett Heppenstall, apart
from a first set hiccup against Scott Sykes, won the next two with some
ease and blasted past Dave Smith in three ends. However, he was no match for
Alan Ashberry who beat him 11-4, 11-0, 11-5 for Shoddy's soiltary point. Lodgers B entertained Graves Park A, who after
this match have not got another fixture until early March. The Park took
control early on, Rob Smith needing four ends to see off the challenge of Vic
Clements, while Nick Langley added to the score beating Tim Day in three.
Pete Evans reduced the arrears beating Phil Brooks but Smith, who was in
commanding form, disposed of Day in three straight legs, although the scores
were very close. Clements kept Lodgers in the hunt, beating a lack lustre
Brooks but the Park maintained their two game lead, Langley hitting top form
beating No.8 ranked Pete Evans 4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9. The Park
were now in control, Brooks putting his earlier defeats behind him, getting
his name on the board, with a hard fought win against Day, while Smith
completed his hat-trick by beating No.8 ranked Evans 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7.
Clements gave the scorecard a respectable look with a good win over Langley
but it was to no avail, Smith and Brooks narrowly winning the doubles,
which temporarily halts their slide down the table. Lodgers B’s position
is even more perilous. Although they occupy fifth position the three teams
directly below them have games in hand and even though some of those games
will only offer these teams mediocre rewards, Lodgers could be
caught, particularly as their four remaining games are against the top four
teams. Perhaps their only salvation will come from stable-mates Lodgers A,
who to be blunt are having a terrible season. Stickney A and Shodfriars A, two of the teams who
are in the relegation mix, met Stickney A, still buoyed up by their win over
the Park the previous week. This, however, was no picnic and despite Paul Hartnett
coming out with all guns blazing by taking two of the first three sets from
Jake the Pegg, Jake settled down to play some controlled table tennis by
winning the remaining two legs for victory. Andrew Benjamin put Stickney
on level terms with a good, albeit narrow win over Neil Snaith, while Geoff
Bourne gave Stickney the lead, beating Maurice Buck 10-12, 11-2, 11-7,
11-7. Shodfriars responded, Jake easily beating young Benjamin but
Shoddy’s forged ahead through Buck, who rather surprisingly beat Hartnett.
Paul though only knows how to play the game one way and that one way against
Maurice is not the right one. Snaith just got the drop over Bourne
in four and Buck after struggling in the first against Benjamin, comfortably
won the next two. Bourne was no match for Jake, losing in three
straight and it was all over bar the shouting. Although Hartnett pulling
one back beating Snaith it was to no avail and Shoddy’s pairing of Pegg and
Snaith put the icing on the cake, beating Hartnett and Benjamin 11-6, 11-7,
11-5 to earn Shoddy’s a substantial 7-3 victory. The A D Dickinson Division Two is turning
into a two horse race Graves Park Nomads virtually cementing second place,
beating stable-mates Graves Park F 9-1. Nomads started of in great style in
once started, seemed hard to stop, Dean Clow winning his singles, though not
without a bit of bother from both Kit Calvert and Barry Frankish.
