The Hastings & District Table Tennis League saw the resumption of hostilities after the season of good will, with teams completing the first half of their fixtures.

Two key matches were played out in Division One with bottom team Tigers A forced to visit nearest rivals Bexhillians D with two reserves. Brian Beaney and John Bradbury were both unbeaten as Bexhill took a 7-3 win to leave Tigers six points adrift.

John Wond’s maximum led Saints B to a 7-3 win over Tackleway B with Ron Davenport winning two. Davenport was unable to prevent Tackleway taking a consolation point as he was beaten in five games in the last contest by Dave Wilson, who won twice for Tackleway. Tackleway B are now level with Bexhill D while Saints B have a six point buffer over both.

Leaders Hollington Academy A beat Tackleway A 9-1, with Paul Barry and Basher Obeyed unbeaten and Andy Furnival winning two. Mike Funnell picked up the consolation win for the losers.

Bexhillians A beat Hollington Academy B 7-3 with Lewis Mayhew, making a rare appearance, unbeaten and two from David Rayment. Rose Rainton won twice for Academy, saving a point with a win over Rayment at 11-9 in the fifth.

In Division Two, Hollington A had a hard-fought 6-4 win at Tackleway C with Shaun Godfrey unbeaten and Steph Sargent winning two while Kevin Rowe won twice for Tackleway. Sargent started the match with a five-game win over Andy Brown and finished it by beating Simon Newstead 12-10 in the fifth to ensure the win which leaves the teams level in the table.

Pam Winter had a straight games maximum as Bexhillians E won 6-4 at Tigers B. Paul Welford also won twice for the winners as did Tigers’ Chris Woods.

NALGO A beat Hollington B 8-2 with a maximum from Paul Hyland and two wins for Mick Lane and Mike Courtnage. Ryan Demeza won twice for Hollington.

Tackleway F and Hollington Academy D drew 5-5 in Division Three, with Tackleway’s Danny Kildea winning three while Dave Watters and Matt Martin both won two for Academy.