WOODFIELD Park A slipped up last week against Lockwood Con A when they played an ineligible table tennis player, Keith Skarz (above), who had already played against them twice this season, once whilst helping out their B team.
But the mistake may not be terminal to their chances of winning the First Division, for whilst it is close at the top, with only six points covering the top four teams, the mistake only cost them one point.
Nevertheless, it was hugely disappointing and careless, in that the Woodfield Park Club have 13 players registered, all of which are eligible for either of their teams and many of them are quality players who would grace any league.
The match itself was played itself in the knowledge that, subject to confirmation by the Committee, any points earned by Skarz would be cancelled out.
The match as played finished 6-4 to Woodfield Park A but with the cancellation of Skarz victory over David Taylor, it ended up with an excellently fought 5-5 draw.
Appreciating the uphill nature of their task, Woodfield Park set about it with gusto and great determination.
The gusto came from the power and cavalier attitude to hitting displayed by Mark Pugh in what proved to be a masterly man-of-the-match performance.
He powered his way to victory with straight set wins over first Bob Sanderson by 11-8, 11-8, 11-1 and finally against David Taylor by 11-3, 11-4, 11-9.
Pugh’s forehand power is legendary and makes all the headlines, and rightly so, but it is his backhand counter, usually down the line, which wins him the most points. Its unexpectedness and accuracy has a disconcerting effect on his opponents, again rightly so.
The great determination was epitomised by Dave Wood.
He put paid to David Taylor by 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 and then Bob Sanderson by 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 in great style.
Noted for his dogged defence, he displayed a remarkable tendency to attack.
In fact, in his match with Sanderson it appeared an |epidemic of hitting had broken out!
