Resurgent Crook B
In Division 1 of the Kendal & District Table Tennis League, IBIS maintained their 100% record with an 8-2 victory against Crook A. Steve Dixon was once again man of the match, dropping only a single game in his 3 singles matches. Crook’s Mike Taylor and John Howarth, with a nail biting 12-10 in the fifth victory, were both successful against Trevor Nicholson. The result keeps Crook A comfortably above the relegation places.
Burton D, with 2 victories in a week, 7-3 over Natland E and an excellent 8-2 win against a strong Kirkby Stephen A team, are 13 points clear at the top of Division 2. The result didn’t really do Kirkby Stephen justice, with a lot of close matches and all 3 five-setters going the way of Burton, courtesy of Martin Wakelin and Tony March. However, both Dallam A and Natland D have games in hand. Burton B’s aspirations of a top two finish were dealt a heavy blow following a 9-1 defeat by a resurgent Crook B, who moved off the bottom of the table for the first time this season. Matt and Ben O’Flynn were both undefeated and were ably supported by Tony Cousins. Bryan Rhodes put up stern resistance but went down to Ben O’Flynn in 4 tight games and 11-7 in the fifth to Matt O’Flynn.
In Division 3, leaders Kirkby Stephen C were soundly beaten 26-11 by Crook C, for whom John Hardwick was unbeaten. It remains very tight at the top, with each of the top 4 teams still in with a shout of winning the Division 3 title.
On Sunday, January 15th, the players attention will switch to the finals of the Divisional Shield competition, to be held at the Dallam School Sports Centre, in which teams of 2 players compete within their Divisions for the Divisional Shield. An exciting day’s table tennis to be had by all.
