Eastbourne Table Tennis League – Weekly Report 4 – By Mike Savill

Laughton are the new outright leaders of the Eastbourne league this week for probably the first time in several seasons.

Bishopstone A (Anderson, Primett and Cheshire) were unfortunate to found themselves on the end of a 10-0 hammering by the resurgent Laughton (Adams 3, K. Burnham 3 and Skates 3). Four points behind Laughton are perennial Champions Ministries A (Norwood 3, Jordan 1 and Lowe 1) who won the doubles to secure a 6-4 win over Eastbourne Borough B (Ellis 2, King 1 and Krstic 1).  The youngsters of Bedes Academy (G. Church, R. Church and Higgins 3) are in third place after recording an excellent 10-0 win over Bishopstone B (Holmes, Hulka and Littley). Fourth placed Boro A (Boreham 2, Gorridge 1 and Rainton 1) won the doubles to force a 5-5 draw at St. Michael's (C. Lance 3, Yaqub Ahmed-Ali 2 and Ridley). Ministries B (Suk 3 Gibbs 2 and Deeprose) won the doubles to win 6-4 against Polegate A (Gorokhov 2, Hickey 2 and Macwana 1).

 In Division 2 winning the doubles was decisive in all three matches. Boro E (Stevenson 3, L. Hyde 2 and Reddi) won 6-4 in a very competitive match against club mates Boro D (Bignell 2, Shearing 1 and Winter 1). Ministries C (Gould 2, A. Edwards 1 and Guy 1) won the doubles to draw 5-5 against Boro C (Goater 3, Targett 2 and Burton). It was Bishopstone C (Cheshire 2, Nugent 2 and Dyer) who won the doubles in their match against Hailsham A (A. Smith 3, Lloyd 1 and Mountfield 1).

 The leaders of Division 3 suffered their first defeat of the season when Ministries D (Cassiano 1, Card and Srok) lost 8-2 at Willingdon Stoolball (Blunt 3, Collin 3 and Whibley 2) who move into third place. Second placed St. Michael's B (Boddington 3, Sanders 3 and P. Thompson 3) had a convincing 10-0 win at Ministries F (Allchorn, Horan and Paice). St. Michael's C (Owston 2, Lewis 1 and Oglesby 1) won the doubles to earn a 5-5 draw at Bishopstone D (Xing 3, Jayawarden 1 and Maricel 1). Polegate D (A. Marchant 3, Overton 3 and L. Wright 2) won their first match of the season by 9-1 against Hailsham B (Kimble 1, Cowderoy and Perry)