Hollington Academy C gained their first win in the Hastings & District Table Tennis League Division 1 from a 6-4 defeat of Saints B. Ron Davenport had a maximum for Saints but was taken the distance by Will Goodstone, who won 2 for Hollington, as did Nick Standen. Key to the victory was another 5-setter where Scott Bills edged out Andre Keen.
Injury-hit title holders Bexhill A were fully extended by two-man Bexhill C before taking a 6-4 win. Unbeaten Lewis Mayhew was again the key to the A team’s success while Graham Gillett picked up two for the losers. Bexhill A will be heartened by the return of Rob Warner after several weeks out with injury.
Rose Rainton and Jamie Martin were unbeaten for Hollington Academy B as they beat Tackleway A 7-3. The scoreline was harsh on Tackleway as Martin beat Dave Wilson and Roy Funnell in tight 5-setters, while Funnell lost out to Rainton at 12-10 in the 5th set.
Promoted Tackleway C will be under no illusions as to the size of their task after Saints A fielded their Watts Cup winning line up of Ritchie Venner, Dave Butler and James Winchester. Saints cruised home 10-0 without the loss of a set.
In Division 2, Tackleway F beat Tigers B 6-4 with two wins each for Sue Pingram, Peter Wilson and Danny Kildea. Chris Woods kept Tigers in the hunt with two wins and joined with Rama Patel for a doubles win in the only match which went the distance.
Tina Beaney played her first league match for 5 years as an emergency substitute for Dad Brian. Her maximum enabled Bexhill D to scrape a 6-4 win over Bexhill E, for whom Pam Winter won two games.
In Division 3, a maximum from Pete Watters for McPhersons was not enough to stop Hollington C’s 6-4 victory. For Hollington, Adam Akar, on his senior debut, Kevin Long and Keith Young all won two games.
Tigers D and Hollington B fought out a 5-5 draw in a match in which no player dominated. Amelia Long and Pete Shoesmith (Hollington) and David Tran, on his debut for Tigers, all won two.
