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BOSTON TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

All the up-to-date news from the Boston and District Table Tennis League 2005-2006

Round-up for March 2006 by Mick Williams

Report for week ending Friday March 31 (see update in latest tables section)

Promotion rewards still up for grabs

The championship of Boston Table Tennis League’s Yates and Greenhough Division One has been tied up for some time. But as the league draws to a close, promotion from the A D Dickinson Division Two is still not decided.

The situation at present is that Graves Park D, who have had a fantastic run in, moved into second place and are now three points in front of their B team who should have played their last match this week. The fact that the B only have to score four points in their last match to overtake them, seems to be cut and dried but they, Park B, have to play champions Mayflower B. And last time round Mayflower beat them 9-1. The other team still in the mix are Mayflower C, who on paper, seem to be favourites as they still have three games left to play. Although they say they do not want to be promoted, I think they protest too much. If it was offered would they refuse?

In the meantime, Graves Park D finished their season in style with an 8-2 destruction of Lodgers D, James Smith and Sam Smith both winning their singles. It wasn’t all that easy, though, Tony Kime and Graham Bonsor putting up a great fight, Tony going down 8-11 in the fifth set to Sam, while Graham took a leg out both the Smiths, only to fall in the fourth. Paul Matschull blotted the copybook and despite beating both Nev Leggate and Bonsor, was never in it against Kime, Tony easing home 11-3, 11-6, 11-8. With only the doubles remaining Kime and Bonsor gave the score a more respectable appearance, comfortably beating Sam Smith and Matschull in three straight.

Nomads (along with the Park) are the only two teams to have completed their season in this division. Nomads doing so with a 10-0 demolition of William Lovell. The Nomads lads rarely looked in trouble and although Tom Phoenix took a set from Walt Bridges and Dean Clow, the remainder of the matches comfortably went Nomads’ way. Perhaps the doubles was the closest game of all, Phoenix and Michael Bradshaw putting up a great fight against the two Clows, winning the first and the fourth but fading badly in the fifth, going down 11-3.

Pilgrim, who will be moving clubs next season, played their last game at the Mayflower, equally sharing the points with Lodgers D who have only had an average season. This was an all over the place sort of match, the lead changing no less than three times throughout, Lodgers taking an early 2-0 lead through Tony Kime and Graham Bonsor beating Alan David and Fred Calvert respectively. Barry Frankish redressed the balance a little with a comfortable victory over Nev Leggate and Calvert put them on level terms with a good hard earned win over Kime. Lodgers again edged in front, Leggate gaining a deserved win narrowly beating Davy 13-11, 6-11, 11-4, 14-12 but this lead was short lived, Frankish immediately putting Pilgrim back on terms beating Bonsor again in the fifth. It was now Pilgrim’s turn to take the lead and it came as no surprise, Calvert crashing past Leggate 11-8, 11-8, 11-2. However, Lodgers were not going to be denied, Kime making short work of Frankish (who is higher in the rankings), in straight legs. With the scores level Bonsor gave Lodgers a slender lead with a tight win over Davy but Frankish and Calvert made sure the spoils were equally shared, beating Kime and Leggate 11-9, 1-7, 11-3 in the doubles. The first three places in Division One are now finalised, Penmaen putting the seal of approval on the title with a 9-1 win over second placed Lodgers G, Lodgers only points coming from Kelvin Clements who defeated Andy Gilbert 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7.

Graves Park C who, since Christmas, have turned in some decent results completed their fixtures defeating Lodgers B 10-0. A score of 10-0 sounds convincing but this is not completely true as many of the games were close. But on every occasion they swung the Park’s way. Tim Day was most unlucky not to take at least one, leading No 7 ranked Mick East 11-8, 11-6. However, Mick upped the tempo to win the next three very easily. Pete Evans also had the chance to cause an upset against East, winning the first and third but like in the games against Day, Mick moved up a gear to win the last two 11-3, 11-4. James Quinton had little trouble, although his game against Evans could so easily have gone Pete’s way. Martin Walters, although beating Vic Clements in three, it was close and against Evans he required four ends to see him home.

