The second half of the season shows that two teams are already making distance between them and the other teams. Postling B and Ruckinge D have already opened up a 10+ point lead and look set to extend that as the season progresses. In the first match after Christmas Challock D only managed to pick up one game from Ruckinge F with Chris Penning POM once again. Ruckinge D took on Ruckinge E and won 6 – 4 and then recently promoted Ruckinge G faced recently demoted Postling B and lost 10 – 0 with Helen Mattock just missing out by losing to Russell Swain in a tight 5 setter.
Challock D fared no better at their next outing losing 10 – 0 to Ruckinge D whilst the G team gained a 6 – 4 victory over the F team, giving them their first win in the 3rd division. Postling B had to work for their 7 – 3 win over Little Chart Posties with Frazer Duncan picking up 2 but unable to beat POM Barry Cook. The Posties fared much better when they played Ruckinge E scoring a 5 – 5 draw by winning the doubles at the end. Postling B picked up another 10 – 0 win, this time over Ruckinge F and Denise Glenister taking POM.
Colin Bingham’s Ruckinge D team beat clubmates Ruckinge G 8 – 2 but with Joe Latty and Brian Parsons just losing out in tight 5 sets against Luke Bingham. Brian Kennett was POM.
As well as the local League, Ashford has been in action in the Kent League. Ashford A paid a visit to Gravesend to take on a strong Gravesend site. This was an extremely tight match with lots of matches which could have gone either way. Out of 50 possible games 46 were played! Alan Longhurst Gravesend) started the match well with a win against Tom Down (Ashford) in 4 and then this was backed up with a win for Malcom Skates (Ashford) against Peter Davis (Gravesend) in 4. Then began the 5 game matches with each team taking it in turns to win sets. Richard Nash (Gravesend) beat Mani Khapung (Ashford) in 5, then Tom beat Peter in 5, Alan beat Mani in 5, Malcolm beat Richard in 5! Then there was a slight reprieve form the Yo Yo scores with Mani beating Peter in 4, before it was back to Tom beating Richard in 5, Alan beating Malcolm in 5. Unfortunately Ashford did no read the rule book and broke it by beating Gravesend in 4 to take the match 6-4, ruining the chance to finish evens. Well done Ashford. (Tom and Mani beating Richard and Alan.)
Ashford B had a torrid time in Division 2 against a strong Canterbury ‘C’ team with Reuben Tozer and Jenny Swain coming away empty handed, and only a five leg win for Matt Hills over Dirk Froebrich stopped a 10-0 whitewash. Lewis Marsh and Ricky Kay were unbeaten for the Canterbury side.
Finally in Division 3, Ashford C won a competitive encounter with Sittingbourne. Man of the Match, Ted Tydeman, won a hat trick for the Sittingbourne side but only john Coleman could add to this tally. The Ashford duo of Dan Simmons and Mike Galvan came away with two wins, and were helped by Luke Garvey picking up a deserved single. Ashford also took the doubles 3-1, to ensure a 6-4 win on the day.
The result leave Ashford A second in Division 1, a far cry from almost being relegated last season. Ashford B are third in a very tight division 2, and Ashford C are only two points off top spot in Division 3.
For all of the local results please visit www.tabletennis365.com/Ashford, and for Kent League please visit www.kctta.co.uk
