The Champions Drumchapel Glasgow I retained their 100 % record, but it was a close run thing. DHS Greenhouse Progress were clearly up for this match and they had no intention of succumbing without a fight. Drumchapel’s Terry Young produced a superb performance in his first singles – with a masterful display, downing Chen Po Huang 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4 but that isn’t the end of the story. Terry’s attempt to retain his unbeaten record was scuppered in his second singles, when he was beaten 4-11, 10-12, 11-2, 12-10, 8-11 by a very determined and very focused Da Qing Tong. As 30 year-old Da Qing had also beaten Craig Hardie 13-11,7-11, 11-4, 11-6 it was no surprise that he won the Player of the Match Award. Drumchapel no. one Ryan Jenkins gave a really accomplished performance beating Colum Slevin 19-17, 11-3, 11-8 and Chen Po Huang 11-9, 6-11, 11-1, 11-9. And Craig Hardie should also be commended, with the pressure on he came up trumps, beating Ashley Willetts 11-8, 11-5, 18-16 to secure Drumchapel’s thirteenth win of the Season. Their 5-3 success was
certainly the closest they have been pushed this campaign.
Bottom-team Derwent, with a sole point to their name picked up their first victory of the Season, beating the team immediately above them – Ellenborough I 5-3. The match went to form, the exception being England no. 14 Veteran’s Jimmy Walsh fluctuating 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, 11-9 victory over England no. 55 Stephen Horsfield. England no. one Veteran Lorestas Trumpauskas won both of his singles, beating Mattew Dodds and Simon Noutch both 3-1. Derwent no. four Richard Smith (nationally ranked no. 118) clearly had no intention of dropping games against Ellenborough’s reserves, and it showed. He powered his way past Steve Kerns (11-4, 11-7, 11-8) and Chris Marlow (11-2, 11-3, 11-8).
The match between Sycamore and Westfield finished tied at 4-4, and it was also fiercely contested although at times the support the two sides gave their players took on an unacceptable level. Cheering the good points is one thing, but cheering mis-hits and just about anything else is decidedly less sporting. This particular scribe found it a big turn-off. At best it shows no respect and consideration for teams on the adjacent tables. There was no doubting the quality of the Table Tennis though and there were some absolutely spell-binding
games. Gavin Rumgay had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Damien Nicholls 5-11, 11-7, 13-11, 5-11, 11-3 whilst Sam Perry excelled by getting the better of Niall Cameron 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12, 11-8. Richard Andrews missed out in his first singles against an inspired Jason Ramage but he hit back hard in his second singles, beating Kevin Dolder 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11.
BATTS Team Peniel’s excellent 5-3 victory over Ormesby owed a lot to the excellent play of Ritchie Venner (four wins out of six for the weekend so far). Ritchie excelled, beating David Meads (12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 12-14, 13-11) after one of the closest matches of the Season and Patrick Thomas (12-10, 10-12, 11-6, 15-13). His inspired play seems to have rubbed off on Wang Zheng, and Wang also produced his very best play. The Kong Ling Hui forehand swing was very much in evidence as he won his two singles : 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6
versus Michael Marsden and 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 against David Meads. Martin Kubrt picked up BATT’S fifth singles, another impressive success. He beat Andrew Wilson 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8.
Drumchapel Glasgow I 5 DHS Greenhouse Progress I 3
Ryan Jenkins beat Colum Slevin 19-17, 11-3, 11-8,
Terry Young beat Chen Po Huang 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4,
Stephen Jenkins lost to AshleyWilletts 11-13, 11-3, 6-11, 8-11,
Craig Hardie lost to Da Quin Tong 11-13, 11-7, 4-11, 6-11,
Ryan Jenkins beat Chen Po Huang 11-9, 6-11, 11-1, 11-9,
Stephen Jenkins beat Colum Slevin 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11,
Terry Young lost to Da Quin Tong 4-11, 10-12, 11-2, 12-10, 8-11,
Craig Hardie beat Ashley Willetts 11-8, 11-5, 18-16.
Derwent 5 Ellenborough I 3
Simon Noutch beat Jimmy Walsh 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7,
Matthew Dodds lost to Lorestas Trumpauskas 9-11, 11-5, 4-11, 6-11,
Stephen Horsfield beat Chris Marlow 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 14-12,
Richard Smith beat Steve Kerns 11-4, 11-7, 11-8,
Simon Noutch lost to Lorestas Trumpauskas 6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 5-11,
Stephen Horsfield lost to Jimmy Walsh 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11,
Matthew Dodds beat Steve Kerns 11-9, 11-9, 12-10,
Richard Smith beat Chris Marlow 11-2, 11-3, 11-8.
Sycamore 4 Westfield 4
Gavin Rumgay beat Niall Cameron 11-4, 11-6, 11-6,
Kevin Dolder lost to Damien Nicholls 9-11, 9-11, 7-11,
Sam Perry lost to Wilson Huart 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 7-11,
Jason Ramage beat Richard Andrews 6-11, 12-10, 15-13, 11-5,
Gavn Rumgay beat Damien Nicholls 5-11, 11-7, 13-11, 5-11, 11-3,
Sam Perry beat Niall Cameron 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12, 11-8,
Kevin Dolder lost to Richard Andrews 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-13,
Jason Ramage lost to Wilson Huart 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 6-11.
Ormesby 3 BATTS Team Peniel I 5
David Meads lost to Ritchie Venner 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-13,
Michael Marsden lost to Wang Zheng 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11,
Patrick Thomas beat Clive Carthy 11-4, 11-6, 11-8,
Andrew Wilson lost to Martin Kubrt 8-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11,
David Meads lost to Wang Zheng 4-11, 4-11, 7-11,
Patrick Thomas lost to Ritchie Venner 10-12, 12-10, 6-11, 13-15,
Michael Marsden beat Martin Kubrt 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8,
Andrew Wilson beat Clive Carthy 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6.
By Steve Kerns