Walt Bridges gave Dean good support, winning his three, being tested by
Calvert, while Tris Clow chipped in with two beating Calvert in the closest
game of the evening, Tris scraping home 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 10-12,
14-12 in a game that could have gone either way. In fact Calvert might
claim to be the was the unluckiest player of the season and on another
evening might won all three, so close was all his games. Two teams nearer the bottom than the top fought
out a tight contest, Shodfriars C just gaining a narrow win over Lodgers
D. John Shortland and Chris Cooke picked up two apiece, both of them beating
Nev Leggate and Graham Bonsor, but neither of them knew how to handle the
experienced David Kime, who despite losing the first set to Shortland, won
the three quite decisively. Dave Hocking had to be content with one beating
Nev Leggate but losing in straight sets to Bonsor and after extending Kime to
five just going down 8-11 in the vital end. However it wasn’t all doom
and gloom for Dave who combined with Cooke to win the doubles 11-4, 11-8,
12-10 which rather spoilt Kime’s magnificent efforts in the singles giving Shoddy’s
a valuable 6-4 victory. Another all Park clash saw the D team take on the
F. The D once again could only field two players but it made little or no
difference, Dave Walters and Paul Matschull being in exceptional form,
winning their singles. Walters despite a couple of close games was only
slightly troubled by Alan Davy, whilst Matschull sprinted past all three F
players in straights legs. The doubles were a little closer, Walters and
Matschull just gaining the edge over the two Calverts, winning 15-13, 11-5, 11-9 for an excellent
7-3 victory. |
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Latest tables (including February 18) |
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Yates & Greenhough
Division One |
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Team
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P
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W
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D
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L
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Pts
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Penmaen A |
12 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
109 |
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Lodgers G |
14 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
85 |
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Graves Park C |
12 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
80 |
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Shodfriars B |
12 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
73 |
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Lodgers B |
14 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
58 |
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Shodfriars A |
13 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
55 |
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Graves Park A |
12 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
49 |
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Lodgers A |
12 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
46 |
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Stickney A |
10 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
42 |
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Wrangle |
13 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
23 |
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A D Dickinson Division Two |
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Team
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P
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W
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D
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L
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Pts
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Graves Park B |
12 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
97 |
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Graves Park Nomads |
14 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
87 |
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Graves Park D |
14 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
74 |
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Graves Park E |
13 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
66 |
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Graves Park F |
13 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
57 |
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Shodfriars C |
13 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
55 |
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Lodgers D |
13 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
55 |
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Stickney B |
11 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
46 |
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Lodgers E |
12 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
43 |
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Penmaen B |
11 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
35 |
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Graves Park D v Lodgers
D: only five points awarded Graves Park B v Graves Park
E: only five points awarded Graves Park B v Lodgers E:
only five points awarded |
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News for week ending Sunday February 11 Lodgers A who, a week ago were in the relegation
zone of the Yates and Greenhough Division One, had their spirits
lifted a bit despite suffering mixed fortunes when being beaten 4-6
by their B team (historic double here), but then turning the form book upside-down
beating third placed Graves Park C 6-4. However, every match tells a different story. And
for their clash with their B team, the A side were without strong man Graham Lacey.
Although getting away to a flyer, Trev Blackbourn had to work hard to beat
Vic Clements while Ian Stones, although losing the third end to Tim Day,
scraped home in the fourth 13-11. Pete Evans, who is proving to be a rock for
the B team, pulled one back by, comfortably beating Pete Truepenny.
But Stones, after struggling in the first leg against Clements, won
the next two with some ease. Evans put the B back in the frame with a
three-set win over Blackbourn, while Day got his name on the board via beating
Truepenny to level the scores. Evans gave the B team the lead for the first
time when overcoming Stones 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, while Clements put
the B two ahead beating Truepenny in three straight. The A were
struggling to stay in contention but Blackbourn put them within striking
distance by beating Day. But it was all to no avail as the B team pairing of
Day and Evans just triumphed in a tight doubles encounter giving the B a
6-4 victory, completing the double over the A team for the first time in
their history. A few days later it was all hugely different for
the A team and with Graham Lacey in the team, they looked a completely
different outfit. Gone was the uncertainty and in its place was a desire to
win, Lodgers opening the scoring with Ian Stones beating James Quinton in
four. Mick East levelled the score with a four set win over Trev Blackbourn
but Graham Lacey put Lodgers back in the lead with a tight victory over
Martin Walters only for East to square the game, after a third set hiccup, beating
Stones 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6. Lodgers regained the lead with Lacey narrowly
beating Quinton, only to see Walters level the score in a five set
cliff-hanger against a robust challenge from Blackbourn. With their new found
desire, Lodgers battled on, Lacey completing his hat-trick with a superb
5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7, win over East and with Stones turning in a sparkling
6-11, 5-11,11-8, 11-5, 12-10 win over Walters, Lodgers were in the driving
seat. As Graham Lacey left the arena, Quinton threw the Park a ray of hope
beating Blackbourn in three but any hope the Park had of salvaging a draw,
was lost Quionton and Walters narrowly losing the doubles 5-11 11-6, 9-11,
11-9, 10-12 to give Lodgers an excellent victory. However, despite the
Park lads’ despondency at the end of the game their chance of the runners-up
spot is still in the melting pot. The big one in the A D Dickinson Division Two
was the clash between the top two, Graves Park Nomads taking on the mighty
Graves Park B and although the 9-1 score looks decisive, it wasn't as
convincing as the scoreline suggests. The B got away to the best possible
start winning the first six although Mike Freeston and Mick Maltby were both
tested by both the Clow brothers, Maltby coming the closest to defeat, just
beating Dean Clow 4-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7. It was left to Dean to get
Nomads on the board with a last gasp win over Dave Graham but undeterred by
this the B ground on, Freeston beating Harry Paul, while Maltby won the
last singles of the evening beating Tris Clow. Dean Clow and Harry Paul
contested the doubles for Nomads and despite a brief flurry in the second
winning 11-6, they were no match for the strong pairing of Freeston and
Maltby, the B pair wrapping up the fourth 11-8 for a comprehensive victory. Graves Park B, who were without Dave Graham
(holiday), took on Lodgers E who were without Tom Bell, and despite both
teams only having two players (early night), some good table tennis was seen.
