Matches decided by the doubles in Winchester Table Tennis League

Division 1

Five Tees B  5 - 5  Five Tees C
The C team were gifted three conceded points as illness caused the B team’s third player to drop out at short notice. But both Graham Pointer and Sorin Lakatos earned 2 worthy points themselves for the C team and nearly pulled off the doubles, finally going down 13-15 in the fifth to Andy Whitcher and Nick Webb. Andy Whitcher was Player of the Match.

Five Tees A  7 - 3  Owslebury A
A terrific night for Ed Kennedy, winning all three of his singles against the seasoned Five Tees players and earning Player of the Match. Eight of the 10 sets went to four or five games, indicating some tough battles, with the doubles at the end of the evening just going Five Tees’ way in the fifth.

Kings A 10 – 0 Medstead
Last year’s league winners were taking no prisoners against a side that was unable to field its strongest side.  On top of that, injury prevented Medstead from fielding a third, so only seven sets were played, and everyone had an early night.

Division 2

Owslebury 0 – 10 Five Tees E
All the League teams enjoy playing matches at Owslebury – not because they have a good chance of winning but for the sportsmanship and friendly atmosphere, plus the interval chat over tea and biscuits which not every venue can offer. Despite the one-sided scoreline the three Owslebury players were each able to take a game off their opponents, so not a total whitewash. Player of the Match was Len Field, who won his sets most convincingly.

Swanmore B 3 – 7 Five Tees D
A tough night for Swanmore even though Five Tees D did not field their strongest team. Five Tees’ Ricky Hensman again impressed by not dropping a game, while Saleem Ahmad won two sets and Allan Bransgrove one.  Swanmore’s Rob Christie won two sets and Adrian Hunt one.

Kings C 2 – 8 Kings B
The split of players between the B and C team has as much to do with which home night suits the players as with playing standard, and this match was much closer than the score suggests.  The B’s Andy Stevenson, who went on to win all three sets and the award of Player of the Match, was pushed to deuce twice by Rich Lewis who narrowly missed out on a win. Andy was well supported by Billy Wright and Michael O’Neill who won two singles each. Matt Dennison had a good night too, winning both the Kings C sets.

South Wonston 6 – 4 Swanmore A
Following a five-game thriller between Martyn Davey and Geoff Pavey, the match was poised at 5-4 to South Wonston after the singles. The score tipped in their favour when father and son pair, Phil and Adam Lee, won the doubles 14-12 in the deciding fifth game, with Adam Lee awarded Player of the Match.