Ashford & District Table Tennis League, Sponsored by Trophy Pet Foods (East Kent).

Full Results: www.tabletennis365.com/Ashford

This week saw the return of the Winter League a month after the conclusion of the Summer League.    Again the league can boast four divisions of seven teams fighting it out for promotion at Christmas, or to avoid relegation.

First match of the new season in Division 1 saw reigning champions Postling A pay a visit to Challock home over the best singles player based on averages from last season, Paul Amos.  And based on the result he hasn’t broken stride and is already laying claim to top spot again this time around.  Lee Hirst of Challock, and Malcolm Stakes of Postling we first to take to the table.  On this occasion the fast attacking style of Skates was far too much for Hirst to handle going down 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.  The second match up was Tim Pichowski playing against Roy Coles. Roy started well keeping Tim in check for the first leg keeping it tight but finally losing out 14-12.  Unfortunately Roy was unable to match the level set by Tim losing the next two legs 11-6, 11-5.  Fresh from win the singles averages last season Paul Amos found himself in trouble up against reserve player Paul Woollven losing the first leg 11-9.  Woollven put up a valiant fight, but the consistent attack of Paul Amos saw him win two tight legs 11-8, 11-8 before cruising through the next legs 11-3.  Trailing 2-1, Postlings Malcolm Skates was unable to maintain his first leg performance losing out 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 to Tim Pichowski.  But Paul Woollven chipped in for Postling’s cause brushing aside Lee Hirst 11-2, 11-5, 11-5.  Roy Coles was unable to get close to Paul Amos losing out 3-0 before the match up on the night.  Tim Pichowski and Paul Woollven traded blows with Tim coming out on top for the first leg 11-7, but Paul fought back well taking the next three, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9.  Challock took the final two singles matches with Paul Amos beating Malcolm 3-0, and Lee Hirst notching up a 3-1 win over Roy Coles.  Finally, in a change from last season, the teams faced off in a doubles which would count to the final score.  Trailing 6-3, Postling has already lost the match but had the opportunity to reduce the deficit.  Roy Coles and Malcolm Skates didn’t get off to the best of starts losing the first leg 11-7 to Paul Amos and Lee Hirst, but then the Postling side found their stride edging the next leg 12-10 and then walking away with the third leg 11-4, before holding their nerve to win the next leg 11-7.  Final score 6-4 to Challock A.

Elsewhere Joe Britnell starred for Ruckinge A, winning all three of his match up against Paul Smallman, Cliff Smallman and Michelle Kingsland for the loss of just two legs.  Joe was well supported by Jamie Horton and Hrvoje Crnko who both won their matches against Cliff Smallman.  Although Cliff did push Hrvoje the distance losing out in the deciding fifth leg 11-8 after lead two legs to one.  The much changed Little Chart A side took four wins, with two apiece from Michelle and Paul.  With Ruckinge A leading Little Chart A 5-4, the doubles was important for both teams, but Hrvoje & Joe proved too strong for Paul and Cliff Smallman dictating the first two legs 11-7, 11-8, before being pushed in the third leg to a 25-23 win!  Final score 6-4 to Ruckinge A.

Finally Ashford A, freshly promoted from Division 2, came up against Iron Room B who had a strong showing in the early part of last season.  Ashford A didn’t do themselves any favours by having to call upon Dan Housden from a lower division to make up numbers.  Tom Down, formerly of Little Chart A, started the night against fellow Junior Shem Legarde.  They traded the first two legs 11-6 before the attacking style of Shem proved slight more consistent taking the next two legs 12-10, 11-9.  Jack Young return to the leg whilst on a university break then slipped up against Vince Corbin 11-9, 11-7, 11-9.  The Paul Waumsley showed Dan Housden how big the step up can be, despite holding his own in the first leg losing out 11-9 Pauls’ unique style proved too confusing with Paul winning the next 11-1.  Paul then eased off a little in the next leg, but did enough to edge out Dan 11-7.  Staring at a big defeat Ashford did manage to rally with Jack beating Shem 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6.  But it was a short lived response with Iron Room taking the next four match ups with only Tom Down winning a leg for Ashford.  Paul beat both Tom and Jack, and Dan lost out to both Vince and Shem.  Tom did manage to come good in the end beating Vince Corbin 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.  But with a lead of 7-2 Iron Room went into the doubles in a strong position, and with Ashford unable to field Jack, it was down to Tom and Dan to try and steal a final point, after losing the first leg 11-5 they did take the second leg from Vince and Paul 12-10, but then the experience told with the Iron Room sealing an 8-2 win taking the last two legs 11-8, 11-8.

For full results and tables please visit www.tabletennis365.com/Ashford