South Holland strengthened their hold on top spot in Spalding and District Table Tennis League in the final round of fixtures before the Christmas break.
They are three points clear in the top tier after a 5-0 win over Nets and Edges, John Gilbert and Richard Hammond did the damage in the singles with Jean White stepping up for the doubles. For the losers, Reece Kerry secured a richly deserved end with some good play.
Jokers could only play two of the games from their match with Outsiders, who only had one member available.
Nevertheless, with those two points they held on to second spot.
Bladerunners stay third after a 4-1 victory over Aches and Pains.
Colin Vertigan took both his in straight ends, but Garry Wilkinson chalked up a fine win for the losers, coming from behind to win in five.
JDM, in fourth, faced Mine’s a Pint and Jon Chesworth and Daniel Dorey took all five points, though Dorey was forced to come from behind for his first.
In Division Two, MatDuf stretched their lead to eight. With chasers Hurricane Brothers without a match, Skidlids moved up a place thanks to the two points they took off MatDuf.
However, the other three points went to Stewart Duffill, with two, and Jonathan Matthews.
The only other completed match saw Chunky and Monkey Junior defeat Castle Sports. Father and son duo Dave and Tom Coley took all the singles, Tom fighting out two five-enders for his, but strangely they lost the doubles. Those points – and the one they took off A Win for a Curry in a rearranged match – move them up to fourth.
Curry scored two in that match, moving them ahead of Sons of Anarchy who did not play.
At the end of the evening Nets and Edges completed their Moulton Shield semi-final with Bladerunners.
Blade’s Dave Gibson won his unfinished game and they also took the doubles, though the Edgers did gain an end, and went through 4-1.
Ahead of 2017, only four of the 12 teams are up to date – which makes it especially fortunate that there two extra dates (Dec 21 and Jan 4) in the fixture calendar. Teams must inform the match committee if they need a table on those nights.
