Season nears its climax

DIVISION TWO

120th Old Boys 7, AS Towers 3: AS Towers travelled to Belfast without their number one player and captain Kenneth Johnston and despite putting up a stout resistance, they lost the match.

The first singles was an example of all out attacking with Knockagh's Don Sinclair out gunning the Towers' David Witherspoon in straight sets 11-7, 11-8 and 11-6.

Norman Bowman found Knockagh's Harry McDonald a tad too consistent and despite playing well he lost in four sets 6-11, 3-11, 11-8 and 6-11.

The third singles was a real ding dong affair with Towers' Frank Allen losing the first two sets to Sam Hunter 6-11 and 8-11 before fighting back to claim the next two sets 11-8 and 11-4. In the crucial fifth set Sam got an early three point lead which he managed to hold on to until the end despite Frank's best efforts, winning 11–8.

Three-nil soon became 4-0 as Don Sinclair out-hit Norman Bowman in straight sets 11-3, 11-5 and 11-5.

Frank Allen pulled a game back for the visitors with an excellent straight sets win over Harry McDonald 11-7, 11-9 and 11-7 and David Witherspoon further reduced the deficit with a fighting five set victory over Sam Hunter winning 6-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6 and 11-5.

Unfortunately for Towers, Frank could not continue the fight back as he lost out to man of the match Don Sinclair in three hotly contested sets 11-9, 11-4 and 11-7.

David Witherspoon's straight sets win over Sam Hunter gave Towers a chance of a share of the points but this soon evaporated when Bowman lost out in three close sets to Sam Hunter. The doubles also went to 120th Old Boys to make the final score seven three. Man of the Match: Don Sinclair (120th Old Boys].

DIVISION THREE

Larne B 4, AS Jazz 6: AS Jazz travelled to Larne with just two players as their number three Jonny Gibson was ill.

The Larne B team too could only muster two players and in a much curtailed game the AS Jazz won by three games to two.

Man of the match was AS Jazz captain Kevin McElroy who defeated Neil McFaul in five exciting attack filled sets and then despatched Gareth Jamison in straight sets. Kevin teamed up with Michael Witherspoon to take the doubles and the match by three games to two.

DIVISION FOUR

AS Hawks 6, AS Nuggets 4: A hotly contested game between two of the youngest teams in the league saw AS Hawks reverse the result of their earlier encounter.

Chris Fullerton opened the match with a fine straight sets wi over Kyle Bonnes to put the AS Hawks a game to the good.

However Ryan Herbison pulled off a surprise straight sets victory against Jonah Gardner and the match was all square. George Graham then defeated Matthew in straight sets to give Nuggets the lead.

Chris managed to edge past a battling Ryan Herbison in four sets to restore parity and Jonah made amends for his earlier defeat by beating George Graham in four sets. But the Nuggetts fought back to three games all when Kyle defeated Matthew 11-6, 11-6 and 11-7.

Chris then concluded his man of the match performance by defeating George in four sets and Jonah made it five three to the AS Hawks with a nervous five set win over Kyle Bonnes winning 11-9 in the decider.

Ryan brought Nuggets back into contention with a straight sets victory over Matthew. The doubles were to decide this enthralling fixture and it was Chris and Jonah who emerged triumphant in three tight sets 11-8, 11-9 and 11-8. This win by the Hawks condemns Nuggets to wooden spoon position but as the youngest team in the league, they have plenty of time to gain more experience. Man of the Match: Chris Fullerton [AS Hawks].

AS Wizards 3, Restaurant 1608 C 7: Restaurant 1608 C became Division 4 champions with a hard fought victory over AS Wizards.

The game started well for the visitors as they reeled off the first four singles of the match.

First David McMichael defeated Wizards’ captain Eddie Kosch in three tight games 11-9, 11-8 and 11-5.

Noel McCann then recorded a fine 11-3, 11-9 11-3 win over the improving Philip Martin; Brendan McKenna edged passed Aaron Steele in five close sets winning 11-9 in the decider; and Noel McCann had a comfortable straight sets win against Adam Steele.

AS Towers’ captain Eddie Kosch initiated a fight back defeating Brendan 11-3, 8-11, 11-5 and 11-5 and Philip Martin had an excellent straight sets win against Brendan to make it four two. In the crucial seventh singles the Restaurant’s David McMichael edged passed AS Towers’ Aaron Steele 12-10 in the fifth set saving three game points in the process.

With the draw secured Brendan defeated Adam Steele in four sets 11-7, 13-11, 6-11 and 11-9 to win the match and claim the title. Noel McCann defeated Eddie Kosch in three tight sets 11-8, 11-8 and 11-7 to make the score seven two to the visitors, The AS Towers duo of Kosch and Martin won the doubles in straight sets against McCann and McMichael but it was too late to alter the outcome of the match. Man of the Match: Noel McCann [Restaurant 1608 C].

AS Eagles 2, AS Thunder 8: AS Thunder hold on to second place with a fine victory over the AS Eagles.

However it was Eagles’ Kathryn Moore that struck first blood in this game as she defeated the Thunder’s number one Peter McCrum 11-7, 8-11, 12-10 and 14-12. The lead was short lived as in the battle of the captains, Thunder’s Jonny Wilson defeated Eva Richards 12-10, 11-9, 8-11 and 12-10.

Thunder then surged into a three one lead as Jonny Moore defeated Michelle Taylor 11-6, 11-6 and 11-7 and Andrew Herbison defeated Alison McBride 11-8, 11-8 and 11-9.

Kathryn Moore continued her excellent form with a straight sets defeat of Jonny Wilson 11-6, 11-7 and 11-8. But it proved only a blip in the AS Thunder’s march to victory as the remaining singles all went to the AS Thunder. Peter McCrum defeated Eva Richards 11-5, 11-9 and 11-9; Andrew Herbison defeated Michelle Taylor 11-9, 11-4 and 11-8 and Jonny Moore defeated Alison McBride 11-3, 11-2 and 11-4. Both doubles were won by the AS Thunder to make the final score 8-2. Man of the Match: Kathryn Moore [AS Eagles].

AS Blaze 10, AS Tigers 0: AS Blaze put up a devastating display of attacking table tennis against an under strength AS Tigers side. Dermot McElroy maintained his 100 per cent winning record with three straight set victories. Rachel Johnston also won all her singles in straight sets with some powerful attacking table tennis.

Indeed the only AS Tigers player to put up any sort of resistance was Stephen Witherspoon who managed to take a set off the otherwise impeccable Emma Johnston.

The showdown for second place between the AS Blaze and AS Thunder should be quite a battle and if the AS Blaze can reproduce this form on Tuesday night they could well leap frog the AS Thunder into second place. Man of the Match: Dermot McElroy [AS Blaze].

DIARY DATES

Academy Strongtower table tennis club hosts an Ulster Junior Team event at the club premises this Saturday, March 27, with several teams from the club hopefully participating in the competition.

Two weeks later, on Saturday, April 10, the concluding Ulster Seniors ranking tournament – The North Antrim Open - is to be held at the club together with Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 competitions.

The North Antrim Open should attract the top players from across the Province hoping to improve or maintain their Ulster rankings. The graded tournaments provide an excellent opportunity for lesser players to get some competitive table tennis and silverware before the conclusion of the season.