Draycott Diamonds leading the race for table tennis title
DRAYCOTT DIAMONDS have emerged as favourites for the Loughborough and District Table Tennis League title as the players head towards the Christmas break.
Their six-strong squad have all competed strongly in the first half of the season, enabling them to remain unbeaten with four wins from their seven matches.
Leading the way has been James Harvey who has maintained a 100 per cent record in his eight singles including a man of the match performance in the 6-0 win over high-flying Unicorn Avocets.
Their most likely challengers are Students A who are just three points adrift having played the same number of matches. Students also gave Draycott one of their hardest nights so far when two wins for Craig Witheford led them to a 3-3 draw.
Witheford currently leads the averages in Division One with 12 wins out of 12.
A high-class division has meant a difficult introduction for top flight newcomers Sawley Nags who are bottom of the table and winless from six matches.
It’s a similar tale in Division Two with Draycott Dolphins favourites for the top spot and Students B their closest challengers.
Dolphins cruised through their first six matches unbeaten, with Alex Horsley winning seven singles out of eight, but the division has tightened up after a Rafe Cherry-inspired Charnwood Blockers defeated them 5-1 on their last outing.
Students B also have an ace up their sleeves in Sujatro Ghosh who also boasts an 87.5 per cent record and his double earned a 3-3 draw against third placed Sawley Stars in their last match before the break.
Thringstone B and Students C look set to finish in the bottom two spots.
Three teams are locked together on 29 points at the top of a closely contested Division Three with Draycott Dinkies only two points behind in fourth.
Best placed of all are Charnwood Choppers who have a useful game in hand over title rivals Charnwood Drivers and Students D.
Experienced duo Tony Cook and Eric Baker have been in consistent form all season for Choppers.
An intriguing division also sees the bottom four of Melbourne Swifts, Students E, Draycott Dragons and Goons also separated by just a couple of points.
Competition is also intense in Division Four with just seven points between the top five.
Max Cherry and Alex Boons have been starring for leaders Charnwood Foxes but they still face a particularly strong challenge from Students G who are just a point adrift. Unbeaten Toby Dickens won a double when the two top sides shared a 3-3 draw.
Sawley Tempted, Charnwood Eagles and Students F are the other teams with reason to hope, but Sawley Tested and newcomers Charnwood Gladiators have found things particularly tough.