Young contenders make solid start to league season
Cippenham’s two women's teams have made a solid start to their respective British League seasons in Wolverhampton this weekend.
The club’s two teams have effectively swapped places with the improving youngsters now overtaking Cippenham’s more experienced seniors and have taken up their place in Division 3.
The improvements made by the first team showed in their results over the weekend, with Rachael Iles, Mia Lakhani and Anna Piercey returning to the tables after enjoying a successful weekend for Cippenham in the junior British Leagues.
On this occasion they won two and drew two of their five matches as they moved third in the table.
The first team made a storming start to beat Greenwich-based Youngs Table Tennis Club 6-0 in their opening fixture and they backed that up with a deserved 4-2 victory over North Essex, with Piercey unbeaten over the two matches. She lost just one game from 13 and picked up the player of the match award on both occasions.
The number 1 seed Iles then showed her class in the later matches on Saturday as she led the side to a 3-3 draw with Loop Dublin, beating Ikuko McMahon and Nives Golun in the process. Sunday began with another 3-3 draw against St Neots, a disappointment after the side had led 3-0.
The final match of the weekend ended in a disappointing 6-0 defeat to division leaders Ellenborough.
Meanwhile Cippenham’s 2nd team took to the tables in Division 4.
They finished the first half of the season in fourth place having won one and drawn one of their five matches.
Mary Heffernan was by far their most successful player, winning six of her eight individual matches, and being named as player of the match on two occasions. Lucie Bouron weighed in with three wins. Greenhouse sent them spinning to a 4-2 defeat in their opening game while Jersey claimed a comfortable 5-1 victory also. A change in fortunes saw Cippenham defeat Drumchapel Glasgow 3rds 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, Heffernan earning player of the match with a brace of wins.
One win apiece from Heffernan and Bouron wasn't enough on Sunday morning as Cippenham lost 4-2 to Worthing but the weekend finished on a brighter note as Cippenham shared the spoils with Sutton at Hone 3-3.