The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Two champions were crowned as the Spalding and District Table Tennis League held its second round of individual events – the supremes and the doubles.
The ladies’ and junior events were also scheduled but were held over, in part for lack of entries.
A shortage of entrants was also noticeable in the two that were held, with just 18 in the supremes, from a possible 38, and nine pairs for the doubles.
The supremes had four seeds, but only three made it as far as their designated spots in the semi-finals.
John Gilbert (seeded 1) was due to meet Daniel Dorey (3), but the latter had to default.
In the other half, the unseeded Jonathan Matthews surprised many, including himself, when he faced Dave Gibson (2).
That was as far he got, going out 2-11, 3-11, 5-11 to Gibson.
The final between the top seeds was a worthy match. Gilbert took the first end 11-8, but Gibson pulled back to lead with wins in the second and third 11-8, 15-13.
Gilbert rallied to take the fourth 12-10, but his form completely deserted him in the fifth which went to Gibson 11-2.
The doubles had just two seeded pairs and Gilbert and Jean White (1) took their place with an 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 14-12 win over the pair of Joe Beadle and Keith Davey.
In the other half, Garry Wilkinson and Hannah Gilbert had reached the semis, starting from a preliminary round match.
There the number two seeds defaulted letting them through to the final.
Despite taking the first end 11-8, form won through and Gilbert and White took the title with the next three ends 11-5, 11-8, 12-10.
Tonight (Wednesday) was due to be the last official night for the league, with Division Two still undecided.
Pingers, Castle Sports and Win for a Curry all have matches that could affect the destination of that title so hopefully it can be decided.
Meanwhile, the South Holland and Nets and Edges pairs met in the doubles event and decided to double-count the result.
Holland took that and, added to Gilbert’s earlier win in the final singles, ran out 4-1 winners to complete the Division One fixtures.
