Defending champions close to securing title
CHAMPIONS elect Princes St A produced another defining maximum win at home to Argyle B. A near spotless performance, dropping just two games, has put them within touching distance of retaining their title.
In the other match, Crosby C comfortably overcame their A team 9-1.
However, the result wasn’t that surprising as the A team had only three players.
But the match was enlightened by Jacqui Schober Thomson who turned out for the A team, competed alongside and against her ‘boys’ Adam and Stefan, a nightmare though for the scorecard writer!
Princes St was our venue this week for the ‘top of the table’ clash in Division One between Princes St C and Formby Village A, and with both teams missing vital players then the match looked to be in the balance.
Visiting captain Brian Crolley plumbed to start with his first doubles pairing of ‘sisters’ Susie Venner and Janette Hutchings to face the hosts’ family connection in ‘father and son’ duo Darren and Josh Taylor, and it was them who started much the better and continued to do so in securing a three straight win.
Second doubles was much the same with Ned Hassen and Brian levelling the scores against Andy Armstrong and Colin Fyles.
Home captain Josh then restored his sides lead with a tremendous attacking display to overcome Susie in three straight, before dad Darren looked as though he would suffer the same fate against Formby stalwart Brian after losing the first two games 10-12, 9-11, But a great recovery 11-2,115,11-6 made the score 3-1 Princes St.
Darren then stayed put to hopefully continue his form versus Ned, but found the going a little tougher against an opponent who adopted a near perfect game plan in a superb four game victory.
Some great table tennis here, and it continued with a very cagey affair between Colin and Janette, with both players trying to draw the mistakes from the other in an intriguing battle.
Colin took the first 11-8, only for Janette to edge the next 14-16, before Colin then seemed to take control with an 11-4 success, and finally snatch the point 14-12 in the fourth, 4-2 to the hosts.
Back came Formby though, in the next encounter between Andy and Susie, where although very exciting, it seemed neither player could create any consistency at all, with Susie eventually following the scoring pattern through to the end to win it 8-11,11-6, 5-11,11-5, 8-11.
Josh then cemented his player of the match accolade with a three straight victory over Jannette, after which Colin secured the vital win repeating the feat against Brian.
There was no icing on the cake this time for the hosts, as Ned completed a well-deserved full quota of wins, taking the final contest in four games against Andy, to make it 6-4 Princes St C, keeping them in poll position – great entertainment!
Princes St B made the trip to Formby Village B, with their eyes firmly set on top position, as still with a match in hand after a good 3-7 victory they now look best set to challenge their C team for that elusive top place.
Frantisek Dejl was again the match winner for Crosby D in their 6-4 success at home to Argyle C, where a full quota of wins for the number one was pivotal. It was also good to see the evergreen Tony Bramham get amongst the points for the home side.
Princes St F maintained their pole position in Division 2, after a 7-3 home win over Crosby E, where again Genadijs Afanasjevs along with Dave Noden inflicted most of the damage on a slightly understrength Crosby side.
Princes St D hung onto the leaders ‘coat tails’ with a narrow 6-4 victory against an ever improving Waterloo B side, who were in fact 1-4 ahead, thanks mainly to another fine double from number one Nikolaj Primuk, aided by Peter Roberts and Matthew Sexton.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors, as a string of wins from Colin Fyles, Irene Mullan and then Ian Lunt drew the sides level, before victory in both doubles completed and secured a memorable fightback, epitomised by Colin and Chris Foley who came back from two games down against Nikolaj and Peter to take the point, 11-8,11-9,11-9.
Argyle D versus Princes St E served up another enthralling match, where two wins for Argyle’s Mike Parker and two apiece from both Josiah Nix and Harry Hobson for the visitors were instrumental in keeping you guessing on who would be victorious, which in the end was neither as it finished all square, at 5-5.
Southport B gave a helping hand to their C teams ambitions at the top of Division 3, in keeping their fierce rivals Argyle F to just six points in their home match.
Alan Nolan for Southport and Argyles Paul Marshall were the stand out performers in the 4-6 result.
Argyle E’s home match versus Carlton was postponed because of illness in the Carlton camp, whilst there was another point for Crosby G at home to leaders Southport C, this time from young Oscar Wilson in a creditable 1-9 home loss. Keep it going lads!
More information can be found at southport. ttleagues.com
PREMIER DIVISION
Princes St A Crosby C
Crosby A
Argyle A
DIVISION 1
Princes St C Formby Village A Princes St B Southport A
DIVISION 2
Princes St F Princes St D Rainford Waterloo B
DIVISION 3
Southport C Argyle F Southport B Crosby F
94 pts 84 pts 79 pts 74 pts
84 pts 81 pts 71 pts 67 pts
106 pts 100 pts 76 pts 68 pts