The all-Shoddys clash saw a carbon copy result of the game the first time round, the B team scraping a narrow 6-4 victory. Alan “Brick Wall” Ashberry again picked up his three legs dismissing “Jake the Pegg” and Neil Snaith in three straight. Maurice Buck, though, proved to be a handful, Alan losing the first and 10-12 but he recovered from this setback to win the next three in convincing style. Roger Hooton chipped in with two, beating Pegg and Buck but he had no answer to Neil Snaith who brushed him aside with some ease. Scott “Twinkle Toes” Sykes had an unhappy evening, losing all three being well beaten by Buck. He took Jake to four though but in the end the result was never in doubt. He was a little bit unlucky against Snaith going down 11-13 in the fourth thus denying him a crack in the fifth and final set.

Such is the peculiarity of the fixtures is that the two teams who are going to be relegated meet in the last week of the season, Wrangle having only one win to their name their only victory being over Lodgers F way back in December. Lodgers F by contrast have never got their season off the ground failing to win a match but a lost must be said for their resilience, invariably turning out with a full team, whoever the opposition may have been. So this was the big one for both teams, Wrangle taking an early lead, Pete Truepenny narrowly beating Sam Cooper in five. Lodgers hit back, David Kime having the edge over Dennis Pattrick, while Dave Coulson, back in the team after a short absence, overcame the battling Steve Harker 11-4 in the fifth. Lodgers drew level for the second time, Kime seeing off Sam Cooper in three but Wrangle were ‘cooking with gas’, Coulson who was really buzzing, beating Truepenny in four, while Pattrick playing out of his skin narrowly beat Harker 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7. Coulson, turning in his best performance of the season, got on the scorecard yet again, beating Lodgers’ danger man Kime, while Cooper rounded off the Wrangle onslaught beating a disconsolate Harker, who had fought hard all night for no reward, 8-11,11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7. Truepenny salvaged a little pride for Lodgers picking up the last singles of the night with a narrow win over Pattrick and despite a good win by Kime and Harker in the doubles it was all too little too late.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Lodgers G 1, Penmaen 9; Lodgers F 4, Wrangle 6; Shodfriars A 4, Shodfriars B 6; Lodgers B 1, Graves Park C 9; Lodgers F 0, Graves Park C 10.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Graves Park D 8, Lodgers D 2; Pilgrim 5, Lodgers D 5; Nomads 10, William Lovell 0.

Report for week ending Friday March 24

Three teams in quest for runners-up spot

With only a week or so to go, the 2005-2006 Boston Table Tennis League season is drawing to a close. The only situation not yet resolved is the runners-up spot in the A D Dickinson Division Two. This is, at present, being fought out by three teams — Graves Park D, Mayflower C and Graves Park B.

Presently, Graves Park B hold the whip hand and on paper look likely to succeed. But with one match remaining they have to play champions, Mayflower B, which leaves things not looking too good, as the latter hammered the Park 9-1 last time round.

Club-mates Graves Park D have made a late challenge and are a mere five points adrift of their B team. The D with one match remaining, have an easier task than the B team and they may well yet clinch promotion.

Mayflower C, who have been up there for most of the season, have of late turned in some inconsistent results — their latest offering being a 4-6 defeat at the hands of Graves Park D. The Park D team who have in the past few weeks turned in some good results were again on top form, all of them picking up two each, Dave Walters and Paul Matschull beating Emma Watson and No 6 ranked Mick Dodes surprisingly easy. Young Sam Smith lost to Dodes but made up for it by comfortably beating Emms and in the deciding fifth defeating No 7 ranked Paul Gilbert 11-9. Gilbert was the pick of the Mayflower team, winning two but it was never easy beating Walters 15-13 in the third and in a long set with Matschull just running out a 19-17 winner. In contrast the doubles were fairly straightforward, Dodes and Gilbert looking good and apart from the first end, coasting to an 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 win, adding respectability to the scoreline.

Graves Park B, playing two matches on consecutive nights had mixed results, only drawing 5-5 with a Nomads team who has started to come good too late, but then went on to beat Mayflower D 8-2.

