Match Reports - Week Nineteen
Division One
Highnam ‘A’ 10
Rudford ‘B’ 0
Rudford ‘B’ had a couple of chances in this match-up to register some points, but got absolutely nothing, as the hosts went away with maximum team points.
Chris Pigott won all three, dropping just the one set to Trevor Oliver.
Jason Million and Richard Maddrell also claimed hat tricks. Both had a straight sets win, a 4 set win (both versus Alan Perratt) and a 5 set win. Jason’s 5 set triumph was against Trevor, where he had to fight back from a two set deficit, whilst Richard’s 5 setter was when taking on Keith Foord, where from 2-1 down, he won the fourth and fifth sets 11-9 and 11-7 respectively.
The doubles was an easy three set win for Highnam ‘A’ to secure the 10th point and a clean sweep.
Debenhams ‘B’ 5
Rudford ‘A’ 5
Despite Matt Kittle being the solitary player on the night to win a maximum, his team didn’t win this contest, as the points were shared equally.
Matt also did not lose a game, with Phil Hatherall winning two points by virtue of 4 set wins over Ken Smith and a 5 set win over Ann Barnes.
Ann, Ken & Paul Smyth all beat Christine Williams in 4 sets to win a point each, but Paul went on better, when he defeated Phil too in a final game decider.
Matt’s winning run came to an end when he paired up with Phil in the doubles, as the combination of Ann and Paul were far too strong for them, with the Debenhams duo pair losing in straight sets.
Optimists 8
Rudford ‘C’ 2
Optimists continue to march full steam ahead, with yet another win here.
Gordon Shaw back playing for Optimists after a long break won all three, dropping just one game to Stuart Greene. Steve Greening too won all three, winning 4 setters against Stuart & Mel Garlick and winning a deciding set 14-12, in a clash versus Lee Bruton, in which Lee at one point was leading by 2 sets to 1.
Alan Churchill won a further point beating Stuart, but Mel & Lee were a different proposition all together, both getting the better of Alan; Mel in 3 games and Lee in 4 games.
Division Two
RSV & Friends ‘B’ 6
Highnam ‘B’ 4
Highnam ‘B’ for the 1st time this season at the 16th attempt were defeated, by the youngsters of RSV ‘B’.
Earlier in the season, Highnam won the reverse fixture 6-4, but this time Dave Gough won one less match and RSV came out the right side of a doubles tie going to a 5th game.
Star of the night though, was actually Highnam ‘B’s James Dance, who not only gained a hat trick but did not lose a single set. Some achievement against a team second in the league!
James is currently averaging 95% and has only lost two singles ties all season long.
Dave Gough added a win, by defeating Nick Walker in four.
Nick, Hamza Bham and Ben Roberts all beat David Crabbe in mainly 4 sets to achieve a point each. Hamza added to this by outgunning Dave in straight sets and then crucially to the final outcome, Ben came from 2-1 down to squeeze out Dave in the fifth set in their match-up.
So going into the doubles, RSV were 5-4 up, and Highnam ‘B’ needed to win the pairs to square things up.
It started off well when James & Dave won the first set 11-7, but Nick & Ben responded by winning the next two sets 11-8, 11-8, before the Highnam duo leveled things up by winning the 4th 11-4. So it went down to the last set to sort out the overall result, and in the end the RSV pair did enough to clinch it 11-7, and with that a famous win.
A huge confidence booster this, for the RSV youngsters, as they aim to come in the top two and secure promotion to the top division.
Redcliffe College 4
British Energy ‘B’ 6
Back to back wins for the visitors, plus the fact that is now their 4th win of the season, after not having won a league fixture in their first eight games of the campaign.
Dave McIntosh was the visitors’ hero, with a hat trick, which included a 5 set win, when taking on Richard Johnson, despite the fact that Richard was two sets to one up.
