Table tennis

The start to the Ashford & District League season in Division 4 has highlighted two teams already looking favourites for promotion at Christmas. Ashford D top the table having played one more game than Ruckinge E but with only three points the difference. Both teams have players who haven’t yet dropped a game – Joe Moyles (Ashford D) and Dan Simmons (Ruckinge E) – and will face each other in the final match before the mid-season break. Ashford D beat Challock E (7-2), Sportsman C (6-3), Hamstreet B (7-2) and Ashford E (6-3), while Ruckinge E have made short work of Ashford E (9-0), Hamstreet B (7-2) and Ruckinge F (7-2). Newly-demoted Ruckinge E started off the season with a 6-3 win over newcomers Sportsmen C. Trevor Hammond played his usual steady game, taking all three games while Ian Tomlin took two with captain Helen Mattock taking the sixth. The team haven’t looked back since, going from strength to strength. Ashford D have also been equally strong and top the table despite fielding only two players in their win over Ashford E. Keith Young and Glen Walters are the solid base for the team with Ben and Joe Moyle enjoying a successful start to the league. Challock E, Ruckinge F and Sportsman C are keeping in close contact, while Hamstreet B and Ashford E are yet to post a win, although have come close with Hamstreet B twice losing 5-4 so far.