North Cornwall Table Tennis League 2018/19 — latest round-up

TORRIDGE have gone unbeaten throughout the North Cornwall Table Tennis League Division One season after winning 7-3 at Budehaven A on Thursday night.

They went into the game having won all 13 of their outings and started quickly to go 2-0 up before an epic contest between Keith Bradshaw, who was playing just his third game of the season for Budehaven, and Steve Cragg went the way of Bradshaw — 13-11 in the fifth.

The unbeaten David Streak and Cragg won their second games to make it 4-1 before Bradshaw ground out another excellent victory to make it 4-2.

Due to time, home skipper Dave Salisbury and Freeburn had to move to another table, and it was Salisbury who pulled off an excellent four-set victory. Cragg beat David Ewen by the same margin.

However the highlight of the night was the battle between Streak and Bradshaw, with both men yet to lose a match in North Cornwall.

In a fascinating contest, both players showed incredible concentration in long, drawn out rallies.

However, Streak’s willingness to attack more proved decisive, as he extended his unbeaten record to 57 matches since moving to the area ahead of last season.

The two sides will also face off in the Division One Knockout Cup final in the coming weeks after Budehaven beat North Hill A 5-4 on Monday night.

The doubles-format ensured that it was nip and tuck all the way to the end, but it was Mark Beaumont and Salisbury’s win over Bob Thompson and Martin Hynes that proved the difference in the decider.

With Budehaven’s league fixtures now complete, North Hill A can ensure the runners-up spot if they pick up five points from their trip to Helland in their last game.

They beat Whitstone Wanderers 10-0 with Shirley Luckhurst, Thompson and Hynes in excellent form.

They take on Budehaven A once more in the Handicap Knockout semi-finals later on tonight. The other last four tie sees Crackington B entertain treble-chasing Torridge.

In Division Two, Budehaven D secured the league title last Monday night (March 4) with a 6-4 victory over Budehaven C.

Although Sam Jennings (D team) won all three, Gary Bickle had the busiest evening with each of his matches going to deciders, only losing to Jennings.

Budehaven C then ended their league season on Thursday as they beat Budehaven E 7-3.

Bickle won all nine ends he played, while he received solid support from Andrew Ward with two. Ian Westaway continued his debut campaign for the E team with a brace.

North Hill B ended their season with a 6-4 win over Bridgerule A. Alan Quilter was unbeaten in the singles and doubles all night, but the home trio of David Wilson, Michael Kinger and Trevor Luckhurst were successful twice.

In the third-tier, champions North Hill C fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Altarnun B while Budehaven F defeated Bridgerule B by the same scoreline.