DEIGHTON B have moved up the Division I standings in the Huddersfield Table Tennis League as clubs played catch-up in the fixture list.
With the League programme in a mini recess due to a fortnight of Cup action, those teams with outstanding League matches were given an ultimatum to complete all unplayed games from the first half of the season by the end of January.
It is pleasing to note this has been accomplished.
Main benefactors were Deighton B, who moved up to third in the top-flight standings as a result of a 10-0 and 9-1 double in successive nights .
First victims were Scissett WMC A, whose long journey to Deighton proved fruitless.
Only Kevin Plowman, who lost 14-12 in his deciding fifth game with Rafa Aleksandrzak, put up any resistance as the Polish trio of Galka, Pietrzyk and Aleksandrzak all scored maximum points.
The following evening they travelled to Marsh A and triumphed 9-1 to take them within four points of leaders Woodfield Park A – and just a point behind second-placed Brooks A, with whom they have a game in hand.
At the foot of the table, there were some equally influential matches involving the bottom three.
Kingsmith B inflicted further misery on bottom club Marsh B with a 7-3 victory.
A rare hat trick from Brian Ruttle proved timely as he took the scalp of Glyn Normanton, who had earlier beaten both Gareth Stott and Peter Walker.
Kingsmith B were, however, on the receiving end of a 7-3 scoreline against Deighton A, for whom Tomas Pietrzyk made a ‘guest’ appearance to assist his erstwhile struggling colleagues.
Both himself and John Cooke were undefeated while Kevin Senior’s only win was against Ruttle.
This victory took Deighton narrowly above David Brown A and also brought Scissett WMC A into the danger zone to set up some tense weeks ahead.
It is equally tight at the foot of the Second Division with only seven points separating the bottom five teams.
