W/C 11/11/24
DIV ONE:
This being the penultimate week of the first phase of the season all matches in Div One were extremely close matches with two draws and one 6-4 win to Shopfitting By SWS A who got the better of Molyneux Associates A and inflicted Sam Bruty’s first duck of the season. Tony Sweet returned to winnings ways with the only maximum of the evening.
The bottom two clubs, Crathole A and Astor A played out a draw with Astor’s Tony Maestri winning his third maximum of the season, all in straight games. Astor’s John Sherlock was unlucky to lose to Iain Oxenham by going all the way to the fifth end and just losing 4-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11.
Molyneux Associates B and Shopfitting By SWS B played out a draw with some excellent shots and defending. Molyneux’s Travis Foster once again stole the show with a perfect maximum including a 11-3, 11-1, 11-0 score in one set.
DIV TWO:
A closely contested match resulting in a 5 all draw saw Astor B’s, Keith James and Tony Powlesland winning 2 each and Chris Tucker 1 and for Woodland Fort, Ralph Stone and Graham Cooksley winning 2 each plus the doubles.
A great spirited evening ensued between Woodland Fort A and Shopfitting By SWS C, with some epic rallies and fantastic shots. Steve Foster won the only maximum of the evening for SWS and with the doubles and one win from Rob Barnes levelled the score at the end of the match. SWS now require one more point for promotion.
With an 8-2 victory over Crafthole B, Molyneux Associates C (Mitch Nash 3) are promoted to Div One. Rui Barretto claimed the points for Crafthole.
DIV THREE:
Inter-Club rivalry was in action when Astor E played Astor D with the D team winning 6-4 and Andy Watmore playing well to achieve the only maximum of the evening. There were some very tight games the closest when Nigel Aston (Astor E) won after 5 ends 11-4, 11-7, 6-1,1 14-16, 13-11 against Nick May.
Lee Mill defeated the youngsters from Shopfitting By SWS D team 8-2 but the lads showed great improvement as six games went to four or more sets whereas every game only took three sets in the previous encounter. With this win Lee Mill are automatically promoted with one week to go.
DIV FOUR:
With Toby Spencer of Molyneux Associates E securing another maximum, his team won 6-4 against Life Centre All Stars. Young Spencer also partnered his Father Alan to also win the doubles against Shane Jones and Mike Kodicek 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7.
Marjon’s John Dodd and Adam Forshaw both claimed maximums and the doubles in the 7-3 win over Woodland Fort C. Dodd rode his luck to the end of the match against Mike Willis just winning the last two ends 14-12 and 12-10 of a five game match. The longest game saw Marjon win 20-18 in the second end of the doubles.
Unfortunately Astor F suffered another white wash all in straight games against Horrabridge.
W/C 04/11/24
DIV ONE:
The long unbeaten run of Tony Sweet (Molyneux Associates A) dating back to November 2021 came to an end this week with Travis Foster of the B team defeating him 3-1. With Foster 2 nil up, Sweet fought back winning the next game 11-2 only for Foster to open up and reverse the score in the fourth end. Foster also found himself 1-5 down in all three games against Garry Reed to unbelievably fight back and win 11-8, 11-8, 13-11. Molyneux A won the match 6-4.
Astor A started with a win for Steve Garlick against Colin Mitchell, but the all the other singles matches resulted in a Shopfitting By SWS B win. Astor's Garlick and Tony Maestri also managed to win the 5 game doubles match against Mitchell and Dan Kayes.
Despite Crafthole A’s Shirley Luckhurst winning her first maximum of the season her team lost 4-6 to Shopfitting By SWS A. The only 5 game set saw Luckhurst defeat Martin Parnell coming from 2 nil down 10-12, 8-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-6.
DIV TWO:
Woodland Fort B drew their second consecutive game with visitors Crafthole B. Anthony Shapland was in maximum form for Crafthole coming from 2-1 down to beat both Graham Cooksley and Ralph Stone in the fifth end. Stone and Cooksley both picked up braces and combined to take the doubles and secure the draw but all players contributed to the quality on display.
Shopfitting By SWS C had to call up Trevor Mole from division 3, who had an outstanding evening taking a maximum over Astor B. Chris Tucker took a brace for Astor in a great evening with some fine table tennis and some very close matches.
