Table Tennis: Southport League round up

Written by Jim Booth

Premier division leaders Princes St A are now 13 pts clear of the rest after a convincing 8-2 home win over their nearest rivals Crosby C.

It's beginning to look even now at this early stage a case of who will finish second? Crosby A kept in touch with the front-runners after a hard fought 7-3 victory over a spirited Crosby B who were still in the hunt after seven contests at 4-3. It was then left to Mark Davies to complete the scoring with an 11-9 win in the fifth over Toby McLoughlin. Argyle A swept aside their B team 9-1, for their first win of the season.

Princes St C maintained their 100% record in Division 1, with a very good 3-7 win away at Formby Village B. A full quota of wins from both Josh Taylor and Ray Hibbs, made all the difference, as well as securing both doubles contests to boot.

Princes St B got back to winning ways, but only just against a determined Southport A side, where it finished 6-4. Capturing both doubles was again certainly the key to the victory, along with a full quota performance from Martyn Coleman. Argyle C and Formby Village A served up a treat with an exciting 5-5 draw, where again winning both doubles proved to be decisive for the Formby side, whilst a great double from Argyle’s Tony Sawyer could also have changed the outcome.

At the top of Division 2 , leaders Princes St F, were looking like registering another convincing win when they led 2-6 away at Argyle D after the singles. But wins in both doubles made the score line much more respectable for the home side finishing 4-6. Waterloo B recorded their first win when they travelled to Crosby E. A convincing 1-9 success left the home still looking for theirs.

After last week's last gasp fightback against Princes St D, we called in at Rainford to see first-hand how they would fare against another Princes side, their E team. First up for the hosts was Nick Roberts to face the visitors number one Josiah Nix, who wasted no time in getting his impressive spin attack into top gear and securing a three straight victory. A great reply from Rainford’s number one Jim Bolton against Joe Brolly levelled it up after a tense four games, before Peter Crichton restored Princes St’s lead with a three straight success over Paul Lyon.

Home captain Paul Melling then spurred his team on by getting the better of his opposite number Harry Hobson, taking it in the fourth game having lost the first, to make it 2-2. After Jim then failed to combat another Josiah spin masterclass, which put the visitors ahead again, it was no surprise that Nick finally got his top spin attack going, to edge a close encounter with Peter 11-7,14-12, 11-9, to tie it up again at 3-3.

Captain Paul then gave his side some momentum by again coming back from a game down against Joe to take it in the fourth and to give his side the lead for the first time, it was 4-3 Rainford.

Paul stayed put to be joined by Nick to face a formidable Josiah, Joe combo, and the story of a fascinating match continued with that man Josiah taking the lead again in a four game win, 7-11,8-11,11-8,4-11, not surprisingly it was all level at 4-4. Paul Lyon then had the unenviable task of getting something from one of the last two contests. No luck at all with the first , Harry winning it in three straight to make it 4-5 Princes St.

Would Jim’s experience in the doubles be enough to earn the draw, that to be fair looked to be on the cards from the early stages. Well, Peter and Harry certainly had the pressure on them to win it, but it also looked like a plan had been hatched by the home side. And what a gripping contest ensued, first one way, then the other, 11-7,10-12,11-8,7-11 and into the fifth, which was nail-biting to say the least. Paul did what he had to do, and we had an unlikely hero, 11-8 to the Rainford duo, and an enthralling 5-5 result. Which I think was just about right, with great entertainment throughout.

Into Division 3, and leaders Argyle F continued their great start with a 3-7 success away at Southport C. Captain Les Lord rolled back the years with a full quota of wins, and along with wins in both doubles assured them a deserved victory.   Carlton were just one win away from their first win, but were held to an agonising draw away at Crosby F. It was probably a fair result in the end, even though the visitors had led 1-4 at halfway, but as we have learnt, Carlton only do entertainment.

Finally, Crosby’s young G team continued to soldier on, but were dealt another maximum loss at home to Argyle E, surely their luck must begin to change soon.

All information can be found at southport.ttleagues.com

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