Title showdown looms for Legends

Academy Strongtower Legends remain in pole position after last week's win over Ballyclare Methodist 'A' and they face title rivals Restaurant 1608.

A win for the AS Legends should give them the title. A draw or Restaurant 1608 A win will mean that the outcome of league title goes right down to the final day.

DIVISION ONE

AS Legends 6, Ballyclare Methodist A 4: Pawet Sulkowski scored a magnificent hat trick of successes against the crack Ballyclare Methodist A outfit of Andrew Davies, Philip Jamison and Richard Davies.

First to feel the wrath of Pawet's ferocious attacks was the much improved Andrew Davies. Andrew managed to take the second set off Pawet – a feat in itself - but the Rasharkin based destroyer's flashing forehands, breathtaking backhands and deft touches were too much for Andrew. Pawet run out a comfortable four sets winner 11-8, 10-12, 11-8 and 11-9.

Pawet then disposed of Richard Davies in straight sets with near perfect attacking table tennis – 11-1, 11-8 and 11-3. The talented Philip Jamison put up a better show against Pawet but failed to take a set from the inspired Pawet losing 11-6.12-10 and 11-7.

Dawid Sulkowski, who had a few days earlier celebrated his 18th birthday, was not his usual sharp attacking self hitting a few loose backhands and missing the occasional forehand loop. It looked like Philip Jamison was going to take full advantage of this slack play as the Ballyclare star took a two sets to one lead.

Dawid rallied in the fourth set to take it comfortably but the fifth and final game was a real battle. Indeed Philip held three game points before David edged through 14 -12.

Dawid played slightly better in his singles against Andrew Davies but this match too could easily have gone to five sets as Andrew's forehand loops were giving Dawid trouble. However Dawid managed to pull through 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10.

Academy's Wayne Charleton and Adam McIlmoyle found the Ballyclare lads too hot to handle on the night. Wayne lost out to Richard Davies 4-11, 11-9, 9-11 and 3-11 and to Andrew Davies 8-11, 7-11 and 5-11.

Sixteen year old Adam McIlmoyle, who is in his first season of Division 1 table tennis, is finding the transition from Division 2 a difficult hurdle to overcome. He lost in straight sets to both Richard Davies and Philip Jamison. However he is the youngest player in the top Division and this experience will pay dividends in the future.

With the nine singles played the AS Legends held a narrow 5-4 lead. The final result depended on the doubles and the Sulkowski duo took on Philip Jamison and Andrew Davies in the deciding game. The first set went to the visitors 11-9. The Sulkowski's rallied with Pawet playing inspired attacking table tennis to take the second 11-9.

The third game went to Ballyclare 11-8 with Dawid hitting a few lose forehands much to the consternation of Pawet. The fourth was also tight but the AS Legend's duo won it 11-7.

At 8 all in the fifth set the match was very much in the balance but two wonderful backhands from Pawet gave the home side two match points and when Philip netted Dawid's forehand drive this excellent encounter was won. MOM: Pawet Sulkowski (AS Legends].

DIVISION THREE

AS Jazz 3, Carnmoney 92 C 7: Jazz, missing the talented Michael Witherspoon for this game, gave Division Four player Connor White his first taste of Division Three action.

The match started well for Jazz as Kevin McElroy defeated Carnmoney's top young talent Mark Ross in straight sets 11-8, 11-4 and 13-11.

Jazz's Jonny Gibson put up a credible performance against Ryan Spiers before losing out 11-5, 11-6, 11-8. Connor White went put up against the vastly experienced Leslie Forrester whose strong chopping game was just too good for Connor as he went down 11-4, 11-4 and 11-7.

Kevin McElroy brought the match level with a fine attacking display against Carnmoney's Ryan Spiers winning 11-5, 11-7 and 11-8. But the experienced Leslie Forrestor put the visitors ahead again as Jonny Gibson couldn't deal with the backspin that Leslie imparted on his chops losing 11-3, 11-9 and 11-5. Connor White then took on Mark Ross and held him to an excellent 9–11 in the first set. But Mark was just too steady and he won the next two sets 11-7 and 11-7.

The match of the night was the clash of the two undefeated players Kevin McElroy and Leslie Forrester. It looked that the defensive player was going to win the day as Leslie took the first two sets 11-9 and 13-11. Leslie however let two match points slip away in the third set as Kevin fought back to win 12-10.