Against Nomads it was joint No 3 ranked Mick Maltby who was the star of the show, picking up his singles, though Dean Clow would have pushed him closer had he not served off the table and then into the net in the first end with the score at 9-9. In the third, Dean was leading 10-6 but blew the next six points to give Maltby what looked to be an unlikely win. Dave Graham chipped in with two beating Harry Paul and Tris Clow but he surrendered rather tamely to Dean Clow. Zenda Kwok, although not winning any, turned in a solid performance and at the moment it is only experience that is letting him down. The doubles, which has never been the Park’s strongest point, saw Maltby and Graham combine, and although winning the third 11-9 they went down in the next 7-11 against the two Clow Brothers, who ensured both teams had an equal share of the points.

The following night for their last home match of the season, the Park ran out rather flattering 8-2 victors against a plucky Mayflower D team, Rachael Searles being very unlucky not to take the third leg from Mick Maltby, keeping with him all the way, only to lose 13-15. Andrew Benjamin went one better, taking the third end 11-8 but Maltby closed him down winning the fourth easily. Dave Graham though was unstoppable, winning all his games in three straight. Zenda Kwok again was involved in some titanic struggles, losing 7-11 in the fifth to Benjamin but his determination was rewarded coming from one set down to beat Searles in four.

New champions Mayflower B, met their D counterparts but as they knew the league title was already in the bag, it mattered little that they couldn’t field a full team. No 1 ranked Greg Dombek and No 3 ranked Mariusz Hering had little trouble with any of the D team, Sasha Martin giving Hering a bit of a scare in the first, just going down 12-14 but the next two predictably went Hering’s way. Dombek and Hering teamed up for the doubles easily beating Martin and Benjamin, but the D weren’t that unhappy, it was three points more than they expected.

Lodgers D who haven’t had a match for a fortnight or so, returned to action with a useful 6-4 victory over Shodfriars C No 10 ranked Tony Kime and Graham Bonsor were the architects of the victory, Tony winning his three, although John Shortland pushed him all the way, while Graham chipped in with two, also beating Shortland in another tight five-setter but losing to Paul Maxwell in four. All the Shoddys lads beat Nev Leggate, but he would be disappointed about the result against Shortland, Nev losing 9-11 in the fifth. With the doubles deciding the result, Kime and Bonsor wrapped it up for Lodgers beating the Hocking/Maxwell combinations 11-6, 11-13, 11-2, 11-5 for a 6-4 victory.

Stickney B have really had a terrible season and this didn’t get any better when they lost 2-8 to Nomads. The two Clow brothers were in great form for Nomads, both of them winning their three, Tris Clow being taken to four by both Tim Sampson and Cliff Davey, while Dean Clow was perhaps lucky to beat Sampson in the fifth. Harry Paul had a poor night, losing his first two, being beaten 9-11 in the fifth by Sampson and then going down, also in the fifth to Cliff Davey. However, he picked himself up for the last game of the night, to beat Tony Sharpe in yet another five-setter, and then sat out the doubles as the two Clows snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, coming back from two down to win the doubles 11-9 in the fifth for an 8-2 victory.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Lodgers F 1, Lodgers A 9; Shodfriars B 1, Penmaen 9; Graves Park A 9, Lodgers F 1; Shodfriars A 4, Graves Park A 6.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Mayflower C 4, Graves Park D 6; Graves Park B 8, Mayflower D 2; Nomads 5, Graves Park B 5; Mayflower D 3, Mayflower B 7; Lodgers D 6, Shodfriars C 4; Stickney B 2, Nomads 8; Shodfriars C 8,

Report for week ending Friday March 17

Penmaen poised for title confirmation

With the Boston Table Tennis League season drawing to a close the Yates and Greenhough Division One is all but sorted out. Penmaen will be champions, having swept all before them this season and as long as they turn up for the remaining matches the title is theirs. This week they asserted their will over two more teams, beating bottom placed Wrangle who are already doomed to go down to Division Two, and fourth placed Shodfriars B, both being 9-1 scorelines.

Against Wrangle it was plain sailing, No 1 ranked Jimmy Brewster and Brian Hill ripped the opposition apart. Andy Gilbert picked up two, comfortably beating Sam Cooper but having to come from 1-2 down to beat Dennis Pattrick. However, in a tight five setter against Frank Burbidge, it was the Wrangle player who came from 1-2 down to nick the last two 13-11, 14-12 to gain their solitary point.

