The closest match of the week in the Hastings & District Table Tennis League Division One saw Bexhill C win 6-4 at Hollington Academy C with Graham Gillett unbeaten and Andy Chapman winning two. Arthur Bracken won two for Academy and Scott Bills lost in five games to Chapman in the final, and decisive, set.

Saints A dropped another point in a 7-3 defeat of Bexhill E when Dave Butler won three and John Wond two, while Pam Winter won two for Bexhill.

Third placed Bexhill A gained ground on Saints as they beat Tackleway B 8-2, aided by maximums from Martin Kellaway and David Rayment.

Leaders Hollington Academy A cruised to a 9-1 defeat of Hollington Academy D with three wins each for Nathan Darby and Bashar Ubaid and two for Ryan Heselden.

Tackleway A had their second 8-2 win over Bexhill B with Roy Funnell unbeaten and Mike Funnell and Gina Rogers winning two each. As in the first encounter the match was much closer than the final scoreline suggests.

 Hollington Academy B won 8-2 at Bexhill D, where Rose Rainton was unbeaten and Robin Gibbs and Sheila King both won two.  Kevin McEwan recorded the two wins for Bexhill, while King ensured full points for the Academics by beating Martin Richards 15-13 in the fifth.

In the Watts Cup, the League’s knock-out competition, the two favourites had comfortable progress to the semi-finals.

Saints A disposed of Bexhill H 5-1 after trailing 0-1 to a doubles win from Martin Richards and Andy Payani. Saints took control as they reeled off the next five with Dave Butler winning two and John Wond and Andy Syrett one each.

Hollington Academy A beat Second Division leaders Saints B 5-0 but not without a few alarms along the way.

After a comfortable opening doubles win, Bashar Ubaid edged past Ron Davenport 11-8 in the fifth before Ryan Heselden came from 1-2 down to beat Jamie Martin, also at 11-8 in the decider.  Paul Barry and Ubaid both won in straight games before another doubles win gave Academy the match.