The Spalding and District Table Tennis League – sponsored by Vital Recruitment – continued it’s new season with the first round of traditional league fixtures.
Unfortunately, it was immediately hit by a postponement and two other matches were also partially played with one team a player short, which at least makes it easier to complete.
In Division One the champions had a bye but South Holland, in the shape of John Gilbert, got their season off to a good start. Their match against Defenders was restricted to just two games which he won, and later in the evening did the same to Nets and Edges in a match brought forward from December.
The only other match played saw JDM Allsorts edge a 3-2 victory over Outsiders. Phil Chandler completed a double and paired up with Christian Green to take the decisive doubles. Joe Beadle and returnee Dave Coley won their other singles.
In Division Two, The Hurricanes Brothers lived up to last week’s forecast when they defeated Team Equinox. George and Sam Wallis recorded a clean sweep, though they were both pushed to a fourth end by one of their young opponents.
Mine’s a Pint are early chasers after their 4-1 win over Casey’s Pingers.
Jeremy Hitcham took a double, while Mick Nurse forced both of his opponents to work hard, losing one in five ends and taking Pingers’ point in a game with three deuces in four ends.
The new Castle Sports line up began the season well with a 4-1 win over Can’t Move Won’t Move.
Colin Vertigan, who has had to drop down a division to find a team, was too strong, taking both his, though Garry Wilkinson made him work for one. Wilkinson took the Movers’ point, while Rod Bain chipped in to help with Castle’s other points.
James Hau and Daniel Dorey, of Young Guns, announced themselves to the league when they took a singles each and forced the experienced Richard Matthews to five ends to win his two against them.
Skidlids’ Richard Matthews and Clive Shardlow had too much for the Guns’ other pair and the doubles settled the match in their favour 3-2.
In the delayed Moulton Shield match, holders Bladerunners progressed to round two at the expense of Castle, defeating them 4-1.