Against Shodfriars B it was much the same story, with new signing Andy Wignall taking the place of Jimmy Brewster. And he (Andy) and Hill had no trouble with any of the Shoddy’s lads. Brett Heppenstall, playing his first game since early January, chipped in with two, beating Dave “Smiler” Smith in three straight but had to work hard to beat Scott “Twinkle Toes” Sykes. Despite pushing, Alan Ashberry close in the first end he (Brett) fell apart in the next tow, Alan easing home for Shoddys conciliatory point.

Lodgers G looks to have captured the runners-up spot, needing only two points from their two remaining games to make sure. On consecutive nights they picked up two more victories, beating Graves Park C 6-4 to put an end to the Park’s chances of nicking second place. The following night stablemates Lodgers B running out comfortable 8-2 winners. With two teams so evenly matched, the game against Park was close, swinging both ways, and despite going behind three times, the Park clawed it back the very next game. Kelvin Clements and Ian Royle did the damage for Lodgers, picking up three and two respectively, Clements winning his singles in straight legs. Royle seemed to struggle with Martin Walters and James Quinton, before running out a winner in the fourth end but he was no match for an illustrious Mick East, who eased home 11-6, 11-6, 11-7. The decisive doubles saw East and Quinton pair up to take on Clements and Royle and although the Park pair took the second set 11-9, the Lodgers pair clinched the match by winning the next two. Against the B it was a bit easier, Clements and Royle sweeping the opposition aside, Pete Evans and Tim Day pushing Ian Royle in one set, while Vic Clements had some hard luck going down 10-12 to Kelvin Clements. Andy Kirk started off badly losing his first two games but he picked up in his last game of the night, narrowly beating Tim Day 12-10, 11-8, 13-11.

Stickney A, for their match with Wrangle, again featured Natalie Bawden, who this week was taking the place of the unavailable Paul Hartnett. As expected, Natalie easily won her three, while a suitably refreshed Geoff Bourne chipped in with two, beating Frank Burbidge and Dave Coulson but losing rather surprisingly to Sam Cooper. Steve Blanchard had to be content with one, beating Coulson and despite being well beaten by Cooper had no luck against Burbidge, taking him all the way only to go down 12-14 in the final set. The doubles was perhaps the closest of all, Bourne and Blanchard combining for Stickney, while Burbidge and Cooper represented Wrangle. The game swung both ways, the Wrangle pair leading 2-1 but Bourne and Blanchard pulled it out of the hat to nick the last two, to guide the team to a 7-3 victory.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Stickney A 7, Wrangle 3; Lodgers G 8, Lodgers B 2; Wrangle 1, Penmaen 9; Penmaen 9, Shodfriars 1; Graves Park C 4, Lodgers G 6.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Pilgrim A 4, Stickney B 6.

Report for week ending Friday March 10

Battle still on for runners-up accolade

While “the show is not over until the fat lady sings,” most of the promotion and relegation issues in the Boston Table Tennis League are virtually settled. The only one where there is any doubt is the A D Dickinson Division Two runners-up spot. And while Mayflower B who missed their chance this week but who will be crowned as champions, the fight for the runners-up spot is still on the boil.

Mayflower beat Pilgrim 7-3 but then only scrambled to a 5-5 draw against mid-table Nomads. Against Pilgrim both Greg Dombek and Mariusz Hering were again on top form, neither of them being troubled by the Pilgrim trio. Greg Pacho, though, never got to grips with either Fred Calvert or Barry Frankish and despite narrowly winning the first against Alan Davy, he failed in the next three. He (Pacho) gained some recompense in the doubles though, combining with the other Greg (Dombek) to narrowly win 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8. In what will be seen as one of the shock results of the season.

Mayflower’s astonishing run of 17 successive wins was brought to a halt by Nomads, who this season have never shown their full potential. However, not too much should be read into the result as Mayflower only turned out with two players. But with the No 1 ranked Adrian Hering and No 2 ranked Greg Dombek both playing, it should have been enough. Mayflower started off well, winning the first three. Dombek made short work of Walt Bridges and Dean Clow while Hering stuttered to a 6-11, 11-4, 10-12, 13-11, 12-10 win over Tris Clow. Sensationally the wheels then came off the wagon. Hering, who has not lost a game all season, never got to grips with the style of Brides and though he lost by the narrowest of margins, it will still go down as his first defeat of the season. No 2 Dombek restored some order beating Tris Clow fairly comfortably but the pressure seemed to have got to Hering, who went down rather tamely to Dean Clow for his second defeat of the night. These two losses have seen Hering lose pole position in the ranking and he is now at No 2 with an outside possibility that he could even by No 3. With three walkovers, Nomads had the scent of victory in their nostrils but Hering and Dombek hit form in the doubles and although losing one end 10-12 won the next three fairly comfortably, to make sure of an equal share of the spoils.

