W/C 13/01/25
DIV ONE:
Shopfitting by SWS A and Leaders Molyneux Associates A played out a draw with a maximum from SWS’s Mike Griffiths secured the draw, with Tony Sweet and Glyn Price bringing home braces along with the doubles grabbing the points for Molyneux. The epic match of the evening saw Griffiths beat Sweet 11-6, 14-12, 1-11, 9-11, 1-7.
Molyneux Associates B and C met and the C team threw up some surprises claiming four points, but as usual it was Travis Foster who came away unscathed winning a perfect maximum. The style of play from different players was a struggle for the opposition all evening.
Shopfitting by SWS C (Steve Foster, Rob Barnes, Steve Tyler) were out played against there A team (Martin Parnell, Mike Briggs, Mark Weymouth). On a few occasions there was some close games but SWS A always had the upper hand winning 10-0.
DIV TWO:
Woodland Fort A played their club mates from the B team and Jon Goodfield of the A team won his first maximum of the phase. Graham Cooksley and Glenn Delaney (both of the B team) beat Abel Hernandez and Norman Hall respectively for Fort B's only 2 points of the match.
There were no maximums from any player when the top two teams in Division 2, who had both come down from Division 1 after the first round, played out a draw as Astor A met Crafthole A. This is the third time the teams have played this season, and their third draw, with the teams closely matched throughout the evening. At the halfway point it looks likely that both these teams will return to Division 1 at the end of this round.
A bottom of the table clash between the two clubs promoted to Div. 2 ended in honours even at 5 all. The highlight for Lee Mill was another maximum from Richard Smaridge which looked in doubt after being 2-0 down to Molyneux Associates D’s Pete Andrews before coming through to win 3-2.
DIV THREE:
A Despite Crafthole B defeating Astor D 9-1 this contest was much closer than the scoreline suggests, with many games going to the wire. Crafthole’s Rui Barretto was in good form, dropping just the one game in his singles matches and winning the doubles in 3 straight games with Anthony Shapland.
DIV FOUR:
Even though the score was 10 nil to Life Centre All Stars, Keiren McGarry and Jewel Vittle of Astor F played really well with fantastic rallies and McGarry got the only game for Astor but still lost 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8.
Astor E entertained the schoolboys of Shopfitting by SWS D and came out on top 8-2 with Nigel Aston (Astor) getting his maximum. It was a match where the steadier play of the more experienced Astor team prevailed against the harder hitting youngsters who with some brilliant winners were more erratic. SWS’s Jack Heinemann was particularly impressive with his backhand smashes. It shows a lot of confidence to go for their shots and they continue to improve.
Woodland Fort C could only field two players but despite this managed a draw against Molyneux Associates E with Nigel Aston securing a maximum and Lucas Deves a brace. The closest set saw Deves just beat Jeremy Willcox 6-11, 15-13, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10.
W/C 06/01/25
DIV ONE:
The top of the table clash between Molyneux Associates A and Shopfitting by SWS A saw the visitors prevailing 6–4 in a highly competitive encounter that was played in a great spirit. Martin Parnell, Mike Briggs and Mark Weymouth each secured a brace for the visitors 6 points with Tony Sweet getting a straight sets maximum and combining with Glyn Price in the doubles for the home sides 4 points.
Molyneux Associates B played Shopfitting by SWS C and there was an epic smashing and counter smashing set between Molyneux’s John Steuart and SWS’s Steve Foster with Steuart eventually winning the battle 11-3, 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 13-11. SWS’s Bryn Ford took the solitary point preventing the white wash.
A great evening of Table Tennis was played out in a competitive but friendly atmosphere when Shopfitting by SWS B defeated Molyneux Associates C 9-1. Maximums from SWS’s Mike Griffiths and Dan Kayes and a brace from Jan Walaszkowski along with the doubles secured what looks like a comfortable win, but was anything but, with 5 matches going to 5 sets and 4 going to 4.
DIV TWO:
Steve Garlick was in maximum form for Astor A against Woodland Fort B. Fort, with Jon Goodfield stepping up, pushed Astor all the way with both Goodfield and Glenn Delaney losing in fifth end deciders to Garlick. Graham Cooksley (2) narrowly defeated Tony Maestri 11-9 in a deciding fifth end before Garlick and Maestri combined for the doubles and took the 6-4 win.
Lee Mill (Richard Smaridge 3) claimed their first win of this phase in a close fought match which could have gone either way ended with the Millers winning 6-4.
There was a clear gulf in class when previously promoted Molyneux Associates D entertained previously relegated Crafthole A in this division. The 10-0 win for Crafthole was totally reflective of their dominance. Only Pete Andrews for Molyneux came close to winning, taking Shirley Luckhurst to 5 games, being 2-0 up in the match before eventually losing the fifth game 7-11.