Molyneux Associates C hosted Woodland Fort A for an 8-2 home win, with Paul Haigh and Mitch Nash getting maximums and continuing their great form. Abel Hernandez and Jon Goldfield picked up a point each for Fort. Molyneux lead the division and need one more point from either remaining matches to secure promotion.
DIV THREE:
A maximum for Muhammad Arsal of Molyneux Associates C was the highlight the match against Astor D and most notably against Andy Watmore (2) coming from behind and improving game by game winning the last 3 end convincingly 1-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4.
Another 100% record fell as Lee Mill’s Richard Smaridge lost in straight games to Trevor Mole of Astor E 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 but despite this Lee mill came away with a 6-4 victory.
Shopfitting By SWS E lost 2-8 to Astor E but with John Dodd (standing in) and Jack Heinemann both losing 11-9 in their respective fifth ends the score line could have been closer. Heinemann secured one of his teams points by beating Nigel Aston 20-18 in the fifth end.
DIV FOUR:
Shane Jones and Shaun Hughes both gained maximums for Life Centre All Stars in a 6-4 win over Woodland Fort C, with some outstanding shots. Fort’s young Lucas Deves played well and is improving with every match.
Astor F suffered another Whitewash, this time at the hands of Molyneux Associates E but Dave Nash put up a great fight only just losing out to Chris Dodd after being 2-1 up 11-7, 4-11, 11-4, 9-11, 8-11.
W/C 28/10/24
DIV ONE:
Astor A and Molyneux Associates B played out an epic battle with possibly one of the teams being relegated at the end of this Phase. It was Astor (Tony Maestri 3) that won 6-4 but it could have easily been a draw as Molynuex lost the final set 11-13 in the fifth end of the doubles. Throughout the match all players played some tremendous returns and shots.
Crafthole suffered a whitewash at the hands of the leaders Molyneux Associates A but Shirley Luckhurst put up a brave fight losing two of the sets both in the fifth end to Glyn Price and Sam Bruty.
Shopfitting By SWS A lost 3-7 to their club mates from the B team with Mike Griffiths making his third appearance of the season and taking a maximum.
DIV TWO:
A closely contested match resulting in a 5 all draw with 4 games going to 5 sets, saw Richard Searle (playing up for Woodland Fort A,) win 2, John Goodfield also winning 2 and Norman Hall 1. For Astor B Les Cole took 2 with Keith James and Tony Powlesland winning 1 each with Cole and James winning the doubles.
Crafthole B’s Anthony Shapland, Martin Hynes and Rui Barretto all secured braces in a close 6-4 encounter with Shopfitting By SWS C with no less than 8 games requiring tie-breaks (and ending 5-3 to Crafthole).
DIV THREE:
Richard Smaridge of Lee Mill showed why he is unbeaten in the league at present with a great performance helping his team to a 7-3 victory away at Astor E. Astor’s Ken Chambers did well to beat Mark Chapman in a hard fought match played over four games.
Shopfitting By SWS E managed a 7-3 win over Astor D with 5 sets going all the way. A maximum from newcomer Mel Birwe for SWS E was the stand out performance. The set of the evening between Steve Harvey and Trevor Mole was about as close as they come. Having scored a minimum of 11 points per game in the first 4 games Harvey found himself only at 2-2, but he decider eventually went his way.
Molyneux Associates D's 8-2 defeat of Shopfitting By SWS D was not an easy win as the score line suggests. The young SWS team are improving game by game. Muhammed Arsal and Pete Andrews for Molyneux gained maximums. Jack Heinamann for SWS beat Alan Davis in three straight games, and Jacopo Corino and Neel Shivane of SWS showed excellent teamwork to win the doubles.
DIV FOUR:
Marjon’s Adam Forshaw and John Dodd secured their first maximums of the season and with an 8-2 victory over Molyneux Associates E leaped frogged them in the league table It was a closer match than the score suggested with no less than 11 tie-breaks through all matches.. Any one of five teams could still be promoted from this league.
