MATCH REPORT 17 FEBRUARY 2016
TOP PLACED TOWER B STRIKE A DECISIVE BLOW
Tower B hammered Copy Shop B in the Second Division of the DLP Adapted Bathrooms sponsored Isle of Man Table Tennis League at Bemahague on Wednesday. The white-wash puts them thirteen points ahead of Travellers B and fifteen in front of Peel A who were lying in second-place but had a rest night and so have a game in hand.
Just one point now separates the next four teams, Copy Shop B, Travellers D, Peel B and Surestrike Ramsey B respectively. A further twenty-seven points back Copy Shop C appear to be safely ensconced in ninth-place as they are still twenty points away from the relegation zone.
The bottom two teams, St Ninian’s and Surestrike Ramsey C were involved in a tight tussle which led to the Ramsey side celebrating their first win of the season although St Ninian’s contributed to their own downfall by being unable to field a third player.
DIVISION TWO
Copy Shop B (0) Tower B (10)
Hat-tricks all round for Steve Curtis, Simon Radcliffe and Graham McFarlane led the league leaders to their fourth 10-0 win of the season. Fourth-placed Copy Shop B will count themselves unlucky to suffer their first white-wash.
Kevin Drewry pulled back from two sets down against Radcliffe only to lose the last set 9/11.
Similarly, Rob Sim was just two points from beating Radcliffe but was edged out 4/11, 11/8, 11/9, 9/11, 12/14. Lack of match practise for substitute Ben Christian counted against him.
Peel B (2) Travellers B (8)
Third-placed Travellers B had two hat-trick heroes in Tommy Cowin and Juan Moore. Sasha Thomas and Harry Walters fought hard to beat Colin Barron for fifth-placed Peel’s points.
Barron beat Nathan Evans in four sets and then joined Cowin to deliver the doubles 11/5, 8/11, 8/11, 11/6, 11/9.
Surestrike Ramsey B (6) Travellers C (4)
Divisional champion Tim Baker hit his customary hat-trick for sixth-placed Surestrike Ramsey B and
young Jack Craik did exceptionally well to add two more points with wins over Alan Harding and Maurice Campbell.
Craik came unstuck against the wily Jackie Gill 11/3, 8/11, 7/11, 11/9, 3/11 but redeemed himself in the doubles with Baker. Experience overwhelmed enthusiasm as eighth-placed Travellers left Kerenza Baker disappointed.
Copy Shop C (3) Travellers D (7)
Traveller’s Mike Dunning survived two 16/14 tie-breakers to win his hat-trick decider with Max Walker who had beaten both Alex Buck and Jack Mathieson-Nelson. The latter two ensured victory for seventh-placed Travellers with wins over Joe Walters and Fraser Dorling but
Mathieson-Nelson could not cap a memorable evening as he and Dunning lost the doubles to Walker and Dorling 4/11, 8/11, 11/5, 11/7, 8/11.
St Ninian’s (4) Surestrike Ramsey C (6)
After last week’s no-show the teachers from St Ninian’s could only muster two players.
Starting 3-0 down Matt Harvey and Matty Kelly both beat Frank Feeney and young Matthew Emison from bottom-placed Surestrike Ramsey C but had no answer to the top-spinning Chris Holmes. Still hopeful of a draw, St Ninian’s went 2-1 up in sets in the doubles.
But new signing Holmes helped Surestrike to their first win of the season as he and Feeney dismissed the teachers 11/5, 9/11, 9/11, 11/8, 11/6.
MALCOLM LAMBERT