DIV THREE:
A very entertaining match between Astor D and Astor B club mates saw some close games and some very heavy hitting, particularly by Andy Watmore of Astor D. He got his money's worth playing a total of 19 games from a possible 20 (including the doubles). Overall, Astor B were too strong for the D team whose 3 points came from Nick May, Andy Watmore and the same pair in the doubles. There were maximums from Les Cole and Chris Tucker in their 7-3 win.
Shopfitting by SWS E, Tony Bray, John Palmer and Trevor Mole inflicted a heavy defeat and white washed Marjon but despite each player being unbeaten, no player won their matches without losing a game.
DIV FOUR:
Woodland Fort C and Shopfitting by SWS D played out a draw with Fort’s veteran Richard Searle claiming the only maximum. Fort’s young Lucas Deves continues to improve in his inaugural year defeating Jacapo Corino in straight games and only just losing to Neel Shivane (2) 6-11, 11-3, 12-14, 11-8, 6-11.
W/C 16/12/24
DIV ONE:
Shopfitting by SWS C welcomed the B side and both teams played some brilliant Table Tennis throughout the evening with the B team winning 8-2. Man of the match must go to Dan Kayes (SWS B) who took a maximum with some outstanding hitting with his backhand only losing one end.
Molyneux Associated C hosted their A team club mates, but were whitewashed. There were some close games throughout the night, but ultimately the skill of the away team players was too much to handle.
Shopfitting by SWS A won 6-4 against Molyneux Associates B but none of their players managed to defeat Travis Foster who managed to return some shots with ridiculous accuracy. Foster also partnered Steve Hill to secure the doubles 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.
DIV TWO:
Richard Smaridge was the inform player for Lee Mill in their 3-7 loss to Astor A, taking two of his team's points and the doubles with Mark Chapman. Astor's Tony Maestri continued his unbeaten run with another maximum. John Sherlock just managed to beat Mark Chapman, having come from behind in several games to win the set 11-9 in the 5th end.
The final score didn't reflect the events of the evening with Muhammad Arsal taking both of Molyneux Associates D’s 2 points, but four of the other matches all going to 5 sets. Woodland Fort A’s Abel Hernandez took the only maximum of the evening, including beating Arsal 11-6, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5.
Crafthole A (relegated after phase one) look certain to bounce straight back to Div One after a 9-1 victory over Woodland Fort B. However, there were some close games but mainly experience won it for them in the end. Surprisingly, Crafthole’s Shirley Luckhurst lost to Ralph Stone 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11.
DIV THREE:
Despite the 10-0 scoreline for Astor B, there were some closely contested matches particularly Tony Powlesland and Les Cole (both of Astor) beating Dave Vanstone 11-5 and Dave Martin 13-11 in the 5th respectively.
Steve Harvey and Andy Watmore secured maximums for Astor D in their 7-3 victory over Marjon where only one game was won in straight games, and no less than7 sets were went to the fifth end meaning the overall match was a very close encounter.
Trevor Mole was in form and unbeaten in Shopfitting by SWS E’s visit to Crafthole B despite a 3-7 lose. With some close scores, Astor’s John Palmer was unlucky to come away with nothing.
DIV FOUR:
The youngsters from Shopfitting by SWS D, Neel Shivane, Ayeen Chatterjee and Jack Heinemann secured their first win of the season with a whitewash over bottom club Astor F. The double match was their toughest as they lost the first two ends but fortunately came back well to eventually win 7-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3.
Shane Jones (Life Centre All Stars) secured a max score while Richard Searle and Nigel Aston of Woodland Fort C both won braces and helped Fort win 6-4, Jones just managed to beat Aston in an epic just winning the fifth game in a tie-break 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10.
W/C 09/12/24
DIV ONE:
Club mates from Molyneux Associates A and B went the way of the A team winning 7-3 with Travis Foster taking all of the B team points in a great evening with some great table tennis.
Also club mates from Shopfitting by SWS A and B went head-to-head with the A team winning 7-3. Braces from the A teams Gary West, Martin Parnell & Mike Briggs along with the doubles secured what looks like a comfortable win, but with the ever-consistent Mike Griffiths (SWS B) took his customary maximum and but for a few fortunate bounces going the opposite way, the final score could have been a closer affair.
The two promoted teams played against each other and there was little to separate them both with Molyneux Associates winning 6-4 thanks to winning the doubles match. Shopfitting by SWS C’s Rob Barnes (2) played at his best against Paul Haigh (2), not missing the table. Jake Neilson was great on his feet to beat SWS’s Steve Tyler in straight sets.
