North Cornwall Table Tennis League latest round-up

DIVISION ONE

LEADERS Budehaven A increased their lead at the top by a point after whitewashing bottom side Crackington A 10-0 last Thursday night.

The home trio of Aleks Worth, Alistair Prades and Nathan Jukes, the latter playing up as a replacement, had no real troubles.

They sit eight points clear of champions North Hill A who have a game in-hand after the villagers were 9-1 winners at Stratton A.

After Iain Oxenham took the night’s opener against Anthony Ward in four, Shirley Luckhurst doubled the lead after seeing off Elyot Burnett in five, that despite trailing two sets to one.

Mike Briggs, who went on to win all three matches without dropping an end, extended the lead to 3-0, and although Burnett defeated Oxenham in straight games, that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Fifth-placed North Hill B moved three points clear of Stratton despite losing 6-4 to Bridgerule A.

David Streak continued his superb form for the visitors with another treble – again without dropping a set – while Pete Freeburn won two, including a five-set battle with Jim Rickwood who later came out on the right side of a decider against David Stone.

Stone defeated Peter Frier in his opener while the doubles went the way of the home side.

Tau Manonge picked up a brace for the hosts.

DIVISION TWO

BRIDGERULE B moved to the top of the table after seeing off Altarnun B 8-2.

They lead Blisland by two points having played a game less.

Although Paul Burden defeated Shaun Collins in the night’s opener, the home side reeled off the next seven games, the majority fairly comfortably as Barry Stearman earned a treble.

The final two matches of the night went all the way.

Burden then overcame Alan Quilter – remarkably winning all three of his sets 12-10 before Shaun Collins took the decider 14-12 against David Thorpe.

Blisland produced a fine performance to see off in-form Budehaven C 7-3.

Chris Baverstock was the star for the home side, winning all three which was added to by Stephen Parsons’ brace and their doubles success together, plus Simon Patterson’s win over Saf Wallace.

Bude’s Robin Worden continued his good form with a brace while Ezra Jukes edged past Patterson in five.

Last year’s champions North Hill C overcame a slow start to thrash Altarnun A 8-2.

Wins for Dave Jones and Jamie Sims over Karen Horrell and Trevor Luckhurst gave the visitors the advantage, but after that they eased to victory with just one match going the distance.

Ryan Taylor was player of the match with a treble, while Horrell and Luckhurst recovered to win the rest of their games.

The other game in the division saw a 5-5 draw between Crackington B and Budehaven D at Otterham Village Hall.

The visitors sped into a 3-1 lead which included a double from Will Partridge, before the hosts fought back to level at 4-4 with a win each for home trio Judith Cook, Angela Johnson and James Ellis, plus the doubles.

Partridge rounded off a man of the match performance with a 3-0 success over Ellis, but Cook served up a straight sets victory to round off the night against Dave Shadrick who had won his opening two.

DIVISION THREE

THE new-look bottom tier has got underway in recent weeks with matches played in both the North and South divisions.

In the north, Bridgerule C have a one-point advantage over Budehaven E with both sides having played five matches, while Pensilva Aardvarks are the only side unbeaten in the South having picked up 12 points from a possible 15.