7th February 2017 Match Reports

The outcome of the Division One title of the Eastern Valley Table Tennis League is certain to go to the last match. With the postponement of the YMCA Preachers v Cwmbran Blues match until the date of the Cup Final, Bristol Nomads took the opportunity to storm to the top of the division with a 24-9 win over Blaenavon Aces. The Nomads' ever improving Alex Banks took the player of the match award with three straight set wins, just beating his brother Andy, who also had three wins, to the award. The Banks brothers were well supported by Peter Gordon with his two wins. For the Aces Ben Allen had a good win over the higher ranked Gordon.

Cwmbran Aztecs maintained their outside chance of winning the title with a 26-13 win over Cwmbran Colts. The Aztecs last match is against the bottom side, the Aces, whereas their rivals still have to play each other, so anything is possible. For their latest match the Aztecs had to call upon two guest players, Roger Grech and Eric Turner, who both won their three matches, but it was Grech who picked up the player of the match award. They were well supported by Mark Edmunds with his two wins. The Colts battled well throughout the match as proved by the fact that they lost 4 games in the fifth set. Their only win, again in five sets, was by Ben Allen over the higher ranked Mark Edmunds.

In Division Two, Cwmbran Panthers have virtually secured the title, although their final match is against their closest rivals Cwmbran Dynamos. However, with a 21 point lead it would need a miraculous win for the Dynamos to overtake them. In their latest match the Panthers secured a 23-9 win over Cwmbran Devils thanks once again to a player of the match performance from Mike Blatchford with three straight set wins. He was well supported by Howard Gaut and Yuri Cherkasenko with two wins each. For the Devils Stan Williams battled hard for his two wins over higher ranked players Gaut and Cherkasenko.

The Dynamos maintained their outside chance of the title with a 25-10 win over  North Gwent Cougars. The highlight of this match was the second win in successive weeks for the Cougars' Iestyn Howells over the highly ranked Alex Jones. Howells has now inflicted two of the five defeats for Jones, who is second in the individual averages. With Jones losing a match, Will Smith-Haddon picked up his first player of the match award for his three wins, narrowly ahead of team mate Richard Lownsbrough. For the Cougars Howells highlighted his improving form with seven of his teams points.

The final match in Division Two saw Cwmbran Eccentrics beating Cwmbran Fellows 19-17 in a very close match.  The Eccentrics were indebted to a player of the match performance from Matthew Powell with three wins. He was well supported by Lincoln Alford with his two wins. The Fellows could not overcome the absence of their number one player Wayne Ford, but his replacement Sunam Rai battled hard for her two wins and eight points, including a very good win over the higher ranked Alford.

 

Author: via Gwent Table Tennis Club
Article Published:
Last Updated:
Share This Page