Graves Park B eased through to second place with two good victories, beating Shodfriars C 7-3. and a few nights later Pilgrim 8-2. Against Shodfriars both Dave Graham and Mick Maltby were in commanding form, both of them brushing aside Dave Hocking and Roly Sharp but finding Paul Maxwell a but of a handful, Paul losing a close encounter against Maltby and going down in four against Graham. The Shoddy’s lads picked up one each, all of them beating Zena Kwok who, despite a splendid performance, went down in straight legs. The doubles were one way traffic, Maltby and Graham tidying up with a 11-6, 11-2, 11-3 win for a 7-3 victory.

Against Pilgrim the Park got away to the proverbial flyer, opening up a solid 5-0 lead Mick Maltby making short work of Alan Davy and Kit Calvert, while Dave Graham sorted out Fred Calvert and Davy. Zenda Kwok got another win under his belt beating Kit Calvert and turned in another impressive display against Fred Calvert losing in five. In fact Zenda held a 2-0 lead but Fred’s experience told and he (Fred) picked up the last three. Graham increased the Park’s lead but Kwok, despite another powerful showing, went down in four to Davy. Maltby concluded the singles with a straight set victory over Fred Calvert and then sat out the doubles, allowing Kwok to team up with Graham. The Kwok/Graham partnership quickly gelled, winning the first two without any trouble but in the third the Pilgrim pair of Davy and Kit Calvert turned in a stirling performance to come within a whisker of taking the game to a fourth set.

Stickney B met Shodfriars C and from two teams so equally matched a 5-5 draw seemed a fair result. As expected this was a close and exciting game, the pendulum swinging both ways, first one team then the other holding the upper hand. Cliff Davey gave Stickney an early lead beating Dave Hocking, but John Shortland put Shoddy’s on level terms with a five set win over Tim Sampson. Tony Hall and Paul Maxwell had a terrific struggle, Hall just edging it 12-10, 12-10, 11-6, but Shoddys drew level, Hocking getting his name on the board, coming from two sets down against Sampson to win the next three. Maxwell, after his first game disappointment got his name on the board, beating Davey to give Shoddys the lead. But Stickney fought back to level the scores, Hall beating Shortland fairly comfortably. In the closest game of the evening, Maxwell edged Shoddy’s in front in a five set thriller against Sampson but Hall (man of the match), completed his hat-trick, beating Hocking 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6. Shoddy’s soared back, Shortland beating Davey but Stickney made sure of an equal share of the points, Hall and Davey easing home in the doubles 11-8, 11-7, 11-8.

Rivals are evenly matched

The Yates and Greenhough Division One is all but tied up, only some of the minor places up for grabs.

Graves Park C and Shodfriars B who are both striving for this place in the table met, both sides being very evenly matched. The first match of the evening saw two of the top players face each other. No 3 ranked Alan “The Brick Wall” Ashberry, who has only lost two all season, took on No 7 ranked Mick East. The first two ends swung both ways, East taking the first end 14-12 but Ashberry, with a touch of fortune on his side, took the second end with two nets when the score was 10 apiece. East raised his game a touch, providing more top spin and took the game to Ashberry to win the next two ends 11-9 to clinch a game that was a credit to both players.

Shodfriars then found themselves on a bit of a slide, Dave “Smiler” Smith losing to James Quinton, while another game that could have gone either way, saw Roger Hooton go down 9-11 in the fifth to Martin Walters. East made short work of “Smiler” and Shoddys were in deep trouble but “The Brick Wall” Ashberry steadied the ship demoralising Walters in three. Hooton reduced the arrears with a narrow win over Quinton and Smiler then had the opportunity to bring Shoddy’s back into contention against Walters but he, like Hooton, let him off the hook in the fourth, allowing him to sneak the final end 11-9. Shoddy’s though were far from finished and Hooton faced East, which on paper there was only one winner. Roger started well, winning the first two, with Mick looking less than comfortable but he (Mick) hit back to win the third 11-6 and everyone thought that that was the turning point. Roger, though, stuck to his game plan and with Mick visibly turning after his strenuous efforts, Roger dug in to claim a very creditable win to put Shoddy’s back in the frame. Ashberry never had any trouble with Quinton, then he and Hooton combined to win the doubles in three straight for a very creditable draw.

