Results

The 2023/24 West Somerset Table Tennis Winter Leage got underway this week. Team and player numbers are still lower than pre COVID so it was decided to repeat last year’s successful format whereby the first half of the season will see all teams playing in a single league, where they meet each other once, to establish their ranking position. The second half of the season will see teams split, according to rank, to form divisions 1 & 2. With no scores carried forward from the first half, it will be a straight shoot-out to establish the winners of each divisio

First on the table this year was Plan B as they entertained Allsorts. The home side were last year’s division2 champions but failed to show much of their previous form during this first outing. Team captain, Geoff Williams, battled hard to gain 6 singles sets, with other sets lost by the narrowest of margins. Martin Shoots and Robin Arkell added one singles set each before Martin and Geoff gleaned one final doubles set to conclude the scoring for Plan B with a disappointing 9 points.

Overall, Allsorts were in the driving seat throughout the evening with Curtis King earning the player of the match award for his singles maximum. Matt Lawrence scored an excellent 7 and the ambidextrous Sifa Vea added a strong 6 singles sets. With a maximum in the doubles, Allsorts had a comfortable victory with 31 points.

Roy’s Boys started their season when Basement Dwellers travelled to challenge them. This was going to be a tough opening match for the home team as they faced last year’s division 1 runners-up. Singles sets were hard to come by, with one set each for both Barry and Roy Hooper. In the doubles there was modest success with their new team member, Charlie Bond, helping to add two sets. With a final score of 4, Roy’s Boys face a challenging first half of the season.

For Basement Dwellers it was maximums all the way for Vince Court, Toby Kerslake and Kerry Manicom, with the hard-hitting Toby Kerslake receiving the player of the match award. With a maximum in the doubles, Basement Dwellers’ grand slam score puts them at the top of the league table.

Final match this week was a close-fought affair between Hawks and Drifters. Hawks have been steadily improving their match play over the past seasons as they gained experience. Mark Scyner put in his usual captain’s performance to win the player of the match award for his unopposed maximum. Alfie Southam added a strong 6 singles sets, with Nathaniel Southam adding a further 4. There was little between the teams in the doubles, but the 7 points scored by Hawks were sufficient to give them the match victory with 26 points.

Drifters were persistent throughout the match with Dave Smith and Andrew Miles scoring 6 singles sets apiece. Liz Fletcher added a further 2 before putting in a strong performance in the doubles. All the doubles games went to five sets, with Drifters coming out on top with 8 sets, giving them a final total of 22 for the evening.

LEAGUE TABLE: