Kentish Express Ashford & District
Early potency fizzles out
ASHFORD 19 VIGO 7 Table tennis
Despite an unimpressive performance, Ashford registered a three try to one win over Vigo on Saturday, retaining top place in London 3 South East.
The victory maintains Ashford’s five-point and gamein-hand advantage over secondplaced neighbours Folkestone.
Ashford were back at Kinneys Field for their first home fixture of 2020 and saw the welcome return of Owen Piper to the second row and Danny Bushell at centre.
The replacements’ bench had an average age of 18, with Will Blyth and Jack Lockerby joined by Adam Butler.
Ashford’s display was again marked by an early ability to prise open their opponents, scoring three tries, followed by a prolonged period when they ceded control of the proceedings and on this occasion failed to raise their game in the last quarter to score a fourth, and bonus winning try.
A bright start by Ashford saw them dominate possession. After six minutes, a series of forwards drives set a platform for releasing the Ashford backs on the left, with Rhys Fussell timing his run to create an opening before passing to Andy Ticehurst who touched down for the game’s opening score and a 5-0 lead.
Seven minutes later a driving maul by their forwards created an opening for the Ashford backs to attack.
On this occasion Charlie Colman was the beneficiary of slick passing that enabled him to elude the Vigo defence to register Ashford’s second try.
Ben Gray’s conversion stretched the lead to 12-0.
As Vigo edged their way into the game, Ashford displayed the negative side of their game, conceding a series of penalties that led to one player being yellow carded.
On the half hour, Ashford showed their counter-attacking threat, when Farai Myezwa initiated a run on the right wing, sucking in Vigo defenders before passing infield to Fussell who completed the formalities.
Gray added the extra two points to establish a 19-0 halftime lead.
The early stages of the second half saw Ashford in possession and threatening the Vigo line.
However, their efforts were again impacted by another player being given a yellow card, for talking back to the referee.
This saw Ashford again retreating into their shell and relying on their defensive prowess to secure the day.
Vigo dominated possession for a good half-hour, but it took until the 75th minute for any reward when a break on the left wing gave winger George Harrison with an easy run-in for a try.
Craig Whitehead added the conversion to reduce the leeway to 19-7.
In the closing minutes, Ashford pushed for a fourth try but time ran out and they had to settle for a four point win.
Ashford: Huxted, Sherrin, Norman, Piper, Knight A, Knight B, Vidler, Stuckey, Gray, Cooper, Bushell, Colman, Myezwa, Fussell. Replacements: Lockerby, Butler, Blyth.
This weekend promises to be busy. On Saturday, Ashford travel to third-placed Bromley while two home games see the 2nds take on Sevenoaks 3rds and the 3rds face Faversham 2nds.
On Sunday morning, the club hosts a Kent under-13s waterfall tournament involving some 30 teams from across the county.
Hamstreet B have started the second half of the Division 4 season in the Ashford & District League at a canter, having faded at the end of the last half and finishing a disappointing fourth.
This time they dispatched Ashford TT E for a 10-0 in week one, and then faced Challock D – who were relegated from Division 3 at Christmas. Challock showed no signs of an upturn in form at the lower level.
That said, Richard Partridge wasted no time in seeing off Darren Holliday for the loss of just 14 points over the three legs.
However, that was it for Challock as Holliday went on to pick up a brace over Michael Howells and Michele Chapman.
Stuart Whorlow and David Smith both chalked up hat-tricks and the pair combined to defeat Howells and Chapman for a 9-1 overall win. Chasing Hamstreet, but already eight points adrift after two games are Ashford TT C.
Having lost 8-2 to Ashford TT D they were looking to play catch-up, and a 9-1 victory over Sportsmen B went a long way to help.
Mark Turrell took player-of-thematch honours with a hat-trick over Dennis Brindley, David Payne, and Maureen Penny, with only Payne taking a leg off the Ashford man.
Bob Young also picked up a hat-trick and Glen Walters chipped in with a brace, with Penny stealing in with a five leg win to avoid a 10-0 whitewash. A point behind Ashford C, Sportsmen C were up against the juniors of Ashford TT E who have been threatening to have a break-out season, and the signs are looking good. Arthur Ellison-Burroughs started brightly, taking a 3-1 win over David Shaba. Harvey Horsley fought well, and took player-of-the-match Colin Healy into a fifth leg before experience won out.
Andrew Charley restored Ashford’s lead with a 3-2 win over Brand. Sportsmen won the next four to go
5-2 ahead, before Ellison-Burroughs defeated Brand 3-0. The match finished 7-3 in Sportsmen C’s favour.