DIV TWO:
A great evening ensued in a drawn match between Woodland Fort A and Astor A (with no less than nine games going to tie-breaks) with some fierce games with neither team pulling ahead by more than one point at any time during the evening and the only maximum going to Astor's Tony Maestri.
Richard Smaridge of Lee Mill played brilliantly to win two hard fought sets but it could so easily have been three but for some tenacious and skilful play by Shirley Luckhurst of Crafthole A. Although a demoted Div One team versus a promoted Div Three was always going to show a difference in class, but all players enjoyed the opportunity to play against different player styles.
In the match between Molyneux D v Woodland Fort B Ralph Stone gained a maximum. The match between Stone and Muhammed Arsal (2) was a tight battle with many great rallies and defensive plays (5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7) but Fort came away with a 7-3 win.
DIV THREE:
John Palmer dropped down a division to joined Shopfitting by SWS E and took a maximum in a 7-3 win over Astor D, who kindly agreed to lend Tony Bray to Astor for the evening. In all, there four matches went to the fifth game with the spoils shared.
Three early wins for Marjon looked ominous for Horrabridge, but Horrabridge rallied to win 7-3, with David Wilson the only player to win all their games even though John Dodd (1) took it to the fifth end.
DIV FOUR:
Dave Nash of bottom club got his team’s only point against Woodland Fort C (Richards Searle 3, Lucas Deves 3) by beating newcomer Travis Mason in a very close match 13-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7.
Shopfitting by SWS D had the serves, repertoire of shots, ability for mid-game defence, and movement all on their side and the youngest side in the league looked the favourites, however that ever elusive tactic of match-play worked against them as the seasoned experience of Molyneux Associates E did not cower at impressively fast hitting, grew to handle the serves, made less unforced errors thus emerging 9-1 victors.
W/C 02/12/24
DIV ONE:
Newly promoted SWS C were no match for a rampant Molyneux Ass A, only Bryn Ford of SWS took Glyn Price to 5 games. Plenty of good banter to make it an enjoyable evening.
Travis Foster of Molyneux Associates B despite feeling unwell still secured a maximum over Shopfitting by SWS B and then partnered Steve Hill to win the Doubles in 5 games to secure a draw.
Newly promoted Molyneux Associates C struggled against Shopfitting By SWS A losing 9-1 with almost all games being won in straight games but it was Jake Neilson, playing with new rubbers, who gained the solitary point defeating Mike Briggs 13-11, 8-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-3.
DIV TWO:
Newly promoted Lee Mill put up stern resistance at Woodland Ford B but eventually went down to a 7 - 3 defeat. Lee Mill’s Mark Chapman came from 3 - 9 down to take the deciding fifth set 11 - 9 against Glenn Delaney, who in turn came from a set down to beat Ann Warren and win only his second game of the season for Fort.
With Astor A coming down from Div 1 and Molyneux Associates D promoted from Div 3, the result of this match reflected the previous league positions of the teams, Astor winning 9-1. Muhammed Arsal took Molyneux's sole point against Astor's John Sherlock. Alan Davis had a close set against Sherlock, with Sherlock being 7-1 up in one game and then just managing to close it out at 16-14, and then being 8-1 up in the fourth end, only for Davis to come back again, although with just too much to do, losing it 11-9.
Crafthole A won 8-2 against Woodland Fort A with Abel Hernandez and Jon Goodfield securing both of Fort’s team points by beating Iain Oxenham.
DIV THREE:
Following relegation, Astor B had a good start by beating Shopfitting By SWS E 9-1. There were close games with 3 games going to 5 sets. For Astor, Keith James beat Mel Birwe 12-10 in the 5th and for SWS, Trevor Mole beat Les Cole 11-9 in the 5th. After a poor start in the doubles, Cole and James for beat Mole and Birwe 5-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.
Maximums and the doubles by Steve Harvey and Andy Watmore gave Astor D the victory 7-3 over newly promoted Horrabridge all of whom proved too strong for Nick May. Horrabridge were worthy of their promotion with some fine play from all 3 and some great points.
Crafthole B could only field two players against Marjon but managed a 6-4 victory with Marjon’s Mike Chapple Defeating Martin Hynes.
DIV FOUR:
Relegated Shopfitting by SWS D played out a draw against Life Centre All Stars with SWS’s Jack Heinemann securing a maximum, but Shane Jones put up most resistance only losing the last game in a tie-break 11-8, 11-4, 711, 10-12, 15-13.
Astor E (Nigel Aston 3, Ken Chambers 3) beat Woodland Fort C 7-3. However, Fort C have some good young players who will only improve as the season progresses. None more so than 14yr old Lucas Deves who played well and defeated the very experienced John Cobbledick 11-6, 11-1, 9-11, 11-8.
Struggling Astor F suffered their first whitewash, in this phase, against Molyneux Associates E.
