YMCA Preachers extended their lead at the top of Division One of the Eastern Valley Table Tennis League with a 24 - 8 win against previously unbeaten Cwmbran Colts. This was thanks to a player of the match performance from David Lloyd with 3 wins. However, he was closely followed by team mate Ray Goulding, who, despite his constant injury problems, also had 3 wins. It was good to see the return of Eric Turner for his first game of the season after injury and he did well with his 2 wins. For the Colts that veteran of Eastern Valley table tennis, Nigel Gore, secured his teams only win and lost in 5 sets in his other 2 matches.
Cwmbran Blues and Bristol Nomads, the second and third placed teams respectively, met for the first time this season with the Blues coming out on top 20 - 11. The Blues were without their captain Mark Farrow, but they were able to call upon the services of Bhargav Uday Chandra who picked up the player of the match award with his 3 wins. He was well supported by Roger Grech with his 2 wins. For the Nomads Alex Banks tried valiantly to stem the tide with his 2 wins, including a good win over Dave D Lloyd.
The final match in Division One saw the bottom two sides Cwmbran Aztecs and Blaenavon Aces go head to head and it was the Aztecs who improved their league position with a 27 - 7 win. Although all the Aztecs players gained maximum wins it was Collins who narrowly picked up the player of the match award over his team mates Andrew Ryder and Mark Edmunds. The Aces are certainly missing the services of Piotr Sniezek who finished second in the individual averages last season.
Division Two saw the top 2 sides, Cwmbran Panthers and Cwmbran Dynamos, looking to gain an early season advantage over each other. Perhaps, surprisingly it was the Dynamos who beat their rivals 19 - 15 in a match that was not decided until the last game of the night. Player of the match, the Dynamos' Alex Jones, beat the previously unbeaten Mike Blatchford in 5 sets. The result sees the Dynamos narrow the gap at the top to 3 points. For the Dynamos, as well as maximum wins for Jones there were 2 wins for Richard Lownsbrough. For the Panthers, Blatchford picked up 2 wins.
Cementing their 3rd place, Cwmbran Fellows beat their nearest rivals Cwmbran Devils 26 - 9, which despite the scoreline was a very competitive match. For the Fellows Wayne Ford picked up the player of the match with his 3 wins and was well supported by Chris Thomas who also had 3 wins and Marta Morris with 2 wins. Both Thomas and Morris had very good wins over the experienced Stan Williams. For the Devils Glenda Prytherch played well for her 6 points.
The final match saw the bottom two sides go head to head and it was Cwmbran Eccentrics who came out on top in a very close match 19 - 18 against North Gwent Cougars. The player of the match award was picked up by the Eccentrics' Lincoln Alford, although only narrowly over team mate Matthew Powell and the Cougars' Iestyn Howells and Garin Edwards who all had 2 wins each.
