Teams returned to action in Division One of the Hastings & District Table Tennis League with the leading pair both picking up maximum points.

Second  placed Bexhill A were more inconvenienced with Rob Warner called up as a last minute replacement for David Rayment. Warner and Lewis Mayhew were both unbeaten in an 8-2 win over Hollington Academy B. After a bad start, when Martin Kellaway lost in five games to Rose Rainton after leading 2-1, Bexhill cruised to a 4-1 lead before the Academics fought back, losing the doubles and Rainton’s clash with Warner, both in five games. Sam Collins then beat Kellaway, again in five games, before Mayhew took the final contest to ensure the four points.

Leaders Hollington Academy A beat Bexhill C 8-2, with Bexhill unable to add to two early wins for Graham Gillett. Paul Barry eased his way to a maximum with Basher Obeyed and Nathan Darby both winning twice for Academy.

Bexhill’s John Wilson led Obeyed 2-1 in the first match up, only for Obeyed to finish strongly.

Bexhill A and Hollington Academy A meet at Bexhill next week in a match which could decide the championship.

In the bottom half of the table, Bexhill B gained a critical 9-1 win over bottom side Tackleway B, with maximums from Yotza Krstic and Andy Summers and two wins for Tina Beaney to consolidate their ninth place.

Bexhill G are now four points adrift of the B side, despite a useful point gained in a

3-7 defeat to Hollington Academy C who had Fraser Kent unbeaten and Scott Bills winning twice, as did Ryan Warner for Bexhill. Warner and Ryan Heselden both did well to extend Kent who is still 100%.

Tackleway C are a point behind Bexhill G after their 8-2 defeat at Saints A, for whom Dave Butler and James Winchester both won three. Saints’ Andy Syrett edged out Andy Brown 12-10 in the fifth to leave Tackleway pointless.

The mid-table clash between Saints B and Tackleway B ended 5-5 with two wins each for John Wond and Ron Davenport (Saints) and Roy Funnell and Sue Pingram (Tackleway).