Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells Table Tennis League – February 2012

Otford A and Leigh B share top Spot

February saw the league revert to its normal two division structure for the remaining six weeks of the season. Nothing else was normal in a month that saw many unpredictable results at both the individual and the team level.

Despite suffering a shock 6-4 defeat at the hands of the club’s B team, the Otford A team of Steve Johnson, Nick Larmer and Ty Stalberg returned to share top spot in Division One with two fine victories over relegation candidates, T & 20 A and rivals Leigh A. Leigh A, in fact, had a disastrous month losing three matches on the bounce, as they failed to field their top players. Only Mick Cripps was ever present.

Leigh B’s challenge looked to be faltering after losing heavily to a strong Byng Hall side comprising, Owe Karlsson, Jurate Brazaityte and Mark Baker, and then only drawing with Otford B. However, a 9-1 victory over strugglers, T & 20 B, was enough for the four-man squad of John Boreham, Stu Massey, Steve McCarthy and Ali Powley, to end the month as joint leaders. With just three games to go to the end of the competition, one point separates the top three teams and neither Byng Hall or Otford B are out of the race. An exciting finish is guaranteed!

With promotion back to Division One almost guaranteed for Darent Valley, the focus during February was on the runners-up spot in Division Two. The Leigh C team of Malcolm Cole, Dave Cowlen, Bob Everest and John Neal still lead the way despite only being able to draw with bottom team Otford D. They did, however, beat closest rivals Otford C to maintain their overall advantage.

Perennial wooden-spooners, Leigh D, have a much more youthful look this year with Alex McCarthy and Max Hill playing a lot more matches, and it is paying dividends. At the end of February they held a six point lead over the current bottom team, T & 20 C.