David Wilson of Horrabridge played well earning his hatrick and the doubles. Woodland Fort’s Mike Willis recovered from 2 games down to beat Crispin Jordan and also took David Wilson to 15 all before losing the fourth end. Fort’s Richard Searle won 2 sets quite easily before meeting David Wilson who was unstoppable throughout his matches.
W/C 21/10/24
DIV ONE:
Molyneux Associates A returned to winning ways with a their first 10 – 0 win over Astor A. Man of the Match was Garry Reed who scored a perfect maximum winning all his games in straight sets. The closest games of the evening were Sam Bruty’s 5th game victories over Astor’s Tony Maestri and Mitch Nash.
Travis Foster’s maximum (and the doubles) could not stop Shopfitting By SWS A from beating Molyneux Associates B 4-6 in a very friendly match. Molyneux’s Steve Hill was unlucky in losing to Martin Parnell after losing two 11-13 tie-breaks in a great 5 game match.
Jan Walaszkowski (Shopfitting By SWS B) making his first outing for the season secured a hard fought maximum needing 14 games to achieve this. Backed up with a brace from Colin Mitchell and one from Dan Kayes won 6-4. Iain Oxenham secured a good brace for Crafthole A, with Mike Cookson claiming a point and both joined forces to take the doubles.
DIV TWO:
Jon Goodfield of Woodland Fort A secured his first maximum of the season but his team still lost 4-6 to Crafthole B. Richard Searle kindly played up taking a well-earned point against Crafthole's Antony Shapland.
Shopfitting By SWS C ran into a 4-1 lead against Woodland Fort B but the Fort came back strongly only to lose 6-4. No maximums in this match but braces for Steve Tyler, Rob Barnes and Steve Foster for SWS and a couple from on form Ralph Stone for the Fort.
DIV THREE:
It was a rather fast and furious encounter when Lee Mill beat Molyneux Associates D 7-3 with nearly all of the matches taking less than ten minutes to play. Wendy Roberts (Lee Mill) managed to win her first of the season and Mohammed Arsal (Molyneux) hit some of the fastest shots some of the players had ever seen!
DIV FOUR:
Woodland Fort C gave a debut to 14 year old Lucas Deves and the occasion did not overwhelm him as he secured a maximum all in straight games, helping his team whitewash Astor F. Deves also partnered 83 year old Mike Willis for the doubles and with a 69 years between them the beat Astor 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7.
W/C 14/10/24
DIV ONE:
Travis Foster of Molyneux Associates B remains unbeaten, this time against a very resilient Crafthole A helping his team to a 6-4 win. The score could have been quite easily 8-2 but both Crafthole’s Iain Oxenham and Shirley Luckhurst managed to win their 5th end games on tie-breaks 12-10. Throughout the whole evening all players competed in some absolutely tremendous rallies.
Shopfitting By SWS B shocked the runaway leaders Molyneux Associates A who have previously managed four 8-2 win. SWS had a great start to lead 4 nil, but then SWS only managed to take one more singles and the doubles ending in a 6-4 win to SWS.
Astor A called on Mitch Nash from Division 2 in their 2-8 defeat at the hands of Shopfitting By SWS A (Martin Parnell 3). Nash played exceptionally well to beat Gary West in a 5 ends. The set of the night saw Astor’s Tony Maestri take the win against Mark Weymouth also in 5 ends, Maestri just managing to stay ahead of Weymouth in the final end to win it 11-9.
DIV TWO:
The two top teams, both with unbeaten records in division two, Shopfitting By SWS C v Molyneux Associates C battled it out in a very entertaining evening. Molyneux’s Paul Haigh was in top form with great control and superb looping to get his maximum and help his side to a 7-3 win. He was backed up by Jake Neilson taking 2 games with great returning from the back of the playing area.
Woodland Fort A and B played out a draw with no single player taking a maximum. Despite SWS’s A Norman Hall only winning one match all his matches went to the fifth end. The first match of the evening saw SWS A’s John Goodfield just lost to Graham Cooksley with three ends going to tie-breaks deuces 10-12, 17-19, 11-4, 11-13.
Keith James of Astor B is beginning to show skills of a distant past, however Crafthole B battled on winning 7-3 with Martin Hynes, Anthony Shapland and Rui Barretto all taking braces and eventually the doubles after being 2 nil down.