Graves Park A and Stickney A, next door to each other in the table faced each other, Stickney arguably trengthening their team with the inclusion of Natalie Bawden, who is among the top ranked lady players in the UK. Stickney opened well with Paul Hartnett beating Rob Smith, while Natalie (filling in for Geoff Bourne who is on holiday) made short of Nick Langley. Phil Brooks made sure that Stickney weren’t going to run away with the game, beating Steve Blanchard but Hartnett and Bawden were in excellent form, both of them going on to win their singles in straight legs. Steve Blanchard had a less than happy night and could do nothing with none of the Park players. The Park had no joy in the doubles either, Bawden and Hartnett rounding off a great night, overwhelming the Park lads 11-1, 11-4, 11-6 for a 7-3 victory.

Lodgers A, who have had an up and down season put it all together when they met Shodfriars A running out comfortable 8-2 winners. It looked as though at one stage if this was going to be a whitewash, Lodgers getting away like an express train, Trev Blackbourn beating Jake the Pegg and Maurice Buck, while Graham Lacey, despite being pushed by Jake, beat Neil Snaith and Maurice Buck quite easily. Ian Stones had little or no trouble with either Snaith or Buck, yet it all went pear-shaped for him in the penultimate game of the night, Jake at last putting Shoddy’s on the board. This must have been catching, for in the last singles of the evening Blackbourn, who had played well all night, went down 4-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11 to Neil Snaith. Despite a tight battle in the doubles that was the end of the Shoddy revival, Jake and Snaith losing out in a close tussle, thus making Lodgers comfortable winners.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Shodfriars B 5, Graves Park C 5; Graves Park A 3, Stickney A 7; Lodgers A 8, Shodfriars A 2.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Pilgrim 3, Mayflower B 7; Mayflower B 5, Nomads 5; Shodfriars C 3, Graves Park B 7; Graves Park B 8, Pilgrim 2; Stickney B 5, Shodfriars C 5.

Report for week ending Friday March 3

Penmaen climb back to pole position

Penmaen regained top spot in the Yates and Greenhough Division One courtesy of a 10-0 win over Graves Park A, Brian Hill and Jimmy Brewster never looking in trouble. Andy Gilbert picked up his three but he had to fight all the way, being taken to the decisive set by Rob Smith, while the big hitting Phil Brooks took him to four. The doubles were never in doubt as Hill and Brewster breezed past Smith and Brooks to register a 10-0 win on their way to the title.

It wasn't a good week for Wrangle, losing two matches, which I fear spells their exit from the first division at the end of the season. First up was against Lodgers B, which in effect ensures their (Lodgers) survival in the top flight. Yet Wrangle kept in the game for long spells, Frank Burbidge giving them the lead beating Tim Day and No 6 ranked Pete Evans and with Sam Cooper also beating Day, Wrangle held a 3-2 lead.

However, Vic Clements hauled Wrangle back into it with a good win over Dennis Pattrick and Evans got his name on the board beating Cooper and it was all Lodgers. Day, after earlier efforts had ended in failure got his name on the board with a four set win over Pattrick. Vic Clements rounded off the singles with a comprehensive win over Burbidge and then sat the doubles out to watch Day and Evans ease to an 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 for a 7-3 victory.

Three days later they came up against the might of Graves Park C, who just lately have found a bit of form. Some of the games were close but Mick East had no trouble winning his in three straight. Martin Walters and James Quinton though required four to see off Frank Burbidge and Dennis Pattrick, while against Sam Cooper they just scraped home.The doubles was perhaps the closest game of the night, Quinton and Walters inching to victory, beating Cooper and Pattrick 11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 for a 10-0 wipe-out.

