Scorpions put a sting in the tail to West’s hopes
It was clash of the titans’ in Sunderland & District Table Tennis League Division Three in an enticing double header as long-term leaders West CA D met the team who have been hunting them down, Durham City Scorpions.
Instalment one was played outontheWeststage.Although Jason Gargett got the home team off to a promising start, defeating Harry Veitch, Durham’sJeffMcKennaandOliver Wilkinsonmetedoutthesame loss margin to Michael Hepworth and Alan Whitwham.
The visitors took a firm grip, with only Gargett scoringanothersetoverWilkinson.
With the score standing at 2-7, it was Scorpion McKenna whodeliveredthefinalstingin the tail to West’s hopes by beting Gargett in straight games.
Two days later, West shuffled their pack, drafting in MickRedfearn,whileDurham kept faith with an unchanged line-up.
With the score at 1-1, Redfearn conjured a little magic to overturn the in-form McKenna, 11-8 in a deciding end.
Thatwasasgoodasitgotfor a flailing West however, and Scorpions again led 7-2 going into the final set.
Veitch then showed he had learntfromhisrecentdefeatto Gargett by taking the contest in four ends, the last two being 12-10, 11-9. It was very much ‘mission accomplished’ for Scorpions who leap-frog West inthetableandlookinvincible.
West still enjoy a cushion for the second promotion slot as third-placed Brandon Outlaws’ hopes of making significant ground were dashed as they were held at home by Backspin C. Elsewhere, East BoldonCowboysnarrowlybeat St Gabriel’s E 6-4.
InDivisionTwo,therewere two 6-4 triumphs for St Gabriel’s teams.
The D outfit travelled to BrandonCrusaders,andwhile they were all undone by the potent serve-led game of Paul Dale, the battling trio of Joe Miller, Howard McCain, and Gary Anderson hit two apiece, including three tremendous tussles with Brian Childs.
Gabriel’s C also found one opponent in irresistible form as Unionist Club’s Michael Karczewski swept the board.
However, Geoff Young and David Revell fought back from 2-0 arrears to take a crucial doubles set, and Revell secured the overall victory when he beat Ray Purves, 11-2 in a fifth-end shoot-out.