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

DIVISION One champions Torridge are eight points clear of the chasing pack after a 6-4 victory over nearest rivals North Hill A at North Tamerton Village Hall last Wednesday night (January 8).

Both sides were at full strength and it was close as North Hill’s Michael Briggs beat both Peter Freeburn and Steve Cragg to make it 2-2.

Shirley Luckhurst then made it back-to-back five-set victories as the visitors went 3-2 up. However that was the start of a superb response from Torridge who then won the next four matches to go 6-3 ahead.

David Streak was unbeaten all night, not dropping a set in the process in the singles, while Cragg backed him with a double.

North Hill did win the final encounter of the evening, as Iain Oxenham outlasted Freeburn, triumphing 11-9 in the fifth.

Budehaven A overcame third-placed Helland by the same scoreline at Budehaven Sports Centre.

Mark Beaumont repeated his treble in the North Devon League 48 hours earlier while Owen Salisbury and stand-in David Ewen both beat Mike Fisher. The doubles point was also claimed by the hosts who were pegged back by doubles from Ingus Abolnieks and Ritchie Bartlett.

Budehaven B picked up their fifth win of the season with an 8-2 victory over their D team counterparts.

B team skipper David Sillifant earned a rare treble which was supplemented by doubles from Ashley Taylor and David Ewen, who also combined to win a close doubles match in the fifth end.

Gary Bickle continued his rapid improvement with two victories for the D team who are now just five points behind second bottom Whitstone Wanderers.

Whitstone were thrashed 9-1 by Crackington A at Whitstone Village Hall.

Frank Barnes and Ross Paynter each won their three outings without dropping an end while Ross Wilmshurst was also denied a treble after losing to Doug Genini.

Just three matches went ahead in Division Two last week, although leaders Crackington A continue to set the pace after an 8-2 victory at Bridgerule.

Zach Parker beat Alan Quilter in the night’s opener before seeing off Jay Brewer and Shaun Collins, who were also both defeated by Keiron Chatterjea and Judith Cook.

Quilter did earn a double by defeating Cook and then coming from 2-0 down to outlast Chatterjea.

North Hill B were 7-3 victors over Launceston, although the visitors arrived with just two, meaning three points were forfeited.

Stephen Parsons enjoyed comfortable wins over Trevor Luckhurst and Michael Kinger before being denied a treble by Adrian Davis, who got the better of David Hughes.

Hughes earned Launceston’s third point against Kinger.

Budehaven E are eight points behind second-placed North Hill B after a 10-0 success at North Hill C.

Ian Edwards kept his nerve to record two victories in the fifth end, while Roy Stubbs had to do likewise against Jill Diggory.

Budehaven G and Budehaven F are level on points in Division Three after mixed results for the two on Friday night.

Budehaven F lost 3-2 at Altarnun B, who are just three points off the top.

Dave Jones won both singles for the home side while Malcolm Tulip, who lost to Ezra Jukes, beat Phil Hawken.

Budehaven won the doubles to round off the night.

Budehaven G eased past Bridgerule C 5-0 with David Scott and Robert Clarke-Feltham unbeaten all night.

Bridgerule B were 3-2 victors at Budehaven H despite Alex Worth’s brace for the home side.

However Ray Bewes and Marcus Dymond each beat Finlay McKinnon before winning the deciding doubles.

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