BURTON EDGE TABLE TOPPING SHOWDOWN
Burton E have moved eight points clear at the summit of Division Three in The Kendal and District Table Tennis League after edging rivals Crook C 22-17 in a table top thriller.
Burton dominated proceedings early on as they raced into a 3-0 advantage, although Ed Lister stopped the rot momentarily for Crook with an 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 triumph against Brian Gourlay. Burton’s Aidan Branch completed a hat-trick of wins in the second period, comfortably dispatching Hugh Symmons and Bev Abley , while team mate Dave Salmon scored a crucial 14-12 victory in a pulsating five setter also against Abley. Burton secured victory 22-17 when Gourlay sneaked beyond Symmons in five sets, maintaining their position at the head of the table. Crook have now moved into second position, eight points behind their rivals.
Grayrigg A slipped to third place, eight points behind Crook, but have a crucial game in hand over their rivals. This week Grayrigg beat Dallam F 22-12, which was their ninth win of the season. Grayrigg’s Doug Baxter set the tone early on with an ice cool 11-8 victory in the deciding set against an unfortunate Nina Duxbury; a result which Dallam failed to recover from. Grayrigg’s Baxter, Ben Littlewood and Sam Housego went on to win two matches apiece against Duxbury and Anna Parkinson, although the man of the match award was reserved for Dallam’s Norman Philbey who won all three matches.
Grayrigg B earned their fourth win of the season courtesy of a 25-8 success against lowly Natland F. Tim Marris got Natland off to a flying start, dispatching Patrick O’Reilly 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6. This however, was as good as it got for Natland who lost the remaining games, as Kevin Hunter and Margaret Dixon remained unbeaten, steering Grayrigg to victory and a fifth place position in the table.
In Division Two, Burton D are up to joint second place after demolishing Dallam C 9-1. Dallam lost three crucial five setters when George Pickering beat Peter Duxbury, Stuart Allen and Mike Jackson in the fifth sets 11-9, 11-7, 11-9. Dallam’s solitary taste of victory came when Duxbury and Phil Hyman teamed up in the doubles to beat Pickering and Graeme Wheelhouse 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.
Sharing second position in the table with Burton D are Dallam D who beat Burton C 7-3. Burton’s Bryan Rhodes won all three matches, including a thrilling 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 1-6, 13-11 win against Matt Neal. Dallam swept to victory thanks to their trio’s two wins apiece.
At the opposite end of the table, Dent lie second from bottom after sinking to a 9-1 defeat against leaders Kirkby Stephen A. Wayne Gardener’s victory against Pete George earned Dent’s solitary moment of glory, leaving them ten points adrift of safety.
Relegation appears to be inevitable for Natland E, who sank to their eleventh straight defeat 10-0 against their D team. George Pickthall came closest to getting the E team on the score sheet when he narrowly lost out in five sets to Richard San Jose. Natland D’s Rinaldo Colombi and Liam Hogan looked at ease with three comfortable wins.
Meanwhile, in Division One, Ibis continue to head the table by two points by virtue of a game in hand over second placed Dalton Cricket Club A, while Natland A loom ominously in third position, eight points adrift but with two games in hand over the table topping Kendal side.
