Newspaper Article WC 22 January

We are getting closer and closer to the final weeks of the 2017/18 season here in the Oldham & District Table Tennis League, with 5 weeks remaining in the 1st Division and 6 weeks remaining in the 2-5th Divisions. It’s becoming a nail-biter across the board.

But first, we currently have 10 Oldham & District players in the Table Tennis England Rankings, massive congratulations to all on their positions and the best to all in future competitions.

 

Senior Men Ranking:

Darren Lindley 86th

Sam Clayton 260th

Kyan Chin 263rd

Miles Benjamin 417th

Jacob Reilly-Cooper 491st

Nadeem Ahmed 505th

Steve Hathaway 509th

Brian Hallsworth 579th

 

Junior Girls Ranking:                                                               Cadet Boys Ranking:

Sophie Newton 39th                                                                Alex Darlington 97th

 

Now, to the results of the week of 22nd January, in the 1st Division, there were close games to be had throughout.

Honeywell Lane B did incredibly to take 3 points off of the divisional leaders, with Rob & Paul Carter and Dave Cheetham producing great performances to all beat Mohammed Sagied. Kristof Pinter and Maj Tubasum made sure Glodwick remained unbeaten however with trebles for each and combining well to win the doubles to take the victory 7-3 and extend their lead at the top. Can they be caught?

Honeywell Lane A are hoping they can as they recovered from their 8-2 defeat to Unison A last week to beat last season’s runner-up Birley Moss, 6-4. Sam Clayton producing a masterclass of table tennis to beat the Divisional Most-Wins leader, Kyan Chin in 5 sets, a game which many members of the League are definitely wishing they had witnessed. Sam, David Buckley and Simon Hardwick beating Naz Ahmed and they won the doubles to get their victory.  

Saddleworth B put their stuttering form to one side to beat Honeywell C 8-2, Nathan Buckley, having hit form at the right time for a push up the table, winning 2, Matt Evans and Paul King winning 3 each to limit Honeywell to 2 points on the night. Lukasz Maciejewski unable to reproduce his fantastic treble from last week against Hollinwood, but went down fighting against the brilliant Paul King, losing in 5, 13-15, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 and finally succumbing 11-3. A great display from all there.

Hollinwood A had Barry Elliot and Kim Lee to thank for their victory, both winning trebles against a strong Unison A side, led by Sophie Newton, with Brian Hallsworth & Tim Vaughan. All three Unison players fought for their points against Ian Quinn, with Brian and Tim also combining for the doubles to take 4 points home in their 6-4 loss. Unison are now 17 points clear of the drop zone.

 

In the 2nd Division, being at home held no advantage this week as all of the home sides lost in convincing fashion. Hyde YMCA A travelling to Honeywell Lane D brought devastating form with them to win 8-2, Alan Carter getting the MOM with his treble. Ken Ward and Geoff Ogden winning 2, Hyde won the doubles too.

Hollinwood B, with the returning Harry Lewis, beat Uppermill B by the same score line. Harry hitting form at just the right time, his 2nd treble of the year, with Paul Hutchinsoon and Dave Jefferson winning 2 and the doubles. Mark Simpson rallying for Uppermill to win 2. Well done, Harry on his 2nd POM of the season.

It’s been a fairy-tale season for Alex Darlington at Unison B, but Simon Collins and Kevin Rothwell of Rosehill playing the villain with both players winning trebles in Rosehill’s 8-2 victory over the young cadets Unison. Alex sits 2nd in the divisions win table, can he find his form that won him 15 out of 15 matches over the past 5 weeks? Well done to Rosehill here. They sit top of the 2nd division, with one more week before the division splits.

Our League secretary, Ian Cockcroft and his team faced Grotton A at Deaf Club, with Grotton A being victorious by a 6-4 margin. Steve Oliver, Lionel Royle and Dave Morris all chipping in with the points to get them to 7th, with a 10-point buffer over their opponents with a game in hand. Ian, Dave Varney and Chris Hall winning 1, 1 and 2 respectively for Deaf Club A.

It was battle of two of the top three best in the division in Stephen Hilton of Hyde YMCA B and Mick Pellowe of Werneth this week. Werneth being victorious on the night 8-2, with Mick beating Ste in 5 games, 8-11, 13-15, 11-8, 11-5 and finally prevailing 11-9 after going two sets down.

 

The top three in the individual averages in the 2nd looks like this:

 

Mick Pellowe: 42/48 87.50%

Alex Darlington: 40/48 83:33%

Stephen Hilton: 39/45 86.67%

 

It’s getting close there. Who will prevail?

 

In the 3rd Division, Honeywell Lane E took Unison D on in a top half clash, Adam Rowbotham showing his class over the experienced Brian Huskinson, John Maher and the youthful Jacob Sharp. Winning 3 and helping John Rutland and Lee Rowbotham win 1 and 2 respectively in a Honeywell E 7-3 victory.

Gilders faced Coldhurst B and prevailed 8-2, with Martin Nicholls and Gary Keylock winning 3 each, Mark Craven winning 1 for them along with the doubles. Keith Butler and Malc Wills winning 1 each for Coldhurst.

Abi Griffiths reminded everyone of her skill, winning 3 and the MOM in Honeywell Lane F’s 7-3 victory over Grotton. Brian Hall and Rod Hughes winning 2 and 1 respectively. Neil Tomlinson, Steve Smith and Alan Sarsfield winning 1 each for Grotton B.

Pollards A continued their charge to the Division 4 title with a 10-0 victory over Deaf Club C, with Neil England leading the way with a MOM. Fred Pickles and Graham Mathers keeping up with Neil against Martyn Rolling, Alan Cockcroft and Malcolm Normanton.

Owls B faced a motivated Unison E side on Wednesday, Adrian Borrell and Jamaal Akhtar winning 3 and the doubles in their 7-3 victory over Sudip Chaterjee, Roy Downing and Colin Ogden.

Owls A went to Hollinwood D and Alex Torkington fired 3 wins for his MOM, allowing Owls A to get the draw 5-5, helping Ian Ross to win the doubles against David Greenwood, Paul Rourke and Ralph Andoh. Ralph stepping up from the 5th Division to win 1.


Two games in the 5th Division this week, Denshaw B facing Pollards C, a 5-5 draw is the end result. Lee Godfrey winning 3 for Pollards, his second treble of the season. Graham Neild keeping his strong form up with 2 for Denshaw. Denshaw winning the doubles, with Francine Allen stepping in to help her husband Gordon to victory.

Our Ladys A faced Denshaw A in a 2 vs 1st fight. Gary Kershaw, Patrick Jagger and Tom Anchor winning 2, 2 and 1 respectively and Patrick and Tom teaming for a doubles victory to allow Denshaw to win 6-4 against a strong Our Ladys side in Mark and Marty Englander and Rovi Dato.

And that’s it for this week. Next week, is the 1st round of the FIRST EVER Inter-Divisional Oldham & District Table Tennis League Handicap Cup. I look forward to sharing the results next week. Until then, have an amazing week everyone and good luck in the cup.

 

 

 

Author: via Oldham Table Tennis League
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