Week 19 for the Spalding and District Table Tennis League was scheduled for round one of the Guardian Cup – but just five of the seven ties were played, with one unfinished.
In this competition teams play four singles games to 33, total the scores and then one team is handed a handicap, hidden till after the match.
200up, two thirds of whom made up last year’s winners, faced Outsiders, losing three of the games but scoring well so that the tie ended with Outsiders leading 123-103.
The handicapper gave 200 a further 38 points and they continue the fight to retain the title.
Losing finalists Aches and Pains met Division Two leaders Pottermus Clarets and were in trouble from the second game which they lost 9-33.
Despite scoring 63 in the other games they conceded 65 and were left trailing by 13 which with Clarets handicap bonus meant the latter went through by 20.
Division One leaders Moulton SE faced Nets and Edges in their first experience of this event.
As expected they took all four games, even looking to be in a strong position after two games with a lead of 46.
However, the Netters rallied in the second half and trailed 55-132 at the end before receiving a further 79 to win by just two points.
Mine’s a Pint – against South Holland – went even closer, trailing after three games by 53-99.
They then took the fourth game 33-25, leaving the score at 86-124 which with the handicap tied the scores, the first for some time.
The doubles shoot-out went to Holland 33-28, but the Pinters went through thanks to an extra ten from the handicapper.
In the unfinished match, Jokers lead MatDuf 66-22 after two games.
Six league matches were also played.
In Division One, South Holland and Moulton completed their match from the previous week which Moulton led 1-0.
Holland took the next three games for the win, though Moulton took the final point to cut their losses to the minimum.
With their cup matches postponed Bladerunners and Underdogs caught up with a league match.
All five games were completed in regulation with the singles shared, but Underdogs took the match by winning the doubles.
Outsiders and Mine’s a Pint completed the singles in their match with the latter holding a 3-1 lead and the doubles to come.
In Division Two, leaders Clarets strengthened their grip with a 5-0 win over MatDuf, while chasers 200up defeated Castle Sports 4-1.
Castle and MatDuf also completed their much moved fixture with the former winning 3-2, the two coming from a fine double by the the latter’s Finlay Bembridge.
