Kentish Express Ashford & District
League titles delivered
Table tennis
Ashford men’s 1sts landed their first championship in 11 years when they defeated Folkestone 6-0 to clinch the Kent/Sussex Division 2 League title at Ball Lane on Saturday.
An enforced change saw player/ coach Diccon Stubbin’s return in goal, with captain James Chamberlain sidelined after not recovering from an ankle injury.
Ashford centre-back Rob Playford took charge of the early exchanges bisecting the Folkestone defence with some excellent passing which allowed strikers Robin Miller, Allan Dawson and Sam Handley to force saves from the Folkestone keeper.
However, Folkestone were determined and they themselves had chances to pull ahead, ex-Ashford striker Will Spain and Ben Allan failed to put away opportunities early on.
As so often this season, it was Ashford who then took control.
A searching ball across the D from Andrew Hill found Sam Hunt who neatly deflected the ball past the Folkestone keeper for a half-time lead.
In the second half, Ashford’s confidence grew. Two quick goals from Handley and a tap-in for Dawson took the game away from the visitors and Ashford added a fourth through Kiagh Bridges.
Folkestone could have pulled a goal back after a rash challenge from keeper Stubbins found him waiting out five minutes on the sin bin. Rob Playford was installed as kicking back.
The resulting short corner was put wide by Spain.
Once restored to 11, it was Folkestone’s turn to lose a man to the sin bin.
Handley found space to smash home Ashford’s fifth and Hill had the last say, finishing off a short
MEN’S HOCKEY Kent/Sussex Regional 2
P W D L F A Ps Ashford ......... 20 17 2 1 83 30 53 Marden R ...... 19 15 1 3 72 30 46 South Saxons 19 12 4 3 66 44 40 Cant Pilgrims 19 9 4 6 60 37 31 Gill Anchs ...... 18 10 0 8 45 45 30 Southwick ..... 19 7 2 10 37 48 23 Hailsham ...... 19 5 4 10 41 50 19 Mid-Sussex .. 19 5 1 13 37 68 16 BBHC ............ 19 4 3 12 26 59 15 Holcombe 2 .. 19 3 4 12 28 54 13 Folkestone 2 . 18 4 1 13 25 55 13
Results: Ashford 6 Folkestone 2nds 0, Canterbury Pilgrims 7 Mid-Sussex 2, Hailsham 3 South Saxons 3, Holcombe 2nds 1 BBHC 1, Marden Russets 4 Gillingham Anchorians 0.
Sunday: Holcombe 2nds 2 Ashford 3.
Fixtures: Folkestone 2nds v Marden Russets, Gillingham Anchorians v Canterbury Pilgrims, Hailsham v Holcombe 2nds, Mid-Sussex v BBHC, South Saxons v Southwick.
Kent Area Division 1
P W D L F A Ps Blackheath 2 21 17 1 3 78 22 52 Canterbury 3. 21 14 3 4 69 43 45 Herne Bay ..... 20 14 1 5 88 37 43 Holcombe 2a 20 10 1 9 54 53 31 Sevenoaks3.20 9 2 9 52 40 29 Ashford 2 ...... 20 9 0 11 61 63 27 Maidstone 2.. 21 7 6 8 59 74 27 Old Bordens 221 7 5 9 50 50 26 Cliftonville ..... 20 8 2 10 55 59 26 Burnt Ash 2... 20 7 3 10 58 58 24 Gore Court 2 . 21 6 5 10 59 72 23 Uni of Kent .... 21 0 1 20 18130 1
Results: Blackheath & Elthamians
2nds 5 Canterbury 3rds 0, Cliftonville 1 Old Bordenians 2nds 0, Gore Court 2nds 2 Herne Bay 7, Holcombe 2a 2 Maidstone 2nds 2, Sevenoaks 3rds 3 Burnt Ash 2nds 0, University of Kent 2 Ashford 2nds 4.
Fixtures: Ashford 2nds v Holcombe corner.
On Sunday, Ashford completed their season by winning 3-2 at Holcombe 3rds with goals from Simon Cowling, Hill and Hunt.
Ashford ladies’ 4ths are also league champions, and this in their first season.
With second-placed side K Sports 2nds losing, Ashford made certain of the Kent Division 5 title with a 4-1 win against Marden Russets 3rds, scoring their 100th league goal of the season in the process.
Nina Dhindsa put Ashford ahead only for Marden to find an equaliser. In the second half Ashford took control with three unanswered goals.
With midfielders Eloise Hoyle, Chloe Digby, Jodie Grima, Beth Cunningham using their pace, Ashford retook the lead through Olivia Phillips.
Shortly after it was 3-1 when Alice Browning drove the ball down the right for Phillips to strike home again.
Marden continued to press well, but Ashford countered with Orissa Mobbs intercepting on the left and attacking rightback Rosie Rimmer increasing pressure on the right.
Karen Skelton pushed higher, with Matilda Forbes covering each time.
Michelle Picton and Alice Goodman also showed strength in defence, while Carolina Skinner displayed her versatility in playing as a forward and then as a defender.
The result was sealed when Browning set up Phillips for her hat-trick and the team’s 100th goal.
