MATCH REPORT 24 MARCH 2016
PEEL A CLOSE THE GAP ON TABLE TOPPING TOWER B
Table topping Tower B stuttered to a narrow 6-4 victory against their fifth-placed opponents in the Second Division of the DLP Adapted Bathrooms sponsored Isle of Man Table Tennis League at Bemahague last Wednesday. This has really opened up the title race as second-placed Peel A won 8-2 and with a vital game in hand they will play bottom-placed St Ninian’s in what could be the decisive last game of the season.
Third-placed Travellers B lost just their third game of the season and whilst they cannot now win the league they are only seven points behind Peel A. Just eight points separate the next four teams Surestrike Ramsey B, Travellers D, Copy Shop B and Peel B respectively and then there is a gap of 15 points where Travellers C occupy eighth-place. Copy Shop C are 11 points further back but are 27 points clear of Surestrike Ramsey C and St Ninian’s who are both relegated but anxious to avoid finishing bottom.
DIVISION TWO
Tower B (6) Travellers D (4)
A stunning treble from Mike Dunning pegged back the league leaders and then Dunning and new signing Vishal Patel dovetailed to deliver the doubles 7/11, 12/10, 11/7, 11/7 against Graham McFarlane and Steve Curtis.
Neither Patel nor Jack Mathieson-Nelson could convert perspiration to points in their singles against Simon Radcliffe and his Tower team-mates.
Peel A (8) Copy Shop B (2)
A doubles win plus a hard-won hat-trick from Malc Lewis and two apiece from Maggie Mulhern and Matty Evans helped second-placed Peel A move to within eight points of top-placed Tower B.
Neither Kevin Drewry nor Freya Melvin could get on the scoreboard for sixth-placed Copy Shop but their team-mate Rob Sim nearly notched up a treble. In his hat-trick decider he went 2-1 up in three tie-breakers then Lewis looped the left-hander off the table in the fourth set and clung on to win 12/10, 11/13, 11/13, 11/4, 11/9.
Surestrike Ramsey B (6) Travellers B (4)
Fourth-placed Surestrike Ramsey B continued their winning ways with Divisional Champion Tim Baker maintaining his unbeaten record. His daughter Kerenza beat Colin Barron 7/11, 5/11, 11/8, 11/6, 11/1 in their wooden spoon decider and added another point by assisting her Dad to deliver the doubles.
Jack Craik secured Surestrike’s victory by also beating Barron. Juan Moore and Tommy Cowin picked-up the remaining points for Travellers who are safely ensconced in third-place 24 points clear of their rivals.
Travellers C (6) Surestrike Ramsey C (4)
Another hat-trick for recent signing Chris Holmes helped hoist Surestrike Ramsey C off of bottom spot by one point but with Jackie Gill, Maurice Campbell and Adrian Tinkler each beating Matthew Emison and Frank Feeney eight-placed Travellers could afford to lose the doubles and still win the match. Earlier Emison had given Tinkler a scare but he faded away 11/9, 11/9, 3/11, 5/11, 5/11.
Copy Shop C (6) St Ninian’s (3)
Both teams pitched up a player short so gave the opposition two free points and had to forfeit the uncontested game. Copy Shop’s Max Walker won a real humdinger 11/8, 8/11, 11/9, 7/11, 11/7 against Matt Harvey who went on to beat Fraser Dorling in four sets. Walker and Dorling both beat St Ninian’s new boy Jamie Clague in the singles and then combined to convert the doubles to give ninth-placed Copy Shop their fifth win of the season.
MALCOLM LAMBERT
