Stratford Herald Week Beginning March 9th
Peter "Mr Ping" Florence writes :
There was no change at the top of Division 1 after the two leading teams were held to draws by those occupying third and fourth positions.
Rod Lewis proved too powerful for Shottery A as he secured a treble for Colebridge Pasties, before successfully partnering Mahroof Hussain in the doubles. Mike Credland provided Pasties' crucial fifth score after finally taking the honours in a five set encounter with Graham Poole. Gary Stewart and Rob Poole notched braces for Shottery A, with Graham Pole putting aside his earlier disappointment to overcome Hussain in the only other contest to go the full distance.
Pete Barrow earned three of Stratford A's victories when they entertained Snitterfield, with Debbie Barrow and Kannan Nithi adding further points. The hosts looked likely to emerge as match winners when they took a 5-2 lead, only for their opponents to turn the tide by claiming the last three games. Steve Cull registered a brace, which included victory over five ends against Nithi, with John Price and Clive Irwin also getting on the card. The final outcome hinged upon the concluding doubles where Cull and Irwin combined perfectly to ensure honours were even.
Steve Proctor made his debut for Stratford B against JLM Kingfishers and marked the occasion with a treble, although he was made to work hard by Jim Clarke before finally gaining victory in the only encounter to go the full distance . Despite the best efforts of emerging talents Ollie Peake and Dan Shevket Stratford B were unable to add to Proctor's haul as Jim and Henry Clarke and Piotr Penczkowski all finished with braces for Kingfishers.
In Division 2 Tanworth Taipans' Mick Welsh, Tim Lawrence and David Hedgecox were on form to impose a clean sweep upon Stratford D who were represented by Ian and Harry Nash and Ollie Rowlands.
In contrast the points were shared when Veterans entertained Stratford C. Debutant Archie Mathers got the visitors off to the ideal start, before their captain Rob Bartkowski continued his fine run of form by chalking up a treble. George and Neil Mudie each recorded braces for Veterans with David Higgins earning their fifth point. The match result was dependant upon the doubles where Bartkowski and Mathers gained a two set lead, only to be taken to a decider which they clinched 13-11 to go home with a draw.
With Alan Mathers also making his first appearance for Stratford C it meant that of the ten teams engaged in league action five featured father and son. Table tennis really is a family game!
Author: Mike Evetts via Stratford-upon-Avon Table Tennis League
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