Shodfriars A assured their safety by picking up their first victory since early December, beating Lodgers F, who along with Wrangle, will be heading for Division Two next season. “Jake the Pegg” got ‘Shoddys on the board beating Pete Truepenny in four but Lodgers reply was prompt, David Kime having no truck with Neil Snaith, beating him fairly convincingly. Shoddy’s surged ahead, Maurice Buck beating Steve Harker, Snaith overcoming a stubborn Truepenny, while Jake beat Harker in four. Kime revived Lodgers fortunes but it was short lived, Snaith picking up his second of the night with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-0 victory over a somewhat despondent Harker. Truepenny pulled one back for Lodgers, beating Buck fairly comfortably but it was too little too late, Jake completing his hat-trick with a comfortable victory over Kime. The doubles was perhaps the closest game of the night, the scratch pair of Buck and Snaith battling back from two sets down to defeat Truepenny and Kime, winning the last three ends 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 to guide their team to a 7-3 victory.

Mayflower B closing in on title accolade

The battle for the A D Dickinson Division Two championship in the Boston Table Tennis League is all but over. The title is surely heading in the Mayflower B direction who have four games remaining and need just 17 points which would crown a memorable season for them. With no result from them this week it was left to their rivals, notably stablemates Mayflower C and Graves Park D.

Mayflower C, who last week dropped down to fourth, moved through in to second place with a 9-1 hammering of the William Lovell team. Paul Gilbert and Mick Dodes looked strong, comfortably winning their singles but it was Emma Watson who deserves the acclaim, picking up two, beating both Michael Ackerman and Michael Bradshaw in five sets

Ironically both of these could have swung the other way, Emma nicking it 14-12 against Ackerman and 13-11 against Bradshaw. However, despite beating Tom Phoenix 11-6 in the first end, Tom got his forehand going and won the next three giving Lovell their solitary point.

Graves Park D in the meantime saw their outside chances of promotion stay alive with an 8-2 win over Stickney B. who once again rested captain Tony Sharpe.James Smith, despite only have played five matches, looked in great form and although dropping a set to both Tony Hall and Tim Sampson, he won the fourth with some aplomb. Paul Matschull looked composed, picking up his three and although being taken to four by Hall, the fourth set was decisive. Just when it looked as though whitewash was going to be the order of the day, Cliff Davey sprang the surprise of the night, narrowly beating Dave Walters 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 to put Stickney on the board. With only the doubles remaining Stickney gave the scoresheet an air of respectability “man of the match” Davey (as far as Stickney were concerned), combining with Hall to beat the Park pair of Walters and Smith 11-9, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6.

William Lovell didn’t cover themselves with glory when they were supposed to entertain Lodgers D, only Michael Bradshaw bothering to turn up and I think the Lodgers team were pretty impressed about travelling to Boston just to play one game. Something will have to be done about this as it is not the first time it has happened. In the event it was no contest, Michael losing all his games in straight sets but Nev Leggate sportingly paired up with him (Bradshaw), so that the doubles of a sort could take place. In the event this was won by the Lodgers first team of Tony Kime and Graham Bonsor who eased home by scores of 11-4, 12-10, 11-5.

Nomads, who have never reached the heights of what was expected from them, turned in an impressive 10-0 win over Mayflower D who have improved immensely during the second half of the season.

Although the result looks clear-cut enough it was far closer than the score suggests. Sasha Martin being desperately unlucky not to take at least one, all his games going the full distance. Only losing 11-13 to Tris Clow in the fifth shows how close the contest was. Rachael Searles battled hard, taking a leg out of Walt Bridges and Dean Clow but against Tris Clow it was an uphill battle, Rachael going down 4-11, 8-11, 2-11. Andrew Benjamin started off well against Bridges, winning the first two but experience told, Walt comfortably winning the next three. The doubles was another close encounter, the Clow brothers edging home 11-8 in the fifth against Searles and Martin, to record the whitewash.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Lodgers B 4, Shodfriars B 6; Wrangle 3, Lodgers B 7; Graves Park C 10, Wrangle 0; Shodfriars A 7, Lodgers F 3; Penmaen 10, Graves Park A 0.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Mayflower C 9, William Lovell 1; William Lovell 0, Lodgers D 10; Graves Park D 8, Stickney B 2; Nomads 10, Mayflower D 0.