George Evans contributed another two wins, but couldn’t quite add a third, as he lost 13-11 in the fifth when playing Vidas Rimkus. With the score 10-4 to Vidas in the last set, it looked all over for George, cue a comeback of sorts which resulted in George leading 11-10, but in a twist, George blew a match point, before Vidas won the next two points to secure the point (relief for Vidas after blowing 6 successive earlier match points).
Vidas then added another point, with Richard doing the same and Andy Taylor as well gained a point, as a result of a tight 5 setter versus Dave Moore, which Andy won 11-9 in the final set.
In the doubles, Vidas and Richard were 11-8, 10-6 up against George & Dave McIntosh, before the away team pair saved 4 game points, won the second game eventually 13-11 and then comfortable won the third and fourth games to clinch the doubles rubber and with it the match overall.
British Energy ‘A’ 2
Debenhams ‘C’ 8
Five of the eight points won by the visitors, were earned by winning in straight sets, with the remaining three pts being earned by coming out on top in 4 setters, two in the singles and one in the doubles.
A fourth tie on the night went to four sets, when Charles Campbell came from a set behind, to defeat Paul Singh.
The only tie that went the distance was when Barney Upton matched up against Barrie Pope.
After Barney won the first two sets relatively easily, Barrie nicked the next two 14-12, 11-8 to force a decider, which Barney just about won 11-9.
Tony Williamson was the only player on show to remain unbeaten, doing so for the loss of two games, with two wins apiece for Barrie & Paul.
Highnam ‘C’ 4
Rudford ‘E’ 6
Nobody had an unbeaten evening, as the home team’s Tony Wauchope and Pete Dainty won two each, whilst likewise the away side’s Pete Humble & Trevor Seymour also won two apiece. Henk van der Waald in his second match of the season added a further point for the visitors.
Pete’s two wins were both as a consequence of deciding set wins over Tony & Elaine Evans.
There was a further 5 setter, when Henk took on Elaine. Henk after winning the first two sets was pegged back to 2 sets all by Elaine, before Henk just edged Elaine 11-9 in the last set.
Pete & Trevor sealed the win for Rudford ‘E’ with a 4 set victory in the doubles when taking on Tony and Pete.
Week 15 Result - RSV & Friends ‘B’ 8-2 Highnam ‘C’
This was a re-arranged match played in Week 18 of the league season, which originally was scheduled to take place in the last week before the Christmas 2010 break. Plus it took place on a Thursday night in January, when RSV ‘B’s home night is a Friday, most unusual.
Anyway, the RSV juniors are still looking the favourites to take second place in this division this term, with Ben Roberts and Hamza Bham both winning all three and Nick Walker adding two more wins.
The majority of the ties were decided in three or four games, with RSV obviously winning nearly all of them, but there were two 5 setters.
These were when Nick beat Neil Dowding 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 & when Ben defeated Tony Wauchope 11-6, 7-11, 16-14, 10-12, 11-4.
Apart from the doubles which Highnam ‘C’ won in straight games, the only other point the visitors won was when Tony got the better of Nick in a close 3 setter.
Division Three
Grange Baptist 6
RSV & Friends ‘C’ 4
Two of the big hitters in this tier certainly collided when Alistair Wood (who had lost just twice this season) came up against the unbeaten Mohammed Saleh who had won 9 out of 9 so far.
The contest didn’t disappoint, with Mohammed twice going to a set lead, before Alistair fought back to triumph overall, winning the fourth set 11-9 and the last set 11-8, to end Mohammed’s undefeated run.
Alistair won his other two ties, dropping no games to complete a hat trick of wins.
Errol Johnson beat two of his opponents in straight sets, but despite giving Mohammed a run for his money went down in 4 sets.
Mohammed won his remaining match in straight sets, and his team mates Mike Gray & Jerry Winter contributed a win each.
RSV decided to field a substitute doubles player in the form of Brin Davis, and he paired up with Mike, but this did not bring any good fortune as Alistair and Len were ruthless, winning in three comfortable games to ensure Grange went home as the victors.
S.T.R. ‘A’ 8
Crypt ‘A’ 2
Nigel Cullis played the lone ranger role for Crypt ‘A’, as apart from Nigel winning two of his three matches, the hosts gobbled up all the other points available to them.
