The Hastings & District Table Tennis League got under way with some interesting contests in Division One. Champions Hastings Academy A had a potential banana skin in the shape of a strong Hastings Academy D side, including new recruits Andrew Martin and Faldie Adams, but made light of this with an impressive 8-2 win, in which Paul Barry and Nathan Darby were unbeaten.
In another Hastings Academy derby, Academy B (formerly Saints A) showed little empathy with their new club colleagues Academy D in a 9-1 win. Dave Butler and James Winchester both won three and John Wond two for the B side while Rose Rainton picked up the consolation for the D team.
A closer contest at Bexhill saw Pete Robinson’s maximum gain Bexhill D a 5-5 draw with Tackleway A for whom Mike Funnell and Roy Funnel won two apiece.
On the adjacent table, promoted Academy F picked up a point from a 7-3 defeat to Bexhill B who had Yotza Krstic unbeaten and two from Brian Busbridge. Martin Richards won two on his debut for Academy with some excellent counter-hitting.
In Division Two, pre-season favourites Academy E beat Tackleway E 9-1 with maximums from Andy Furnival and Terry Dean and two wins for Graham Deeprose.
In the latter stages of the match both Furnival and Dean had to come from 0-2 down to win in five against Aaron Pain and Andy Brown respectively.
Arguably match of the week was the 5-5 draw between Tackleway C and Nalgo A in which Nalgo’s Paul Hyland was unbeaten. Danny Rickaby and Adrian Goodrum both won two for Tackleway, who trailed 2-4.
Hollington B started with a good 7-3 win at Bexhill F with Rob Clemence, Steph Sargent and Ryan Demeza all winning two, as did Dan Starnes for the losers.
Bexhill H had a fine 6-4 win against a strong Hollington C in Division Three, with three wins for Dominic Goodson and two from Caz Hall.
The young Hollington E team had a much better start beating Tackleway G 9-1 with maximums from Yasar Akar and Tristan Hyland and two for Sacha Ward.