North Cornwall Table Tennis League round-up (Week one)

TORRIDGE’s North Cornwall Table Tennis League title defence got off to a winning start last Wednesday night against newly-promoted Budehaven C at North Tamerton Village Hall.

Torridge were missing Steve Cragg and the trio of Sam Jennings, Tim Orchard and Robin Worden took full advantage to beat his replacement Jill Knightley.

However, the performance of the night came from teenager Sam Jennings as he fought back from two sets down to defeat Peter Freeburn.

As ever, David Streak won all three with consummate ease, to maintain his unbeaten record in North Cornwall, while Freeburn picked up a brace in the 6-4 success.

Last year’s runners-up North Hill A won 8-2 at Whitstone Wanderers.

Nathan Jukes pulled off two superb wins against Martin Hynes and Iain Oxenham, but that was as good as it got for the hosts as Shirley Luckhurst claimed all three points against Jukes, Barry Stearman and skipper Doug Genini.

Budehaven A beat their Crackington counterparts by the same scoreline at Budehaven Sports Centre.

Mark Beaumont won all three, dropping just one game in the process while the father and son duo of Dave and Owen Salisbury were victorious in two.

Both men lost to Frank Barnes while Ross Paynter was defeated by Owen Salisbury in a brilliant match which went to sudden death in the decider.

Helland finished a distant fourth last year after the winning the title in 2017/18 but got off to an excellent start as they won 9-1 at Budehaven B.

Crucially, the visitors won four five-setters which gave the scoreline a very one-sided look.

Ritchie Bartlett and Ingus Abolnieks both survived two of those each to take all three with Mike Fisher winning two.

Ashley Taylor got Budehaven’s point.

In the second-tier, relegated Crackington B were 9-1 winners at Budehaven E, although the hosts would have been disappointed as like their B team, came up short in four deciding matches.

Keiron Chatterjea and Zach Parker were at the double for Crackington with Judith Cook the only one to lose, in a close contest with Roy Stubbs who was playing his first league match.

Newly-promoted North Hill C had a tough introduction to life in the second-tier as they were beaten 10-0 at Altarnun A.

Paul Burden, Geoff Hale and Simon Holmes were the home players, although Holmes had to battle past John Parker and Jill Diggory in deciders.

Helen Aplin also took Geoff Hale to five ends.

North Hill B got their campaign off to a good start with a 6-4 win at Bridgerule A.

Alan Quilter continues to lead from the front for the hosts. He won all three of his matches as well as partnering Jay Brewer in the doubles, which they won.

David Wilson, Trevor Luckhurst and Michael Kinger proved a bit too strong for Brewer and debutant Shaun Collins.

It was all square between Launceston and Crackington C at the Gateway Centre.

Stephen Parsons got his campaign off to a superb start with three wins for the hosts while debutant Steven Logg also weighed in with a brace for the hosts.

Crackington’s points were shared around as Simon Patterson (2), Robin Evans and Trevor Dean all won at least one as well as the doubles.

Division Three starts this evening (Thursday).