Week 4 of the Eastern Valley Table Tennis League saw the leaders of Division One, Bristol Nomads, take on the third placed team, YMCA Preachers. After missing the last 2 matches the father and son combination of Chris and Louis Price returned for the Nomads and it was Dad Chris that provided a player of the match performance to secure a 21-16 win. He was well supported by Mike Bishop with 2 wins. For the Preachers Claire Flannagan failed to continue her undefeated start to the season, but did win a tight 5 setter over young Louis Price and lost 14-16 in the fifth set against Chris Price.
The second placed side in Division One, Cwmbran Aztecs, we're playing the bottom side Blaenavon Aztecs, strengthened by the introduction of Piotr Sniezek making his league debut. It was Sniezek who provided a player of the match performance to help his team to a 15-15 draw with his 3 wins. The match of the night in Division One was Sniezek against the Aztecs Tony Collins which went all the way with Sniezek winning in 5 sets.
The final match in Division One saw Lee Thomas of Cwmbran Colts looking to keep his undefeated record against Cwmbran Blues. This he managed to maintain, but, only after coming back from behind to win in 5 sets against Mark Farrow and David D Lloyd. However, Thomas could not prevent his team going down 22-9 to the Blues for whom Farrow, Lloyd and Ian Maggs all had 2 wins each.
The leaders of Division Two, Cwmbran Panthers, took on Cwmbran Fellows, who had Wayne Ford seeking to maintain his unbeaten start to the season. The Panthers were always in control of the match and secured an 18-13 win. There was an excellent win for the Fellows' Matthew Cullingford over the higher ranked Howard Gaut. However, the Division Two match of the night was kept to last between the Panthers' Mike Blatchford and Ford. With both players unbeaten this season something had to give. It was Ford who took an early 2 sets lead, but Blatchford battled back to take the match into a final set decider before Ford managed to recover his composure to see out the match.
As per last season the Panthers closest challengers are Cwmbran Dynamos and despite being without their number one player, Alex Jones, recorded a surprisingly comfortable 27-1 win against Cwmbran Devils. Although there were maximum wins for the Dynamos' Will Smith-Haddon and Star Limbu, it was their team mate Sunam Rai who picked up the player of the match award.
The final match in Division Two saw Cwmbran Eccentrics take on Blaenavon Bulldogs which the Bulldogs won in a tight encounter 18-15. Peter Alderson was playing his first game of the season for the Eccentrics and produced a player of the match performance with his 3 wins, however, he could not prevent his side going down. For the Bulldogs there were 2 wins for Lincoln Alford and his Grandson, Coel Alford, who continues to perform very well in his debut season.
