The Hastings Table Tennis League season starts on Monday 17th October with 27 teams spread evenly over three divisions. Bexhill TTC have entered 8 teams with 39 registered players and, along with Tackleway are the largest clubs in the competition.
In Division One, it is difficult to look beyond champions Academy A to retain the title. Three of their four-man squad filled the top three slots in last year’s averages. Ryan and Rob Warner are set to return to Hastings League duty for Bexhill H (so named because of the lateness of their entry). This team also includes National league stars Lewis Mayhew and Andy Norwood but their appearances will be limited.
Academy B and C have done some player shuffling, with Jamie Martin returning to league action for the B team and Robin Gibbs doing the same for the C team. Arthur Bracken has left Academy for Tackleway A which should, at the very least, ensure last year’s flirtation with the wrong end of the table is not repeated.
Bexhill B will hope to repeat last season’s feat of second place but have lost Andy Chapman to the A side, who will be hoping to retain their status.
Division 2 may be between relegated Tackleway C, who have lost Andy Brown, with Aaron Pain coming in, and Academy D. Terry Dean returns to Academy and his availability may be key to their chances.
Bexhill D may have an outside chance, with juniors Oli Matthews and Leon Hyde joining the experienced John Bradbury, Nick Coleman and Andy Hyde.
Monarchs A and Hollington B will always be competitive in this division, led by two of the strongest players, Bob Lowe and Paul Hyland respectively.
Tackleway D will literally be an unknown quantity with Keith Lindsay playing with three players new to the league,
Bexhill Ladies, aka C, and Bexhill E will be trying to keep their heads above water, and we hope to see Richard Hoyland, a former Division 1 title winner with Civil Service, return to the game for the D team.
Division 3 looks hard to predict. Relegated Academy E would be favourites but may suffer as Dave Watters should be out for several months of the season. Hollington D’s five player squad includes Steph Sargent, Neil Pankhurst and Rob Clemence, returning after a long-term injury, so may well be contenders.
Bexhill F have three ‘super vets’ in their squad, including George Reidy plus Martyn Murray who created havoc in the team handicap and newcomer Nuala Geary. Bexhill G also include two players new to the league.
Best of luck to all Bexhill players, and let’s hope the lights don’t go out too often!!
