Competitive table tennis resumed in East Sussex, post Covid, when the Bexhillians club started their Internal Club Competition. This is based on eight teams playing 3-a-side, best of three games and no doubles.
With little or no signs of restarting either of the two local leagues, this has attracted entries from regular Bexhillians team players and a significant number of guest players, normally seen in the colours of other local clubs.
The opening night was, hopefully, a taste of things to come with three matches going to the wire at 5-4, and the other finishing 6-3.
Winter Mixtures and Ball Bashers both fielded a reserve with the Bashers’ ringer, Ryan Heselden proving the player-of-the match with a fine maximum, including a win over his Hastings League teammate Nathan Darby 13-11, 7-11, 11-9. Heselden’s efforts were in vain as Winter Mixtures took the match 5-4 with Darby and Andy Panayi both winning twice and their own ringer, Trevor Towner taking a crucial, if unexpected, early victory over Chris Hack.
Ivory Rose are the early leaders after beating Rose & Two Thorns 6-3, aided by a maximum from Graham Gillett. After sharing the first four sets, Ivory Rose took the next four to ensure the win with Pete Robinson and Alan McCleave beating Jamie Martin in three games. Robinson finished with two wins as did Rose Rainton for Rose & Two Thorns.
TT Allstarz beat Slovakquickdust 5-4 despite a predictable unbeaten performance from Martin Kapusta for the losers. James Gorridge and Roy Funnell both won twice for the Allstarz with Gorridge’s wins both coming in three. Thirteen-year-old Emily Koester impressed for the Slovaks but it was John Bradbury’s straight games win over Paul Hyland that made the result as tight as it was.
Roger Pingram won three for Bats Atoxic but it was not enough, as Going Down, who included two toxic bats of their own, inched home 5-4 with two wins apiece for John Ellis and Brian Busbridge. The Toxics were never behind until, at 4-4, Ellis beat Sue Pingram 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 in the decider. Keith Lindsay (Atoxic) had an excellent win over Andy Summers 11-9,10-12,12-10 in the opener.
