Crosby send out
CROSBY B (70pts) returned to the top of Division One of the Southport and District Table Tennis League, after a good win at Argyle A, which could well have been bettered if they had a full quota of players.
Crosby C (70pts) travelled to Argyle B without number one Rhys Davies, where the winning of both doubles was decisive in a narrow 4-6 success.
Crosby A’s maximum win against Southport A sent out some ominous signals to their close rivals.
Returning to full strength for the first time in a while the mes- sage was clear, and means they lie third on 68pts, but with one match in hand on their B team and two on their C.
Of course they all still have to play one another, (the A and B also with the added interest of a rearranged match against each other), so anything could happen.
Waddington A got much the better of their C team, in a match void of regular numbe ones, and with the A team winning the three contests that went to five games, then it could well have been closer.
Nick Foss with an excellent double for the C team was the stand out performance.
There are new leaders of the Second Division,
Holy Trinity C are in pole position on 81pts, but only just, on matches drawn.
Argyle D are in second also on 81pts, 16pts ahead of Argyle C, who have played a match less. It all came about after Holy Trinity’s commanding win at Waddington E, where only Dave Mullan, resisted what looks like not just a strong team, but a strong squad.
Argyle D, without number one Nick Miller, couldn’t match the eight points, having to settle for seven against North Meols. Argyle C lost ground in the promotion race, missing out narrowly at Crosby D, again it was Sarang Sapre and Josiah Nix both with a full house of wins that did the damage although Marcus Doyle’s epic 16-14 clincher in the fourth game against Naresh Tagore, looked to be the match winner. Waddington D (55pts) move into fourth place after a convincing win over Holy Trinity D.
We head off to Crosby for a double Third Division affair, Crosby G hosting Argyle F, whilst Crosby H take on leaders Argyle G.
With the late withdrawal of Crosby G team captain and number one Elliot Cooper through illness, H team captain Felix Anderson was drafted into their lineup at the last minute, leaving room for Joe Wilson to enter the fray for the H team. Great start for the G team, double’s pairing Nick Moustaka and Ted Sloan, getting the bit between their teeth, overcoming Argyle’s Pat Devlin and Gary Hible in four games, 11-7,117,9-11,11-5.
Felix then made it 2-0 with a three straight win against Argyle captain Lee Hones, before his number one Lewis Hible pulled one back, by getting the better of Ted Sloan in three games, it’s 2-1 Crosby.
Pat up next to face Chris Moustaka, which turned out to be a fascinating tussle with Pat’s stubborn defence holding out very well against Chris’s attack. First game to Pat 5-11, all square after two 11-8 Chris, very close third, edged 9-11 by Pat, and it’s all square on the night, 6-11 to Pat in the fourth.
That two point lead was reestablished, after wins for Felix and Chris over Gary and Lee respectively, making the score