In Kent League Division 2, champions Ashford ladies’ 2nds won 5-1 at Dartford.
The visitors opened the scoring with a short corner hit from Emma Bains deflected in by 2a, Blackheath & Elthamians 2nds v Cliftonville, Burnt Ash 2nds v University of Kent, Canterbury 3rds v Sevenoaks 3rds, Herne Bay v Old Bordenians 2nds, Maidstone 2nds v Gore Court 2nds.
Kent Open Premier A
P W D L F A Ps Sutton Val ..... 20 16 2 2 89 36 50 New Becc ..... 21 16 1 4 72 36 49 K Sports ........ 20 14 3 3 81 40 45 Marden R 2... 21 12 3 6 69 42 39 Old Bord 3 .... 21 10 4 7 56 61 34 Burnt Ash 3... 20 8 4 8 40 55 28 Ashford 3 ...... 21 8 3 10 64 55 27 F’stone Opt 4 21 7 4 10 51 66 25 Gill Anchs 2... 20 4 3 13 31 45 15 Gravesham ... 21 3 6 12 41 71 15 F’stone Opt 3 21 4 3 14 40 71 15 Sevenoaks5.21 2 4 15 37 93 10
Results: Sutton Valence 6 Burnt
Ash 3rds 0, New Beccehamians 5 Folkestone Optimist 4ths 2, Folkestone Optimist 3rds 0 Gravesham & Wellcome 5, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds 0 Marden Russets 2nds 5, Sevenoaks 5ths 5 K Sports 6, Old Bordenian 3rds 5 Ashford 3rds 2.
Fixtures: Burnt Ash 3rds v New Beccehamians, Old Bordenian 3rds v Folkestone Optimist 3rds, Folkestone Optimist 4ths v Gravesham &
Wellcome, Ashford 3rds v Gillingham Anchorians 2nds, Marden Russets 2nds v Sevenoaks 5ths, K Sports v Sutton Valence.
Kent Open Premier C
Gore Court 4 . 21 13 6 2 54 35 45 Ashford 4 ...... 20 12 3 5 44 28 39 Burnt Ash 5... 20 11 4 5 65 50 37 Sutton Val 2 .. 20 11 3 6 57 35 36 S’oaks Acorns20 10 3 7 33 38 33 Sevenoaks7.20 9 3 8 47 49 30 Marden Russ 321 8 2 11 50 50 26 BromBeck 6.. 21 5 7 9 49 67 22 Tun Wells 4 ... 20 6 3 11 50 55 21 Gravesham 2 20 7 0 13 49 55 21 Holcombe 4A 20 5 5 10 29 36 20 Kerstin Wolgast.
Ashford conceded a goal but they responded when Kate Tilby followed up a deflection from a short corner hit to make it 2-1. Lucy Grayson beat two defenders in the D to slip the ball past the keeper and then Amy Thomas worked the ball around the keeper for 4-1.
In the second half Grayson, set up by Hayley Reynolds, added a fifth goal
In the same division, runners-up Ashford ladies’ 3rds defeated Burnt Ash 3-0, with all the goals scored by Linda Charlton. The hosts built up a 2-0 half-time lead and made sure of the win with Charlton’s hattrick goal. Deal 2 ........... 21 5 1 15 34 63 16
Results: Sevenoaks Acorns 2 Burnt Ash 5ths 4, Marden Russets 3rds 5 Bromley & Beckenham 6ths 2, Gravesham & Wellcome 2nds 0 Sutton Valence 2nds 4, Tunbridge Wells 4ths 5 Deal 2nds 3, Gore Court 4ths 1 Holcombe 4A 0, Ashford 4ths 3 Sevenoaks 7ths 1.
Fixtures: Sutton Valence 2nds v Gore Court 4ths, Holcombe 4A v Tunbridge Wells 4ths, Deal 2nds v Marden
Russets 3rds, Gravesham & Wellcome 2nds v Sevenoaks Acorns, Sevenoaks 7ths v Burnt Ash 5ths, Bromley & Beckenham 6ths v Ashford 4ths.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
East League Division 1 South
P W D L F A Ps East London.. 21 17 3 1 74 10 54 Upminster ..... 21 16 4 1 64 15 52 Maidstone ..... 21 13 3 5 80 40 42 Chelmsford 2 21 12 2 7 40 36 38 Blueharts ...... 21 10 5 6 47 30 35 Bish Stortford 21 8 6 7 47 42 30 Old Loughts .. 21 8 4 9 35 40 28 Crostyx ......... 21 6 6 9 23 36 24 Cant 2A ........ 21 4 4 13 29 64 16 Colchester .... 21 5 0 16 31 73 15 Tun Wells ...... 21 3 4 14 23 60 13 Ashford ......... 21 3 1 17 29 76 10
Results: Old Loughts 3 Tunbridge Wells 1, Maidstone 5 Blueharts 3, Colchester 0 Crostyx 3, Chelmsford 2nds 0 East London 1, Canterbury 2A 4 Bishops Stortford 4, Ashford 1 Upminster 4.