Dave Smith managed to win all his games, losing a set to Nigel and Adam Crabbe.
Dave was backed up by Ian Kellie winning two, with Janie Kirby winning a brace too, which included a fifth set win over Adam.
The doubles was straightforward for the hosts, as Dave & Ian saw off Nigel and Adam with the minimum amount of fuss.
Rudford ‘G’ 4
Phoenix ‘A’ 6
Luke Woodliffe had a great evening, with three brilliant wins, two in four games and his other in five, which ended up finishing 11-9 in the fifth when taking on Andy Browett. Unfortunately though for Luke, only one other point was picked up by his team mates and therefore they finished off getting narrowly defeated.
Will English picked up this point with a four set win over Chris East.
Angie Brear and Andy for Phoenix both claimed a brace, with Chris as well contributing a further point.
The doubles was the most well fought tie of the night, with Angie and Andy just coming about being victorious when taking on Luke & Will, the score being 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 in the Phoenix duo’s favour.
Civil Service 6
S.T.R. ‘B’ 4
After losing 6-4 the previous week (see report later on), back on home soil, Civil Service reversed the score line in their favour. Paul Daniels & Martyn Brown won two each with Phil Lewis winning a further point, due to a 5 set triumph over Abdu Afifi, 11-9 in the fifth.
In reply, Elliott King claimed a maximum, all via 5 setters which included two tiebreak sets with Paul, winning the 3rd game of his tie with Martyn 11-0 and fighting back from a two set deficit versus Phil in his final match.
Andy Marshall also won a point by defeating Phil in 4 sets.
The doubles was a cruise for Paul & Martyn when playing Andy & Elliott, as they won in straight sets for the loss of just eleven points.
Week 18 Result - Crypt ‘A’ 6-4 Civil Service
Only the home team’s second win of the campaign, which was down to a solid team performance by Adam Crabbe, Josh Roberts and Nigel Cullis who all won two apiece.
Josh had the most trouble out of the trio winning his games, as he was taken to a 5th game by Martyn Brown and had a tight 4 setter with Kevin Burden, in which Josh had to win in two tiebreakers in the third and fourth set to secure the win.
In reply, Civil Service’s other player; Paul Daniels was too hot to handle as all the Crypt trio went down to Paul in straight games. Three wins for Paul!
Civil Service pulled back another point in a cracking 5 game doubles rubber, in which Paul & Martyn won 11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 11-13, 12-10 over Adam and Josh.
Week 18 Result - S.T.R. ‘B’ 2-8 Grange Baptist
Grange Baptist are still going well, and are maintaining their form in the run-in to the end of the season.
Crucially, all four ties that went to a fifth game were all won by the visitors.
Errol Johnson secured a maximum, Nigel Emberson won two and Len Horwood likewise.
All three Grange players were taken to a fifth game by Ed Watson, but unlucky for Ed he lost in that 5th game each and every time.
Errol was taken to a fifth game for a 2nd time when he triumphed in a topsy-turvy tie versus Elliott King.
Elliott though did gain some reward with two straight set wins over Len and Nigel.
For a second time in the match, after Len beat Abdu Afifi by three sets to one, Len & Errol teamed up in the doubles and did exactly the same thing when taking on Ed and Elliott.
Division Four
St James 3
One Church 7
A quick fire match this one, with six ties being settled in 3 sets and the other four in 4 sets.
The home team’s Alan Page won all their points, by winning all his singles for the loss of no games.
Graham Warman and Sherif Abdalla won their other games in straight sets, to register two points each, while Mark Wilding also won 2, but lost a set against both Trevor Henry & Graham Ponter.
When Mark played Graham, Graham won the first set 11-9; thereafter Mark won the second, third and fourth sets for the loss of just 3 points that included a whitewash in the 3rd set.
The doubles was the closest tie of the whole match, with Sherif & Mark winning it 12-10, 10-12, 13-11, 11-2 against Alan and Trevor.
