North Cornwall Table Tennis League latest round-up

DEFENDING champions North Hill A took a giant step towards defending their Division One title after a 7-3 victory over leaders Budehaven A last Thursday night.

Five matches went the distance but it was the hosts that won four of them.

The visitors got off to a fine start as Alistair Prades eased past Iain Oxenham in straight games, but Shirley Luckhurst defeated Aleks Worth to level.

Mike Briggs, who went on to secure a fine treble, then fought back from 2-0 down to beat Dave Sillifant.

Luckhurst inflicted a first defeat of the season on Prades as she withstood a fightback having led 2-0, before Sillifant reduced the advantage to 3-2 with a four-set victory over Oxenham.

Briggs eased past Worth in straight games for 4-2 and when Briggs and Luckhurst took the doubles they had secured a draw.

Sillifant defeated Luckhurst 11-9 in the fifth set to beat her for the first time ever, but Briggs outlasted Prades to secure his unbeaten night, while Oxenham broke his duck in the final game by fighting back from 2-1 down to defeat Worth.

It means North Hill are just two points behind with a game in-hand.

This week sees the first matches in the Team Handicap competition which consists of sides from all three divisions.

With Launceston C, North Hill E and Pensilva B opting out, Bridgerule C, Bridgerule B and North Hill A have been handed byes through to the last 16.

The five ties due to be played over the coming days are as follows: Altarnun B (Division Two) v Budehaven A (Division One); Stratton B (Division Three) v Bridgerule A (Division One); Blisland (Division Two) v North Hill D (Division Three); Altarnun A (Division Two) v Pensilva A (Division Three); Crackington B (Division Two) v Budehaven E (Division Three).