North Cornwall Table Tennis League 2019/20 weekly round-up

NORTH Hill A gained two points on leaders Torridge in the Division One title race after whitewashing Budehaven C 10-0 at Budehaven Sports Centre last Thursday night.

The visiting trio of Iain Oxenham, Michael Briggs and Shirley Luckhurst dropped just one end between them on the way to a 6-0 lead before the hosts fought valiantly in the doubles.

The match of the night saw Oxenham have to battle superbly to overcome Jennings in the fifth, winning the last two ends 13-11 and 12-10.

Champions Torridge recorded an 8-2 victory over Helland, meaning the North Tamerton-based club have a nine-point cushion, although they have played a game more.

As often is the case, David Streak was in superb form for the hosts, securing a treble without dropping an end, while he and Steve Cragg were also lethal in the doubles.

However, Cragg and Peter Freeburn had to work much harder. Although they both beat Ingus Abolnieks comfortably, Cragg edged out Bartlett in the decider, before losing in four to Fisher.

Freeburn came back from 2-1 down to defeat Fisher 11-9 in the next two ends before in the final match of the evening, Bartlett came back from the brink to edge past Freeburn.

Budehaven B are up to third in the table after a 10-0 success at Whitstone Wanderers.

Whitstone battled well all night with Ashley Taylor and David Sillifant both having to come from behind to defeat Barry Stearman and Nathan Jukes in the first two matches.

It was an altogether different story for David Ewen, who although pushed at times, recorded three fairly comfortable victories.

The improving Nathan Jukes drew level at 2-2 against Taylor before being edged out in the fifth, while the doubles saw all four ends go past 10-10.

Budehaven B’s recent good form will be put to the test tonight when Torridge visit.

Budehaven A are just a point behind in fourth after a 9-1 success over bottom side Budehaven D, who are now level on points with Whitstone.

Roy Stubbs, who usually plays in the second division with the E team, beat Owen Salisbury in his first Division One match, before pushing Tom Venn all the way in his second game.

Anthony Ward continues to get closer and closer to recording a first victory of the season with stand-in Venn joining Dave Salisbury in earning a treble.

Three of the four scheduled matches in Division Two were postponed, although in the one fixture that did go ahead, Launceston beat Altarnun 6-4 at The Gateway Centre.

Steven Logg and Stephen Parsons were both at the treble for the hosts with Alex Whitfield, Geoff Hale and Simon Holmes each defeating the returning Lois Atkin. Whitfield and Hale also took the honours in the doubles.

In the third division, Budehaven H won the interclub battle with Budehaven G 3-2. Alex Worth won both of his singles for the H team as well as claiming the doubles with Finlay McKinnon.

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