IBIS starting to climb the table

In the Kendal & District Table Tennis League, IBIS moved up to fourth place with an 8-2 home victory against Crook A. Steve Dixon and James McGrath were both unbeaten. Matt O’Flynn and Phil Swift both defeated Peter Rushton to secure a valuable 2 points for Crook. Natland A and Burton A still lead the way but IBIS and Dalton A are lurking ominously in the wings.

With 2 victories in a week, Natland D moved up into second place in Division 2. They started with a crushing 9-1 destruction of Kirkby Stephen A. Archie Catnach and Howard Pimblett both won all 3 of their singles matches and Devun Whitehead 2. Howard Walker prevented a whitewash with a 11-5, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6 win against Whitehead. Natland D then followed this up with a hard fought 5-5 draw against Crook B. A hat-trick of singles victories for Mike Taylor and 2 from John Wood put a dent in Natland’s hopes of automatic promotion, but it was enough to consolidate second place. Meanwhile, in the battle of Burton, Burton B outclassed Burton C in an 8-2 win. Dennis Hooley and Bryan Rhodes both remained unbeaten. The only consolation for Burton C were wins for Mike Gregory and Tony March over Shelley Rhodes.

Kirkby Stephen B, with a decisive 30 points to 8 victory over Grayrigg B moved to within 2 points of Crook C, at the top of Division 3. The Kirkby Stephen team of Nathan Wolstenholme, Brian Allison and Paul Hindson won all 10 matches but this does not tell the whole story. Grayrigg B put up stern resistance with Matthew Parkins losing 11-9 in the fifth to Brian Allison and 11-5 in the fifth to Paul Hindson, having been 2 games to 1 up. A similar fate befell Cameron Hunter, who also led Paul Hindson 2-1, before succumbing 11-5 in the final game.

Social table tennis continues at the Kendal Table Tennis Club, 7-9 on Tuesday evenings at the Kendal Leisure Centre. Adult table tennis enthusiasts are encouraged to come and try it.