Spalding and District Table Tennis League’s (sponsored by Vital Recruitment) Marylands Cup got under way last week with the round one fixtures.
Unfortunately, this event is no less immune to the League’s chief problems this season – no shows and postponements.
Of the eight, matches one was postponed in advance, another had a no-show on the night and two others were a player light due to illness and injury.
Played in best-of-three ends to 31 points from a handicap start, this competition can often throw up some shocks along the way.
Unfortunately for them, Division Two’s Casey’s Pingers found the competition too fierce against top tier side Defenders and went down 4-1.
Martyn Green had set Defenders off with a win, but Mick Nurse levelled the tie in three ends before Defenders ran through the remaining games in straight ends.
Bladerunners were restored to a full team, as suggested last week, thanks to Pete’s Budd’s return to help out.
However, it was not a happy debut this time as the team only took the doubles against Outsiders who used the handicap advantage well for the four singles.
On the plus side, he forced both opponents to a third end and it got his eye in before playing in the league – and now they will have a free week for catch-up.
Bourne Nightmayors, who under another name were losing finalists last year, set themselves on the road for a return with a 5-0 win over JDM.
Phil Knowles and Dylan Taylor went through for the loss of just two ends.
Holders Castle Sports, with a stronger team, came unstuck this time against the continually improving pair from Nets and Edges.
The Netters were always ahead after James Gibson won the first game by 31-29 in the third.
Reece Kerry took the second, the only one not to go to a third, before Castle took the doubles.
Gibson then won the tie in the fourth game before Colin Vertigan took the final singles for Castle.
Skidlids are one game each with Team Equinox so that match is in the balance, while Can’t Move Won’t Move are two up against Jokers, both matches being a player light.
With their cup matches postponed Mine’s a Pint and MatDuf brought their return league fixture forward.
Once more it was a tale of the doubles.
Stewart Duffill scored an impressive double for MatDuf, but Jeremy Hitcham and Andrew Hay both won their other singles and the doubles to take the match.
MatDuf’s two lift them into second, while the Pinters move into third and Can’t Move Won’t Move drop to fourth.
Round Two of the Marylands, to be played on February 17, sees the following fixtures: Young Guns/MatDuf v Defenders; Skidlids/Team Equinox v Bourne Nightmayors; Nets and Edges v Can’t Move Won’t Move/Jokers; Outsiders v Hurricane Brothers/Mine’s a Pint.