The Park found Colin Bell on top form, winning both his games and in
doing so took away Mick Maltby’s unbeaten record, beating the latter in a
close game 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7. Both the Park lads beat Pete Bell
whose never say die attitude almost saw him take a set off
Freeston, just losing the third 14-16 but against Maltby he was never in
it, Mick cruising home in straight legs. The vital doubles always
looked to be swinging the Park's way, Freeston and Maltby easing to a 11-8
11-7, 11-8 victory for a 3-2 win. Graves Park D another team with only two players,
visited Lodgers D coming away with a excellent 6-4 victory. Lodgers found
Dave Walters in superb form winning his singles, although to be fair both
Graham Bonsor and David Kime took him the full distance. Paul Matschull had
little trouble with Nev Leggate, and although beating Bonsor he needed four
legs. However, after leading Kime 2-0 he seemed to falter and although the
next three ends were close, he went down each time by the narrowest of
margins. With the doubles deciding the result he (Matschull) gained some
consolation for his singles defeat by Kime, combining with Walters to win the
doubles in straight legs to guide the Park to a 6-4 victory. Graves Park E, who undoubtedly have the ability
but often as not do not play to their full potential, entertained Shodfriars
C who, with the capture of Chris Cooke, now have little trouble in fielding a
full team. The Park’s Mick Dodes was in great form, powering past the
Shoddy’s trio, Mick winning his singles with some flourish, breezing through
his games in straight ends. Paul Gilbert found the going that bit
harder, requiring four sets to beat Dave Hocking and being taken the full
distance by Chris Cooke. He was frustrated though by John Shortland’s style
and although winning the first 11-6 he fell away in the next three going down
7-11, 8-11, 6-11. Emma Watson failed to register, although credit must be
given to he performance against Cooke, taking the third set out of him, only
to fade in the vital fourth. All Emma needs is little belief and the results
will start to come. With both teams needing the doubles, Dodes combined with
Gilbert (good doubles combination this), to beat Hocking and Cooke in
straight legs and although the first end was close the next two were never in
doubt. |
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News for week ending Sunday February 4 A run down of the latest league individual rankings is
listed below: |
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Latest
rankings (as at February 3)
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Yates & Greenhough Division One
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Pos
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Player
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Team
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P
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W
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%
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1 |
J Brewster |
Penmaen A |
27 |
27 |
100 |
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2 |
A Ashberry |
Shodfriars B |
30 |
28 |
93 |
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3 |
B Heppenstall |
Penmaen A |
27 |
23 |
85 |
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4 |
K Clements |
Lodgers G |
33 |
26 |
79 |
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5 |
R Pegg |
Shodfriars A |
36 |
28 |
78 |
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6 |
M East |
Graves Park C |
30 |
23 |
77 |
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7 |
M Walters |
Graves Park C |
30 |
21 |
70 |
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8 |
P Evans |
Lodgers B |
33 |
22 |
67 |
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9 |
S Sykes |
Shodfriars B |
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