LEICESTERSHIRE TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
The Guthlaxton School quartet of Eddie Lyons, Adil Rashid, Aman Rashid and Jack Mooney finished a very creditable second in the National Under 19 Schools Team finals. The four, who all play for Knighton Park in the Leicester League, beat defending champions, Calday Grange 6-2 along the way, and also defeated Richard Collyer School 5-3.
In the end London Academy with their much higher rated players won the event, beating the Leicester based school 7-1.
In Division One of the Leicester League it is all over bar the shouting as top team, Unicorn, need to win just one of their remaining three fixtures to take the title. As they have yet to be beaten no odds are being taken on the outcome.
Mind you, they needed the doubles to snatch a 5-5 draw with defending champions, Leicester Electricity and it was mainly thanks to a fine maximum from Tim Sheppard with one set from Trevor Kerry. These two combined well to each win maximums again other challengers, Ajax Wolvey, while Knighton Park 2nds were brushed away 10-0 with Joe Lindsay chipping in with three.
The KP second team will not be too downhearted, however, as they were given a very big favour by Abbots Road who could master only two players for their match. No-one got the better of Abbots’ Dave Gannon but his three were nullified by the three defaulted sets while Les Baker won his other to confirm recent excellent form, and Aman Rashid did the same. The doubles gave the Park a 6-4 win and four vital points towards staying up.
At the other end of the scale was a clash of undefeated players in Division Six when Knighton Park 11th, already champions, met Leicester Electricity 6th. Ben Stone (KP) had a terrific tussle with Harry White and came out the winner 11-5 in the fifth to become the division’s only player on one hundred percent. White actually lost another when Richard Martin scored a very fine win in the Park’s eventual 7-3 result.
It is very difficult at the moment to keep Knighton Park’s name out of things as they are also right at the top of Division Two and it would take an unprecedented slump not to take the championship. They had Reza Kiani as ever in fine form with a maximum, which was well supported by two each from George McClurkin and John Underwood in their 8-2 victory over Blaby and Whetstone.
How is this for dedication to the cause? Blaby and Whetstone have injury problems as well as having to swap their playing premises for the second half of the season. Pete Jamieson was so determined to make sure his team fulfil their fixtures he is playing left handed instead of his usual right. Apparently he is more controlled playing that way, although there may be no truth in the rumour that his team mates have suggested he carries on playing with his “wrong” hand.
John Bowness
Publicity Officer. (March 24, 2014)