On the final night before the Christmas break in the Spalding and District Table Tennis League the annual competition for the Paddy Palgrave Hard Bat Trophy was held.
Sixteen competitors were divided into two leagues of eight.
Each match, using the basic wooden bats with just a thin rubber covering, is two games using normal scoring, with three points awarded for a win and one for a draw.
In group one Reece Kerry topped the list with 19 points drawing just one game and winning the rest.
He was followed by Josh Ford, a junior visitor, who showed great promise in scoring 16 points only dropping points in losing to Kerry and drawing with his fellow visitor.
In the other group Wesley Roper had a clean sweep of all his matches with 21, only being pressured in two games which went to deuce before he won.
Second spot was a tie between Kelvin Preville and Tom Chesworth on 16 points having drawn their game in the group.
In this instance a sudden death playoff of two serves took place with Preville winning both points to progress to the semi-finals.
With time running out these were held over till after the break when Roper faces Ford and Preville plays Kerry.
Two results from Division Two saw Team TJ defeat Hit and Hope 3–2 and TNC defeat Hurricane Brothers 4–1.
TJ picked up their second win of the season thanks to yet another double from Jack Sawyer plus teaming up for a win in the doubles.
The Hopers scored both their points in their other singles.
TNC hit the top of the table as a result of their win in what was a tight match in all senses except the score. Perversely TNC took all the singles, though none in regulation, but lost out on the doubles.
The next night for the League is on January 8 which sees the opening round of the Marylands Cup. The draw is TNC v Jokers, South Holland v Assassins, JDM v Rusty Nails, Mine’s a Pint v Moulton SE, Team TJ v Deeping Lads, Underdogs v Hit and Hope and Hurricane Brothers v Outsiders while Nets n Edges have a bye.
Members are reminded to register by 7:45pm at the latest or to contact a committee member.
Anyone wishing to try table tennis can visit High School Sports Hall on Tuesday evenings, 7.30pm to 10pm at £4.
STANDINGS
Division One P W L F A
*S Holland 6 6 0 25 7
**Moulton SE 6 5 1 25 11
*JDM 7 4 3 24 11
Jokers 6 3 3 17 13
***Underdogs 3 1 2 9 12
**Mine’s a Pint 5 1 4 8 24
**Outsiders 5 1 4 8 20
*Nets n Edges 6 1 5 7 25
Division Two P W L F A
TNC 5 5 1 26 4
Rusty Nails 6 5 1 25 5
Hit and Hope 6 3 3 15 15
*Assassins 5 1 4 11 18
Hurricane Bros 6 1 5 10 20
*Team TJ 4 2 2 8 16
Deeping Lads 5 1 4 4 21
*denotes unfinished game(s)
