Table Tennis: Chester League

Division 2 leaders, Groves C, consolidated their position with a comfortable 7 3 win over a sporting Newton G squad with Steve Jones hitting a maximum, but the match was by no means straightforward as the home team led by Simon Watts pushed them very hard.  

The race to be runners up is becoming very tight with Russell Hunt leading contenders Tarporley Electric A to an important 6-4 victory over rivals Great Barrow, and Newton H closing the gap following a comprehensive 10 0 result over Brownlow.

Elsewhere dark horses , Groves D, led by Philip Hough and Peter Millar comfortably defeated Officers F 9-1 and with matches in hand have the squad to cause surprises. Charlotte Armor continued her fine season as she led Saughall Institute to a morale boosting 73 success away at Officers G.

At the top of the Premier division once again a clash between two of the  title contenders ended in a 5-5 result.  Shaun Hall was unbeaten for Newton but their A team, including Mal McEvoy and Neil Powell both picked up vital wins as did reserve Haseeb Hanif to force the draw.

On an adjoining table third placed Pulford were surprised by a strengthened Newton D trio including current Cheshire county player Joe Killoran who was in superlative form and then paired up with  Andy Edwards for a brilliant doubles success to restrict Pulford to 6-4.

Division 1 highlights included a Steve Clift maximum for Groves in a 7-3 win over Officers C to keep them in  second position, and three fine wins for talented newcomer Mark Rhodes as Officers E outpointed in form Newton F 6-4. Another improved player is Krzysztof Kazmierski of Officers B who recorded two excellent wins against a very useful and experienced Tarporley Elec trio.

Mike Moss was in unstoppable form for Groves B but a draw against their own A team failed to lift them off bottom spot in the division.

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