S.T.R. ‘C’ 4
Crypt ‘C’ 6
Back to back 6-4 wins for Crypt ‘C’, mainly thanks to another 3 straight sets wins for the undefeated Andrew Perks, who in all probability will more than likely go through the whole season unbeaten, as that is 30 out of 30 singles ties he has won now.
Ollie Perks & Matt Emmett both claimed a point each, both defeating Hector Palmer.
Sammy Hau for the home team beat Ollie and Matt in straight games, Chris Green also doing a job, on Ollie in 3 successive games, but had to really struggle to get past Matt, eventually winning in a fifth game.
Crypt ‘C’ triumphed in the doubles in four sets.
Crypt ‘B’ 7
S.T.R. ‘D’ 3
A solid team performance by the hosts with Deborah Feltham gaining a maximum with only Harkeerit Kalsi troubling her, by taking Deborah to a 5th set, and a pair of wins for Beth Williams and Olly Tyndall.
Beth did lose a game against Gavin Kwok, with the set scores being 11-5, 19-17, 11-13, 11-9 in Beth’s favour.
In reply, Harkeerit defeated Olly & Beth in 4 sets each time to claim two points for the away team, which went up to three, when Harkeerit joined forces with Gavin in the doubles.
After losing the first two games to Olly and Beth, the Tommies ‘D’ pair stormed back, winning the 3rd and 4th games easily and then just getting over the line 11-9 in the final game to complete the turnaround.
Crypt ‘D’ 3
Highnam ‘D’ 7
Another loss for the home side, but the margin of defeat could have been much worse if it wasn’t for Matt Skelding grinding out three wins. Matt beat Derek Pigott 15-13 in the fifth, Huw Darch 11-9 in the fourth and Clare Bell in straight games.
Derek, Huw and Clare though, all won their other two ties without dropping a single game, the closest they were to losing a game was when Huw won his third game versus Tim Smith in a tiebreak 14 points to 12.
Week 13 Result - Phoenix ‘B’ 0-10 S.T.R ‘C’
This fixture was played six weeks later than originally scheduled. It was postponed in the first instance due to school exams.
The visitors took all the points available, and in the process lost just two games in 10 ties.
Sammy Hau & Bohan Du with maximums, and neither lost a game. Chris Green too secured a hat trick, with two straight sets wins plus a 5 set win over Bob Vallender.
Sammy and Bohan rounded off the night by winning the pairs 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 versus Mike Burgess and Chris Harley.
Tommies ‘C’ are looking very good for a second place finish this campaign and promotion to the third division.
Week 18 Result - S.T.R. ‘D’ 8-2 Crypt ‘D’
Two player Crypt ‘D’ were brushed aside by their fellow Gloucester school based side.
Gavin Kwok & Santos Hau both won their games, with Gavin winning 13-11 in the fifth when playing Harry Mayo and Santos triumphing 11-8 in the fourth set versus Harry. Both won their other game in straight sets.
Gavin and Santos teamed up in the doubles, and after losing the first set to Harry and Donovan Bragg, won the next three in a row, to take the doubles rubber.
Crypt’s points were gained by Donovan and Harry, who both defeated Stuart Carver.
Week 18 Result - Crypt ‘C’ 6-4 Crypt ‘B’
The partnership of Andrew Perks and Matthew Emmett was just too much for Crypt ‘B’ to handle, as Andrew maintained his 100% singles record (one of now only two players in the league to still be unbeaten), as he didn’t drop a game, losing just the 29 points in 9 games of table tennis.
Matthew contributed two wins; which included fighting back from 2-0 behind to win in five when playing Beth Williams.
Beth and Sam Hobbs gained a win apiece, with Olly Tyndall winning two which included a close fought 3 set win over Matthew 12-10, 11-7, 13-11.
Andrew & Matthew surprise, surprise was a class above in the doubles, winning in straight games losing just 5 points in the first 2 games against Olly and Sam.
George Evans
Press Secretary
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