COUPE MASTERCLASS FAILS TO STOP NATLAND’S CHARGE

The top two sides in Division One of the Kendal and District Table Tennis League went head to head this week as leaders Natland A endeavoured to maintain their one hundred percent start to the season against second placed rivals Burton A.

Roger Pimblett and John Fearon forged a 2-0 advantage for Natland early on by dispatching Chris Knowles and Peter Baxendale respectively. Graham Coupe opened Burton’s account thanks to his 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 victory against Harry Carter. Fearon got Natland back on track with a four set defeat of Knowles, although Coupe kept Burton afloat with an 11-4, 10-12, 11-3, 11-8 triumph against Pimblett. Natland arrived at the doubles 5-4 up following Carter’s victories against Baxendale and Knowles, despite Coupe’s 11-9 success in a classic five setter with Fearon. Natland converted their slim advantage into a tangible 6-4 win in the doubles as Carter and Pimblett edged Knowles and Coupe 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-6.

Third placed Ibis made it six wins from as many matches courtesy of an 8-2 victory against Burton B. Phil Goymer and Alan Holt shocked Trevor Nicholson in straight sets givings Burton some early hope, although this was swiftly extinguished as Steve Dixon and James McGrath won three comfortable matches apiece. George Pickering was bitterly unfortunate not to gain a further point for Burton as he lost out 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11 to an out of sorts Nicholson.

There were two massive 10-0 victories for the top sides in Division Two, as leaders Burton C eclipsed Kirkby Stephen C 10-0, while second placed Natland C dealt out the same punishment to lowly Grayrigg A. This leaves both sides locked on the same points and matches played at the table summit.

Dallam B beat Burton D 9-1 to consolidate their fourth placed position. The Milnthorpe side’s trio of Sam Horrocks, Matthew and James Neal won each of their three matches with one or two scrapes along the way. Burton’s Bryan Rhodes narrowly lost out 11-9 and 11-6 in the deciding set against Matt Neal and Horrocks respectively, while a similar fate befell James Burton who sank to an 11-6 defeat in the decider also against Horrcocks.

Dallam C recorded their fourth win in six matches after a 7-3 triumph against Crook B. Crook’s Bob Bagot won his three matches three straight, while team mate Andy Gilchrist was unfortunate not to beat Mike Jackson and Peter Duxbury, losing out 11-7 and 11-5 respectively in the fifth set.

In Division Three, Grayrigg B have momentarily gone top of the table with a tight 22-15 victory against Burton E. Srikanth Gandavaram scooped the man of the match award for Burton following his two victories, yet team mate Jack Wheelhouse stole the show with a memorable 11-6 victory in the fifth set against the highly rated Kevin Hunter. The result leaves Grayrigg with a six point advantage at the top of the table.

Dallam D lie in second place with one game in hand over the leaders, having won five out of their six matches.