DIV THREE:
Lee Mill and Astor D drew their match but the outstanding match saw the Millers Richard Smaridge and Steve Harvey battle it out. Harvey came so close to ending Smaridge’s 100% record. It was a fast and furious game with some brilliant shots winning the long and competitive rallies. The two deuce games reveal just how close it was but Smaridge’s doggedness and tenacity won through in the end 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 13-11, 14-12.
It was a long evening when Astor E played Molyneux Associates D with 5 sets going to 5 ends and after a very close contest Molyneux Associates came out on top 6-4. Muhammed Arsal (Molyneux) was the only player to achieve a maximum but Alan Davis (Molyneux) was at his defensive best saving several match points and winning long rallies.
The experienced two players of Shopfitting By SWS E (Trevor Mole 3, Tony Bray 2) still managed a win over their far younger SWS D club mates.
DIV FOUR:
Molyneux Associates E won an epic 7-3 battle over Woodland Fort C. Fort’s newbie Travis Mason played his first ever match in the league and started with a 5 end victory over Chris Dodd with some tremendous rallies.
W/C 07/10/24
DIV ONE:
Molyneux Associates A came out 8–2 victors over Shopfitting By SWS A but the result isn’t a true reflection of how close the match was. SWS’s points came from Mark Weymouth’s victory over Sam Bruty and Martin Parnell over Glyn Price. On another night Weymouth could have had a maximum as he narrowly lost out to Tony Sweet and Glyn Price in the 5th set. Gary West was also on the losing end of a couple of 5 setters losing to Sweet and Sam Bruty.
Steve Garlick looked like he was going to have an easy win over Crafthole's Iain Oxenham in the 5 all draw between Astor A and Crafthole A, having won the first game 11-2, and being 8-2 up in the second, however Oxenham came back to win it 12-10 and then took the set to 5 ends, although eventually losing in the 5th. Mike Cookson (Crafthole) was playing exceptionally well with accurate and powerful topspin loops, beating his brother Steve in 5 games.
Shopfitting By SWS B defeated Molyneux Associates B 6-4 with Molyneux having to thank Travis Foster once again for his maximum. Shopfitting By SWS’s Colin Mitchell was involved in both of the only 5 game matches and won them both.
DIV TWO:
Shopfitting By SWS C had to work very hard for their 6-4 win over Woodland Fort A. Jon Goodfield was the inform Fort player taking 2 games but lost to Steve Foster in the 4th game 11-6, 11-4, 11-13, 11-9. Good banter ensued between both teams.
Astor B won their first match of the season winning 6-4 against Woodland Fort B with some very close matches with both Tony Powlesland and Chris Tucker taken to 5 games in their first set. Graham Cooksley for Fort was the most successful, winning two matches. The Doubles again went to 5 games with Fort coming out on top.
Molyneux Associates C hosted Crafthole B for an 8-2 home win. There were some very tight games, with Mitch Nash (Molyneux) coming out on top of two 5 game matches and Martin Hynes (Crafthole) also coming back from 2 down against Paul Haigh for a good win. Anthony Shapland got the other Crafthole point and Jake Neilson obtained his first maximum of the season.
DIV THREE:
Astor D, playing with 2 players, had Trevor Mole to thank for playing up and taking 3 games and the doubles with Steve Harvey to beat Astor E in the local Derby 6-4. Nigel Aston was in good form beating Steve Harvey in 5 games having been 2-1 down.
Lee Mill played Shopfitting By SWS D and the scorecard saw all matches won in three ends and resulted in a 7-3 win Lee Mill with Richard Smaridge (undefeated) and Mark Chapman securing maximums.
Shopfitting By SWS E had quite a convincing 9-1 victory over Molyneux Associates D with Muhammed Arsal saving the whitewash beating Tony Bray in straight games.
DIV FOUR:
Mike Willis was the man of the match for Woodland Fort C (6) against Marjon (4) winning all his matches in his first game of the season. His match against Mike Chapple was his toughest but he prevailed to win 11-5, 15-13, 9-11, 4-11, 11-6. Another great match saw Fort’s Richard Searle just defeat Adam Forshaw.
