Quirk makes visitors title quest hard going
WITH runaway leaders of the Premier Division, Princes St A without a match, there was the slight chance that Crosby C could claw back enough points to make the champions elect put those ‘celebrations on ice’ for a while longer.
A visit to Argyle A was the hurdle to jump well clear, but in fact, with home number one Julian Quirk in tremendous form, they only just managed to clear it with a close 4-6 victory.
In the other contest, Crosby B got back to winning ways with a 7-3 home success over Argyle B, where home captain Ciaran Lynch made all the difference with a commanding full quota of wins.
Princes St C maintained pole position at the top of Division 1 with a good 3-7 away victory against Argyle C, whilst their closest rivals Princes St B kept well in touch after a convincing 9-1 home win over Crosby D.
Southport A continued their superb form with a fifth straight victory, this time a maximum win away to third placed Formby Village A, leapfrogging them in the process.
With second placed Princes St B playing both their C team and Southport in the next two weeks it may then look a lot clearer, or not!
Division 2 leaders Princes St F were the big winners here even without playing, after their match at Rainford was postponed due to illness. Nearest rivals Princes D were beaten at Crosby in a close affair 6-4, where the return of Crosby ‘starlet’ Luke Govier made all the difference.
Those four points have lifted Princes D to the top by just one point, but favourites Princes St F do have two matches in hand.
Waterloo B and Princes St E seemed to cancel each other out in an exciting draw, where Gaz Corran for Waterloo and Josiah Nix for the visitors were the standout performers.
In a rearranged match between Argyle D and Crosby E, Luke Govier was again the star attraction in a 3-7 victory, with his second full quota of wins making it a terrific week for him and the Crosby side.
Carlton was our rendezvous this week when they hosted one of the frontrunners Argyle F in Division 3, and what a start they made with captain Kris Cooper and Carl Mulligan pairing up to edge out Argyle captain Les Lord and Robert Young in an epic five games, 12-10, 10-12, 13-11, 5-11, 13-11.
Robert then stayed put to tie it up at 1-1, after a three straight win over James Abram, before Andy Bennett restored the hosts lead with another superb five game success over John Hepple, coming back from 1-2 down to take the final two games 11-9, 11-8.
After which, more problems beset the visitors when Carl just got the better of Les in yet another contest that went all the way, Carl winning it in the fifth 11-8, after Les had fought back from two games down, 3-1 Carlton.
Phil Marshal then calmed the visitors’ nerves with a three straight win over Andy, and even more reassurance was given with the second doubles encounter going to the visitors to make it all square at 3-3.
Argyle’s title ambitions were dealt another blow as James put his side in front again with a four game win over John, only for Robert to return the favour with a similar win against Kris to make it 4-4.
In their previous two meetings Argyle had won both 9-1 and then 7-3, so when Carl edged another classic five gamer 11-7 in the fifth versus Phil, to make it 5-4, then the home side’s improvement was there for all to see. Well, could they even win it, the two captains would decide the issue, and what a finale.
Les pinched the first 10-12, Kris hit back strongly taking the second 11-5, only for Les to return the compliment 8-11.
It was all square after Kris took the fourth 11-7 , but experience won through as Les sneaked the fifth 10-12, to give us a rather surprising result of 5-5.
Or could that be a little unfair on the ever improving Carlton… Tremendous nights table tennis whichever way you view it!
Crosby F always looked like getting the better of Argyle E, especially as the visitors turned up a player short, 7-3 it finished.
Finally, next week we will hopefully have news from the recently held Town Championships.
All information can found at southport. ttleagues.com
PREMIER DIVISION
Princes St A
Crosby C
Crosby A
Argyle A
DIVISION 1 Princes St C Princes St B Southport A Formby Village A
DIVISION 2 Princes St D Princes St F Waterloo B Rainford
DIVISION 3 Southport C Argyle F Southport B Crosby F 97 pts 69 pts 55 pts 45 pts
101 pts 88 pts 84 pts 84 pts
85 pts 84 pts 72 pts 71 pts
106 pts 105 pts 86 pts 75 pts