Fixtures: Tunbridge Wells v Maidstone, Upminster v Old Loughts, Blueharts v Colchester, Crostyx v Chelmsford 2nds, East London v Canterbury 2A, Bishops Stortford v Ashford.
Kent League Division 2 Ashford 2 ...... 21 20 1 0 97 10 61 Ashford 3 ...... 21 14 4 3 62 33 46 Tun Wells 3 ... 21 12 2 7 61 29 38 Holcombe 3 .. 21 9 5 7 41 26 32 BBHC 2 ......... 21 9 6 6 45 34 30 New Beccs 2 21 9 2 10 40 46 28 Deal .............. 21 7 3 11 25 34 24 Gore Court 2 . 21 7 3 11 29 59 24 Cant 3A ........ 21 4 7 10 20 45 18 Burnt Ash 3... 21 4 6 11 15 48 18 Old Willis 2 .... 21 5 2 14 25 75 17 Dartford ........ 21 4 3 14 24 45 15
Results: Gore Court 2nds 5 Canterbury 3A 1, New Beccehamians 2nds 4 Deal 0, Dartford 1 Ashford 2nds 5, Ashford 3rds 3 Burnt Ash 3rds 0, Tunbridge Wells 3rds 7 Old Williamsonians 2nds 1, Holcombe 3rds 5 Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds 2.
Fixtures: Deal v Ashford 2nds, Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds v Tunbridge Wells 3rds, Old Williamsonians 2nds v Gore Court
2nds, Ashford 3rds v Dartford, Burnt Ash 3rds v Holcombe 3rds, Canterbury 3A v New Beccehamians 2nds.
Kent League Division 5 Ashford 4 ...... 21 20 0 1100 9 60 K Sports 2 ..... 21 18 0 3 76 14 54 Sevenoaks 7 . 21 13 1 7 54 29 40 Blackheath 4 21 12 2 7 61 32 38 BromBeck 5.. 20 10 0 10 35 45 30 Remnants ..... 21 8 4 9 32 42 28 Marden R 3... 21 7 4 10 39 49 25 Meopham 2 .. 20 7 3 10 37 56 24 Burnt Ash 6... 21 6 1 14 34 69 19 New Beccs 3 21 5 3 13 30 55 18 Faversham .... 21 5 2 14 21 58 17 Dartford3 ..... 21 3 2 16 10 71 11
Results: Ashford 4ths 4 Marden Russets 3rds 1, Meopham 2nds 4
New Beccehamians 3rds 0, Bromley & Beckenham 5ths 1 K Sports 2nds 0, Burnt Ash 6ths 0 Dartford 3rds 0, Remnants 4 Faversham 0, Sevenoaks 7ths 1 Blackheath & Elthamians 4ths 2.
Fixtures: Ashford 4ths v Sevenoaks 7ths, Faversham v Bromley & Beckenham 5ths, K Sports 2nds v Meopham 2nds, Dartford 3rds v Blackheath & Elthamians 4ths, New Beccehamians 3rds v Burnt Ash 6ths, Marden Russets 3rds v Remnants. Moving into the final weeks of the season Postling A are sitting top of Division 1 in the Ashford & District League, but Ashford TT A are only a point behind with a game in hand. With Ashford TT A not playing, Postling A and Ruckinge A had the chance to creep ahead in the table. Postling A hosted Little Chart A, chalking up a 7-3 win to go top. Player of the match was over 40s champion Malcolm Skates, who took a hat-trick of wins. Alan Provan managed to win one leg but never really troubled Skates, while Kevin Coleman lost in three straight legs and Paul Smallman was beaten 3-1.
Nick Owen added a brace for
Postling, only losing out over five legs to Provan.
Postling’s third player, Chris Hooper, chipped in with a single win, over Coleman.
Skates and Owen beat Provan and Smallman in the doubles.
Ruckinge A did not fare too well on their visit to Iron Room B, losing 8-2. It was a bad night for the reigning champions, and had it not been for Joe Britnell it could have been a lot worse.
Shem Legarde got past Charlie Richards and Hrvoje Crnko without the loss of a set, then recovered from 2-1 down against men’s open finalist Joe Britnell to win 3-2.
Vince Corbin had fifth leg wins over Richards and Crnko to register a brace. Then Paul Waumsley edged past Crnko 12-10 in the fifth, and Richards 12-10 in the fourth to match his team-mate. Legarde and Corbin combined to beat Crnko and Richards in the doubles.
Another 8-2 scoreline saw Challock A defeat clubmates Challock C. Top man, Paul Amos, was untroubled for Challock A running through his three games without losing a leg.
After a first leg reversal to Jamie MacDonald, Tim Pichowski reeled off three legs for the loss of nine points, then beat Nigel Stansfield in three. However he had to settle for a brace with Darren Richardson coming from a leg behind to beat Pichowski 3-1. Richardson also beat Lee Hirst in 3-0 to finish his brace. Unfortunately for Challock C that was their only reward for the evening.
MacDonald lost out to Hirst in a five leg thriller. Stansfield and Hirst also went the distance, with Hirst coming out on top in the final leg.
MacDonald and Stansfield did well to take a single leg in the doubles, but Pichowski and Amos proved far to strong.