The game of the week in Division 1 of the Hastings & District Table Tennis League saw Watts Cup holders Saints A and reigning league champions Bexhill A locked at 5-5. Both teams were missing a key player but this did not detract from the quality and competitiveness on show as Dave Butler’s maximum for Saints kept them involved. Butler had to come from 0-2 down to beat Rob Warner who won two for Bexhill as did Martin Kellaway.
Hollington Academy B beat Tigers A 8-2, with Rose Rainton unbeaten and two wins each for Robin Gibbs and Jamie Martin. Tony Catt won two for Tigers, losing to Rainton 10-12 in the 5th and beating Martin 11-9 in the 5th.
Saints B gained their third win in six with a 7-3 defeat of Tackleway B. Saints’ Ron Davenport has lost only once this season and his maximum was backed up by two for John Wond to put Saints B into the comfortable mid-table zone.
In Division 2, Hollington Academy D gained a 6-4 verdict over Bexhill E thanks to three wins each for Kevin Barry and Ryan Heselden. The match hinged on Heselden’s clash with Pam Winter, which Heselden took 13-11, 12-14,12-10,6-11,11-9 to ensure a win.
Saints C had a 7-3 win at home to NALGO A where Andy Syrett’s maximum was backed up by two wins for Dick Copsey and Clive Drew-Clifton. Paul Hyland gained NALGO’s only successes, losing a five-setter to Syrett 10-12 in the decider.
Tigers B battled their way to a 6-4 win against Hollington A, despite Sean Godfrey winning all three for the losers. Two wins each for Chris Woods and Rama Patel were the key to Tigers’ success.
Third Division Monarchs showed their strength with a 9-1 defeat of Tigers C when Andrew Edwards and Peter Harding won three games and Dave Turnbull two.
Neil Pankhurst and Trevor Fountain were unbeaten for Saints E as they won 7-3 at Hollington C.
Maximums from Ryan Demeza and Yasar Akar ensured a 7-3 win for Hollington B over Hollington D.
Tigers D beat McPhersons 8-2 where David Tran gained a maximum and Andy Holmes and Phil Talbot won two each while Pete Watters picked up a couple for the losers.
