North Cornwall Table Tennis League 2019/20 (week five) round-up

DIVISION One champions Torridge fell to their first league defeat since February 2018 at last year’s runners-up North Hill A on Thursday night.

Torridge romped to their first-ever league title last term, and although they’ve started well again, were beaten 6-4 at North Hill Village Hall.

Michael Briggs continued his superb start to life in North Cornwall with another treble, including fighting back from 2-1 down to defeat the league’s best player in recent times, David Streak.

Streak and North Hill’s Shirley Luckhurst both won two with Streak emerging victorious in their clash, taking the fourth set 17-15 to seal the points.

Home skipper Martin Hynes beat David Stone to ensure victory while Steve Cragg fell to his first defeats of the season in the division, although did beat Hynes.

Torridge were also in action 24 hours earlier against Crackington A and ran out 9-1 winners. On a night where all but one of the matches were won in straight games, Streak and Cragg claimed three victories apiece as well as being successful in the doubles together, with Stone chipping in with two.

Frank Barnes beat Stone in straight games for the visitors’ point.

Helland A are going well and whitewashed Whitstone Wanderers, although some of the matches were much closer than the scoreline suggests.

With Ritchie Bartlett unavailable, Helland called upon Allan Brooks and he duly delivered, including outlasting Barry Stearman in the final match of the evening to take the final end, 11-5.

The penultimate match saw Doug Genini lose 11-4 in a decider to Ingus Abolnieks.

Budehaven C picked up their first win since winning Division Two last season as they beat Budehaven D 8-2.

Helen Murgatroyd has swapped the A team to play for Robin Worden’s side and she eased to three straight wins without dropping an end.

Sam Jennings fought back to defeat the hard-hitting Gary Bickle to win a decider and claim a treble himself, while Tim Orchard was also in great form, only losing to Bickle.

The D team’s other point came through Anthony Ward and Bickle in the doubles.

Leaders Crackington B extended their advantage at the top to four points over Altarnun B after a 7-3 success at previously unbeaten North Hill B.

Adrian Davis, who was making his first appearance of the season for the hosts, ruined Keiron Chatterjea’s unbeaten start to the season in the opening match of the evening, but from there the visitors took control with Zach Parker enjoying three wins, Chatterjea (2) and Judith Cook all contributing. Parker and Cook also combined to take the doubles in five.

Davis ended up with a pair while Michael Kinger beat Cook.

Of those who have played all four league games, no player has a 100% record following Bridgerule captain Alan Quilter’s win over Altarnun’s Paul Burden in their 5-5 draw.

Quilter continues to improve and joined Burden and Chatterjea on 11 wins from 12. Jay Brewer and Shaun Collins were also on target as they beat Simon Holmes with Collins’ success his first in North Cornwall since returning to the sport in the summer.

Altarnun’s points came from Burden and Geoff Hale with both winning two as well as combining to claim the doubles point.

Budehaven E pulled off the result of the season so far in the division as they whitewashed Crackington C at the Crackington Institute. On paper this appeared a close game and although Trevor Dean was just edged out 12-10 in the fifth by Ian Edwards, Roy Stubbs and Ian Westaway also proved too good.

Launceston claimed a morale-boosting 8-2 victory over bottom side North Hill C at The Gateway Centre.

David Aplin was drafted in for North Hill and beat both Steven Logg and Karen Horrell, who was making her debut for the campaign.

However Stephen Parsons was unbeaten all evening while Logg and Horrell had no problems in claiming a brace apiece.

Budehaven F eased to a 5-0 victory over Budehaven H in Division Three.

Ezra Jukes and Phil Hawken dropped just one end between them in a dominant performance.

Budehaven G were edged out 3-2 at home to Altarnun B.

Dave Jones fought back from 2-0 down to defeat David Scott and on his way to a brace, although Scott and Robert Clarke-Feltham both beat William Salt.

Mike Tremeer and Malcolm Tulip then played the deciding doubles for Altarnun and won it in straight ends.

The battle of Bridgerule saw the B team defeat the C side, 4-1. Marcus Dymond enjoyed a brace as well as teaming with Mike Cawsey in the doubles. Cawsey managed to beat Sally Webb, but lost to debutant Teresa Moule after being 2-1 up.

To view all the latest results, fixtures, tables, player averages and more, www.tabletennis365.com/NorthCornwall