Press Reports 2023/24
Press 23 - 24th March 2024
With the top three positions previously decided in Division 1, champions Kingfisher A cemented their top position with a 9-1 victory over Tidmarsh A. Young Rishaan Sawant earnt himself his first player of the match award and Ross Saxby also remained unbeaten. Antony Baker scored a cracking victory over Darren Jones to avoid the whitewash. A similar situation ensued as second-placed Sonning Common & Peppard A brushed aside their B team who are still attempting to rise above the second relegation spot by a 9-1 scoreline. It was Tom Astle who shocked Gary Morgan to earn a valuable point.
Two of the other teams battling for survival faced each other in a tight 5-5 result as Kingfisher D's Georgi Ivanov and Mike Douglas won two each, but neither could stop Sonning Common& Peppard C’s Danny Dockree to his maximum. Kingfisher C made their bid for fourth place clear as they pushed aside the now-confirmed bottom side Sonning Common & Peppard D 10-0. It was plain sailing for Alan Cummings, Matt Isherwood and Phil Mead. Keith Winter ensured his Tilehurst RBL A squad stayed ahead of Sonning Sports A as they ran out 7-3 winners and confirm Sonning Sports final place in seventh.
The top two teams in Division 2 played each other with Reading FC beating Kingfisher F 8-2, a result which confirms Reading FC as champions. The two points gained by Kingfisher F means they are guaranteed to finish runners up. The set of the night saw Simon Rowland recover from two games down to beat Clive Gold 11-6 in the fifth. In the Tidmarsh derby the C team beat the B team 6-4 despite a great three straight maximum for the B’s Francis Durand.
Our Lady of Peace A look to have secured third place following their 7-3 win at Tilehurst RBL B. Kate Maksimenko secured a fine maximum for Tilehurst including beating Darek Kaminski 11-9 in the fifth. Springfield A and Pangbourne WMC drew 5-5 with Matt Hickman getting a maximum for Springfield, while Pangbourne also played a rearranged match against the bottom team Kingfisher H running out 8-2 winners. Kingfisher’s Steve Woolnough had two good wins in five in this match.
In Division 3 it was a dramatic end. Both title contenders faced tough opponents. Despite losing the OLOP derby 6-4, Our Lady of Peace C got 4 points, which were enough to guarantee the title as second placed Kingfisher I drew at Tidmarsh D. It was a close battle which could go either way. Eyup Odemis from the away team was the POM with a treble, but the highlight of the match was Ray Webb beating Huzeyfe Borazan 3-2, coming from 2-1 down to win 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3. Our Lady of Peace B won against their C team 6-4. As anticipated, Jacek Piechocki had another treble and completed the season with his perfect run. He did not even drop a set against the champions, which was impressive.
Tilehurst Methodists C lost 9-1 to Sonning Common & Peppard E, their only point came from Lewis Oke. Ian Davenport and Jeremy Willis had trebles for the away team. Sonning Sports B beat Kingfisher J 8-2. Peter Wilson from away team got their teams 2 points whereas home team’s star was James Miller, where he played up again for his team and had another treble. In the last match of the week Tilehurst Methodists B beat Our Lady of Peace D 6-4. Nigel Rowland from away team had the treble and helped his team win the away game.
Sonning Common & Peppard F clinched the runners up spot in Division 4 by beating Springfield B 6-4, despite a hat trick from Marcello Caramma for Springfield. A maximum from Atinc Ergulven was not enough to save Kingfisher L from losing 6-4 to Sonning Common & Peppard G, while in the OLOP derby Gopi Ponnapalli won all three for the F team in a 7-3 win over the E team.
Paul Treadgold hit a fine treble for a two player Tilehurst RBL C side but the Tilehurst team lost 6-4 to Kingfisher K.
Press 01 - 10th September 2021 - Season Preview
Kingfisher A and reigning champions Our Lady of Peace A will start out as favourites in Division 1 as the Reading Table Tennis League gets back underway after an 18 month break. Kingfisher look to have a good strong squad with Hari Gehlot, Dmitry Karkhamov, Mark Banks, Ross Saxby and Darren Jones all registered, while Ian Cole will lead the OLOP challenge in their bid to retain their title. Further down Sonning Common & Peppard A and Kingfisher B will be vying for 3rd and 4th and Sonning Common & Peppard C could do well with new recruit Ed Lush in their team, while all the rest might be happy to avoid the bottom 2 places with only 10 teams in the division this time around. Tilehurst RBL A are the ex Curzon Club A team and new recruit Keith Winter teaming up with Jon Willis will make them difficult to beat. Kingfisher D are the ex Kennet Valley A team, led by Julian Telford.
In division 2 Sonning Sports A came 3rd last time around and will likely be battling once again at the top end of the division, Paul Savage and Nick Sears their leading lights Tilehurst Methodists A will be strong with Eric Van Looy in their team and Michael Childs may spearhead a challenge from Reading FC A following their promotion from division 3. Both Our Lady of Peace teams could also figure as might any of the 3 Kingfisher sides and also Tidmarsh B.
Tilehurst Royal British Legion B look like favourites in division 3 with a formidable looking squad of John Willcocks, Nick Lean, Linda King and Kate Maksimenko. However this is a strong looking division and they can expect stiff competition from the likes of relegated Pangbourne WMC, Our Lady of Peace D, Milestone A and possibly Springfield. Leroy Wilson is always a good player at this level for Pangbourne as will be John Simmonds. OLOP D finished bottom of division 2 last time but with a rejigged squad they may challenge, while both Milestone A and Springfield have different squads from last time but can also expect to figure highly.
Reading FC B, Sonning Sports B and Tilehurst RBL C are the stand out sides in division 4, although Kingfisher J and Sonning Common & Peppard F may also challenge. Reading FC were 3rd last time around and only just missed out on promotion. Sonning Sports B were relegated last time but have added experienced Harry Brough to their squad, while Tilehurst RBL C were also relegated, but with Paul Treadgold in their side they should do well.
