The Hastings Table Tennis League launched the 2022-23 season, which sees the return of quite a few former Hastings players to league action.
In Division 1, champions Academy A (Paul Barry, Nathan Darby, Ryan Heselden) sent out a warning to their rivals when they dismissed runners-up Bexhill B 9-1, taking all 9 singles. Bexhill legend Graham Gillett extended Darby and Heselden to five games and combined with Andy Chapman to take the doubles, 12-10 in the fifth.
Bexhill A lost 2-8 at home to Hollington A in a match marked by the return of Shaun Godfrey after illness. Godfrey and Ron Davenport were unbeaten for Hollington while John Ellis and Andy Panayi picked up one each for Bexhill. It could have been closer as Panayi lost to Davenport 9-11 in the fifth and Krstic lost to Kevin Barry by the same scoreline.
Tackleway B had an excellent 6-4 win at Academy C with a maximum from Kevin McEwan their new signing from Bexhill backed up with two from stalwart Roger Pingram and another new signing, Malcolm Barber, chipping in with one. Rose Rainton won two for Academy and Robin Gibbs, on his return to league action picked up one.
In Division 2, one of the favourites, Academy D started well with a 7-3 win at Bexhill E with Andy Furnival winning three and Terry Dean two. Richard Hoyland, formerly of the now defunct Civil Service A, won two for Bexhill in his first league outing since 2007/8 when he finished on 72% in Division 1.
Bexhill D had a good 6-4 win over Hollington B, despite Paul Hyland’s maximum for the losers. John Bradbury, Leon Hyde and Oli Matthews all won twice for Bexhill.
Bexhill Ladies beat newly promoted Monarchs B 8-2 in a win that was not quite as decisive as the scoreline suggests. Pam Winter and Brian Busbridge both won twice and Kim Shearer beat Andrew Edwards for Bexhill. Peter Harding and Peter Littley both won once for Monarchs and things may have been different had Monarchs not lost two tight 5-game clashes early on.
League leaders after a week are Monarchs A who beat Tackleway D 9-1 with Bob Lowe and Alison Jordan unbeaten and Sue Paice winning two. Tackleway’s team were all making Hastings debuts and Jacob McCarthy picked up their consolation.
In Division 3, a very experienced Bexhill F won 9-1 at Hollington D with George Reidy and Harvey Webb winning three and Jim Leppard two. Phil Bailey won Hollington’s set.
Hollington D beat Tackleway G 7-3 with Steph Sargent and Rob Clemence, returning from injury, both unbeaten.
Bexhill G won 6-4 at Tackleway H with Dom Goodson winning three and Nick Smith, on debut, winning two. Matt Gilman won two for Tackleway.
Tackleway E and Academy E fought out a 5-5 draw with hard-hitting Sachin Davis taking a maximum for Tackleway while Dave Watters and Andy Murphy won two each for Academy. Tackleway took both games that went to five while the Academics took the doubles 18-16 in the fourth.
