Oldies calling all the shots

There was a big win for the top side in Division 2 of the Canterbury & District Table Tennis Association Summer League, Waltham Choughs Oldies, against Ken & Barbie. Barbara Ayling, of Ken & Barbie, had an eight-point start over Heather Robertson and she took the first set easily. Robertson struck back with a win in set two and followed it up with a six-point triumph for a 2-1 victory.

Ayling had to give David Adelman a seven-point advantage and lost both sets easily. Frank Carlucci had to overcome a -15, +9, handicap against Adelman and did well to take the opening set by four points, but the handicap helped Adelman take the next two sets easily for a 2-1 win. Carlucci gave Robertson a nine-point advantage, but he couldn’t contain the aggressive backhand game and lost in straight sets. Robertson and Adelman had an eight-point advantage in the doubles and they overwhelmed Ayling and Carlucci in set one, albeit Ayling and Carlucci recovered to take set two by five points. Robertson and Adelman then took the all-important third set for a 2-1 win in the doubles and a massive 5-0 victory. The Dukes, riding high in Division 4, beat Spinny Balls. Mike Harrison, of Spinny Balls, had an eight-point start over Dave Mills and lost the opening set by three points. In a close second set, he scraped through on deuce and got an easy win in the third set for a 2-1 success. Harrison had to give Wendy Davenport a one-point start and got through by three points in the first set. Davenport clung on in set two and got herself a win by three points and, in a tight final set, Harrison emerged victorious by five points for a 2-1 win. Michael Ayris gave Davenport a six-point lead and eased to a straight-sets win.

He lost the first set to Mills by four points but came back in set two to win by five points. Ayris then took the deciding set for a 2-1 victory.

The Dukes’ duo had to give away a point in the doubles but they still sealed a 2-0 victory.