W/C 30/09/24
DIV ONE:
Molyneux Associates A and B met in a great evening of table tennis played in the highest spirit of the game saw the A team win 8-2. Sam Bruty suffered both of his teams loses but Tony Sweet and Glyn Price claimed maximums and the doubles. Both teams had their fair share of nets and edges in an entertaining evening!
Tony Maestri of Astor A played exceptionally well in winning all his matches, but Mitch Nash, playing up from Div2 for Shopfitting By SWS B played really well but came away winless. It was Colin Mitchell and Darbz Allen who both claimed braces in their 4-6 loss to Astor.
DIV TWO:
Woodland Fort B thought it was great to see some new faces in the league, but Paul Haigh and Mitch Nash both taking maximums for Molyneux Associates B with Abel Hernandez taking Fort’s solitary point the 1-9 score line was not so welcome.
Steve Foster won a maximum and Bryn Ford a brace (on his return from injury) for Shopfitting By SWS C to win by 6-4. Tony Powlesland won his first 2 games of the season for Astor B with Les Cole winning 1 and Cole and Keith James beating Foster and Ford for an epic battle in the doubles for Astor to win 17-15 in the 5th.
For the third week in a row Crafthole B only had two players and this time lost to Woodland Fort B 3-7 with Fort’s Ralph Stone taking a maximum. Glenn Delaney (Fort) was unlucky not to get his first point of the season losing to Martin Wilcox 11-13 in the fifth end.
DIV THREE:
A close match and late night with four sets going to a fifth set saw Lee Mill win 6-4 over Shopfitting By SWS E, the highlight being Ann Warren’s comeback from 2-0 down against SWS’s Tony Bray to eventually win 6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3.
Astor E played the Devonport High schoolboys of Shopfitting SWS D. Although experienced Astor E won the match 7-3 the boys spirit and attitude were first class. There were many tight games and Jack Heinemamm (SWS D) especially was unlucky to come away with a solitary point after taking it to 5 ends in two games. Playing in the league for the 1st time they are adapting very well and surely will only get even better.
In the match between Molyneux Associates D and Astor D Muhammed Arsal gained his second maximum of the season. Steve Harvey (Astor) kept his nerve in three tight games against Alan Davis winning 12-10, 13-11 and 12-10. Arsal and Pete Andrews won the doubles in four to give Molyneux a 6-4 win.
DIV FOUR:
Horrabridge closed the gap on the current leaders Marjon to one point and they have a game in hand by beating them 7-3 with David Martin taking a maximum. MarJon’s Mike Chapple found himself two nil up against Crispin Jordan only to lose the next three ends 10, 8 and 6.
W/C 23/09/24
DIV ONE:
Molyneux Associates A came out 8-2 victors against Crafthole A with Iain Oxenham picking up the 2 points for the visitors. The match could have potentially been closer had Mike Cookson not sustained a knee injury early in the game against Garry Reed; an injury that greatly affected his mobility.
Travis Foster once again took a maximum (and the doubles) playing some fantastic shots but his team suffered a 4-6 lost to Astor A in a great entertaining evening.
Shopfitting By SWS A and B played out a fantastic draw. Mike Griffiths and Mark Weymouth battled out a 5 games with Griffiths taking the last 2 games 3 and 5. Griffiths found rather than play at 100 miles an hour to try that big winner, he just eased off with the pace a bit and found a good rhythm. Weymouth graceful in defeat accepting Griffiths played really well.
DIV TWO:
Woodland Fort A’s newest recruit Abel Hernandez proved man of the match with the only maximum of the evening and a down to the knuckle 5 setter in the doubles partnering Norman Hall. Keith James returned to playing after many years and will certainly improve with more practice and games.
Crafthole B played very well against Shopfitting By SWS C with only two players. There were some very close matches especially in the doubles when the pairing of Rob Barnes and Steve Tyler of SWS C defeated Craftholes Anthony Shapland and Martin Willcox 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4.
Graham Cooksley took a maximum for Woodland Fort B, beating Paul Haigh (Molyneux Associates C) with the faintest of edges to win the final point in the fifth set 11-9 (second week running this has happened to Haigh!). Fort’s Ralph Stone picked up the other away team point against Steve Foster who was stepping in for the home team. Foster picked up a win against Glenn Delaney with two wins each for Haigh and Mitchell Nash and, pairing up together, to take the doubles gave Molynuex a 6-4 win.
