LEICESTERSHIRE TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
Unicorn are still going strong at the top of Division One of the Leicester League, but they had a fright against Knighton Park when they needed the doubles to grab a share at 5-5, thus maintaining their unbeaten tag. No-one could find a way past the in-form Trevor Kerry as he powered to another maximum but KP had strength in depth with Karen Smith and Adam Cross two each and a vital one from Tobit Dehnan.
Unicorn followed up with a very good win over Abbot Road first who had individual average leader, Dave Gannon, missing. Customary maximum from Trevor Kerry as well as Tim Shepperd.
Waiting in second place for any slip ups Ajax Wolvey continue their excellent season after being promoted from Division Two. They beat Thringstone 7-3 with Mick Allsop, Jon Williams and new signing, Aaron Riley all winning two. But the star of the match, and not for the first time, was Maurice Newman with a three-straight max for Thringstone. Newman has lost only two so far.
Ajax followed up with a 9-1 thrashing of Desford Village with just Riley of the three mentioned losing a set, and that was by 11-9 in the fifth. Allsop and Williams three each.
The tussle for third position is the most interesting with three teams locked: Leicester Electricity (38 points), Arnesby (38) and Knighton Park (37), all having played thirteen matches.
Two victories for the Sparks came at the expense of Knighton Park’s second string by 7-3, Dave Grundy and Matt Hobday three apiece, and then by 9-1 against Holwell Works against whom Steve White got a rare chance, winning two, with three each from Grundy and Andy LeButt.
Arnesby, meanwhile, also had two victories, 7-3 against Holwell with Abe Conteh unbeaten, Ian Brown and Darren Bramhall two each, and then an 8-2 win over Northwood when Ian Brown gained a maximum supported by two each from Bramhall and Dave Wagstaff.
At the other end of the scale in Division Six there is no let up as Knighton Park’s eleventh team continue on their way with mainly improving juniors who will only get better.
Already top by a fair distance their start to the second half started 9-1, 10-0, 10-0 against, respectively, Regent Sports fifth, Winstanley Wizards and Lutterworth Rotary with the only blemish coming when Ben Smulczynski lost to Regent’s Mick Smith. Ben Stone remains unbeaten overall while Richard Martin, Jack Rogers and Kenny Obilaso all remain undefeated this half.
The sportsmanship by new teams and players in this division is a real credit to everyone.
John Bowness, Publicity Officer (January 27, 2014)