The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The Spalding and District Table Tennis League reached its final session of scheduled matches last week – and it was a busy night with many teams playing catch-up.
In Division One, with the title decided, it was all about second spot with Jokers and JDM – rivals for that position – set to play each other.
Wesley Roper and Guntars Briedes have had a good season so far and rounded it off with a 4-1 victory, securing their place by four points.
Roper and Briedes took all the singles dropping just one end but JDM won the doubles.
JDM appear to be safely above Moulton SE, who played a part match with Outsiders, though no score was available.
Nets n Edges met Underdogs and went down 4-1, all but one game going to three.
That went to five ends and went Underdogs’ way, the Edgers’ only point being secured by Reece Kerry. The Edgers then completed their, and South Holland’s, season by playing out the doubles from their unfinished match.
Unusually, they took the first end, but Holland came back with three straight ends to win the match 5-0.
They are tied on 15 with Mine’s a Pint, who lead on matches won, while Outsiders need at least two from their Moulton match to overtake them.
Just two matches were contested in Division Two, with the most significant being between TNC and Rusty Nails, contenders for the title.
The match was won by TNC 5-0 which tells nothing of the match.
TNC took the first two in four ends before coming from two down to win the doubles.
Then, the remaining singles also went to four ends – which shows just how closely matched these two really were.
TNC take the title ahead of Rusty Nails with the rest trailing in their wake.
Team TJ and Hit and Hope began their match but could only manage three games, all of which went to the TJ juniors.
Unfortunately, ten further matches were awarded as 5-0 wins at the Match Secretary’s discretion.
One team were unable to complete their fixtures due to a bad injury to one of their players, and another had problems with other commitments.
With two postponed and two still unfinished it is to be hoped they would be completed last night (results not known as we went to press).
Meanwhile, three events were decided last week.
In the Guardian Cup, Team TJ were awarded a win in their second round match and then defeated Hit and Hope 124-103 in the semi.
They met TNC in the final which proved to be a close-run thing. TNC took all four games for a lead over the table of 126-93.
Then, TJ received a handicap of 34, enough to give them the title by one point.
The same two teams played out the Marylands Cup, which is played from a handicap.
TNC did enough to secure three wins 31-28, 31-29, 31-24, 31-29 and 31-27, 31-27 and thus the title.
Finally, Roper and Tom Chesworth met in the final of the Supremes competition – which Roper took 11-8, 11-6, 11-9.
- Anyone else wishing to try the sport will be most welcome at the High School Sports Hall on a Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 10pm at £4 for the evening.