DIV THREE:
There was a comfortable 9-1 win for Lee Mill against Astor A with Nigel Aston stopping the whitewash beating Ann Warren in straight games.
Steve Harvey of Astor D gets the award for shot of the night in the doubles. What should have been a winning shot by Shopfitting By SWS E, he managed to reach and send it back with loads of spin round the net to win the point. Despite this, his team did suffer a 4-6 loss.
DIV FOUR:
Life Centre All Stars (Shane Jones 3, Mike Kodicek 3, Glyn Oldfield 2) won their first ever match in the league beating Astor F 9-1. It was Astor’s Dave Nash that took the solitary point beating Oldfield 11-5 in the 5th game.
Star of the night was Young Toby Spencer was the Star of the night for Molyneux Associates E when they played Marjon. The hit rate of his smashes has improved dramatically this season, which combined with a thoughtful tactical game made him unbeatable on the night, helping his team to a 7-3 win albeit with 6 out of 7 tie-breaks going in favour of Molyneux.
W/C 16/09/24
The start of the new season saw three new teams join the league this year.
DIV ONE:
Crafthole A hosted Shopfitting By SWS B but suffered a 2-8 loss with SWS’s Mike Griffiths obtaining a maximum despite Mike Briggs pushing him all the way 11-6, 11-13, 4-11, 14-12, 3-11.
Briggs then played for his own team Shopfitting By SWS A but arrived with a shoulder injury and was under par all evening. It was Travis Foster of Molyneux Associates B that stole the show by winning a perfect maximum, and then partnered John Steuart to secure a 6-4 victory.
With a number of players being slightly out of practice, serving proved challenging and many points were conceded with faults! Despite the 8-2 score line, a number of the games won by Molyneux A against Astor A were close, with Tony Maestri taking the sole singles point for Astor, along with the doubles with Steve Garlick.
DIV TWO:
Rob Barnes secured a maximum for Shopfitting By SWS C in their 6-4 win over Woodland Fort B. Support came from Steve Foster 2 and John Palmer 1 although Palmer's narrow defeat verses Fort's Ralph Stone hinged on a 16-14 defeat in the second end where Stone had more than his fair share of nets and edges.
There was a disappointing loss for Astor B but with some closely contested games. Molyneux Associates C (Jake Neilson, newcomers Paul Haigh and Mitchell Nash) took 2 each plus the doubles. Les Cole just managed to beat newcomer Paul Haigh in the 5th game by 12 -10 having been winning 8-2.
Crafthole B, with only two players, managed a 6-4 win over Woodland Fort A with Rui Barretto claiming an almost perfect maximum.
DIV THREE:
The new youngsters of Shopfitting By SWS D played their first ever match in the league, but nerves got the better of them and they suffered a 10 nil loss to Astor D but there was some great play from Jack Heinemann, Neel Shivane and Jacopo Corino. Shivane found himself 2 nil up against Nick May only to lose the next three ends 8, 4 and 4. No doubt they will learn quickly and their first point isn’t far away!
Astor E beat Shopfitting by SWS E 6-4. Newcomers to Astor E, Nigel Aston and Barry Oliver played well with Oliver saving match points against (the returning to league play) Tony Bray in the 4th set before winning the 5th and the match 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 15-13, 11-9. Ken Chambers (Astor E ), also had a good evening and was inspired in beating both Bray and Martin Fowler in straight sets with some wonderful shots.
Lee Mill were back to full strength against Molyneux Associates D with the return of Richard Smaridge after a long absence through injury. Smaridge and Mark Chapman both scored maximums. Muhammed Arsal in his first ever league game took two matches to five sets but just couldn't get over the line.
DIV FOUR:
Newcomers Life Centre All Stars, Shane Jones (1), Shaun Hughes (1) and Kevin Proctor managed to win 2 points over Marjon but Mike Chapple took a maximum for his team. Jones was unlucky not to win another Set by only losing 9-11 in the fifth end to John Dodd.
