Woolton Hill fail to strike while the Irons are hot
NETS ‘n’ Edges beat leaders Woolton Hill Irons 11-9 in the standout result in the Newbury Table Tennis Summer League this week.
It was just one of a number of exciting fixtures, despite a reduced schedule.
Mark Wheeler beat Ian Langley 3-1, but lost 10-12, 4-11, 9-11 to Antony Baker.
Ray Powell was on the wrong side of a five-game thriller against Baker, but bounced back to beat Langley 8-11, 11-9, 17-15, 6-11, 11-7.
Crucially, Nets ‘n’ Edges won the doubles 3-0.
The Big Three’s lost 14-6 to the Pilgrims.
Ray Beeks went down 0-3 to playerof-the-match Tom Watmore, but dusted himself off to beat Beverley Moore 3-2.
Jack Savage lost 1-3 to Moore and then again by the same scoreline against Watmore.
The Pilgrims rounded off an impressive performance with a 3-1 win in the doubles.
In Division 2, the Spitfires were downed 13-6 by Thatcham Dragons. John Panting lost 0-3 to player-ofthe-match Mo Mushtaq, but caught his breath to overcome Allan Bartlett 3-1.
Mushtaq secured another 3-0 win against Christine Haines, who subsequently lost in five games to Bartlett.
The Dragons then roared to a 3-1 victory in the doubles.
Woolton Hill Irons now lead Division 1 with 113 points from 10 games, but their sister team the Idles still look to be in pole position with 112 points from nine games. Nets ‘n’ Edges’ impressive win also moves them within striking distance of the Irons with 108 points from their nine games.
All three of the top sides in
Division 2 have played nine games and unbeaten Cyclones have stormed ahead with 120 points, with Thatcham Lions on 108 and Dragons on 104.
Both divisions still look to be wide open, although Irons’ defeat looks to have left the door wide open for Idles in Division 1, who return to action next week.
Cyclones look as though they’ll take some stopping in Division 2, although both Thatcham sides still harbour title ambitions.