The fourth set was also a close affair but Kevin picked his forehand loop shots well and managed to make it two sets apiece winning the fourth 11-9. A tiring Leslie couldn't keep up the stout defence of the earlier sets and Kevin took full advantage of this winning the decider comfortably 11-5.

Unfortunately this was the last singles win that the home could muster as first a battling Jonny Gibson succumbed 11-7, 12-10 and 11-8 to Mark Ross and then Connor White lost out to Ryan Spiers in three tight sets 11-7, 11-7 and 11-9. The visitors took the doubles to make it a 7-3 win and keep up their good chance of being Division 3B champions. MOM: Kevin McElroy (AS Jazz].

DIVISION FOUR

AS Nuggets 2, AS Blaze 8: AS Blaze maintained their outside chance of runners up spot in Division 4 with a great victory over the young AS Nuggets team.

Once again the difference in the two teams was Dermot McElroy. Dermot defeated the talented young David McCluggage in straight sets 11-6, 11-7, 11-5. Kyle Bonnes faired little better losing 11-6, 11-4, and 11-7. Nuggets' Ryan Herbision also failed to take a set off Dermot losing 11-6, 11-6, and 11-6.

Dermot was ably assisted by the Johnson sisters Rachel and Emma. Rachel defeated Ryan Herbison and George Graham in straight sets but lost out narrowly to AS Nuggets' David McCluggage. Emma had an excellent win over Kyle Bones and George Graham but also found David McCluggage too hot to handle losing 11-8 in the third set.

Dermot and Rachel won the doubles in straight sets to make this a comfortable win.

Dermot has now reeled off 23 straight singles in Division 4. It is a shame that this team, by failing to turn up to the home match against Restaurant 1608 C, lost their chance of winning the Division. MOM: Dermot McElroy (AS Blaze]

AS Eagles 3, AS Hawks 7: Eagles had their wings clipped by the ever-improving AS Hawks.

However it was the Eagles that soared into an early lead when Kathryn Moore defeated Chris Fullerton 12-10 in the deciding set of a five set thriller. The next five singles all went to the AS Hawks. First Jonah restored parity with a four set win over Alison McBride – who was playing in place of the absent Eva Richards- and then he defeated Michelle Taylor in straight sets.

Matthew Campbell defeated Michelle Taylor in straight sets and then he recorded an excellent four sets win over Kathryn Moore. Chris Fullerton made up for his earlier defeat with a comfortable win over Alison McBride.

Kathryn Moore then recorded her second victory of the night with a straight sets win over Jonah Gardner. But Chris Fullerton's defeat of Michelle Taylor followed by Jonah Gardner's win over Alison McBride meant that the AS Hawks had a unassailable 7-2 lead. The doubles proved a non-event with the as Eagles winning it in three close sets to make the final score AS Eagles 3 the AS Hawks 7. MOM: Matthew Campbell (AS Hawks]

CUP DRAWS

This week sees the first Round of the Senior and Junior Knock Our Cups. Ballymena Academy will be buzzing this week with the AS Thunder (170] at home to the AS Nuggets (310], the AS Jazz (100] at home to Larne B (160], the AS Eagles (340] at home to the AS Wizards ( 190], the AS Tigers (270] at home to Restaurant 1608 C (140] and AS Towers (320] at home to Ballyclare Meth B (110]. The Division 1 showdown is also taking place between the AS Legends and Restaurant 1608 A.

On Thursday night two Academy Strongtower teams travel to Ballyclare: AS Blaze (170] take on Ballyclare Methodist D (50] while AS Hawks (300] play Ballyclare Methodist C (60].

DIARY DATES

The Academy Strongtower table tennis club are to host two tournaments in the near future.

On Saturday, March 27, 2010 the first the Ulster Junior Team event is to be held at the club premises with a few teams from the club hopefully participating in the competition.

Two weeks later, on April 10, the concluding Ulster Seniors ranking tournament – The North Antrim Open - is to be held at the club together with Class 2, Class3 and Class 4 competitions.

COACHING

Amanda Mogey is continuing her coaching sessions at the club this week after competing in Wales for Ulster at the weekend. Club members who are not playing in the cup this Tuesday are asked to attend coaching.