Bexhillians TTC has followed up its successful winter season with providing both finalists for the Hastings League Team Handicap Competition.

Even within the club, Bexhill C and Bexhill D were considered outsiders from the start, with the smart money going on the A and B teams to do well.

Bexhill C were up against it from the off in their semi-final with John Bradbury away, Pam Winter injured 3 days before the match and substitute George Reidy having family Covid issues even later in the day.  In the end, Emily Koester was the only regular team player, joined by Pete Robinson and Martyn Murray who has only played four league matches. 

Firm favourites Hastings Academy fielded two Hastings Div 1 winners in Paul Barry and Ryan Heselden, backed with the experienced Sheila King.

The two reserves (aka ‘ringers’) came up trumps with Murray winning 3 and Robinson 2 as Bexhill came from 2-3 down to win 5-3.  After Barry gave the Academy a start, Robinson edged past King (+6) 22-20 in the third and Murray (+16) beat Heselden  only for Academy to regain the lead with Barry beating Robinson (+8) in three and Heselden winning two deuces against Koester (+10).

Murray (+12) beat King in three games before a dramatic win for Robinson (+8) who came from 15-20 down in the decider to beat Heselden, leaving Murray (+17) to beat Barry 21-19, 21-13 to complete a maximum and put his side in the final.

Bexhill D fielded John Ellis, Malcolm Glover and Brian Busbridge in their semi against Monarchs A (Bob Lowe, Alison Jordan and Sue Paice), with Bexhill edging home 5-4 in the tightest of finishes. Ellis, Glover, Lowe and Jordan all won twice.

Monarchs took a 2-1 lead after Jordan (+8) edged past Ellis in the opener before Bexhill seemed to take control with three wins on the trot, the first being an epic win 25-23 in the third for Glover over Jordan. Ellis then produced his best form with a 21-13, 21-11 win over Lowe in a scratch game and Busbridge beat Paice (+8).

Monarchs came back well when Lowe beat Glover (+10) in three and Jordan (+3) beat Busbridge 21-19 in the decider.  Ellis then held his nerve to beat Paice (+11), also 21-19 in the third, in a pushathon.