SCISSETT WMC A turned up the pressure on defending Huddersfield Table Tennis champions Woodfield Park A beating them 7-3.

Woodfield Park have defended their title with determination but they look unlikely to be successful in retaining it. Favourites at this stage are Brooks A, but whatever happens in the run-in, it has been a marvellous season.

Scissett WMC A, when they are able to field their strongest team, are a challenge for anyone, and Woodfield Park A were unfortunate to meet them when they were at full strength.

Nevertheless, Mark Pugh accepted the challenge with relish, beating Roger Morley in the first set by 11-5, 11-9, 12-10.

However, such a powerful effort was not in itself sufficient to achieve victory for the team.

Pugh was beaten 3-1 by Darren Lindley, who had earlier put paid to David Wood, and in the final set lost to Ian McLean in a cracker of a match by 11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 5-11.

McLean, who is a newcomer to the Huddersfield scene, is a thoughtful, hard-working player with a better than average forehand top-spin hit.

Tony Boyd, another newcomer to the Huddersfield scene, was next up for Woodfield Park against McLean, in a five-game thriller.

Displaying all his skill, flare and touch he just failed to snatch victory, losing by 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 10-12, but made amends by edging Morley 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, before being overwhelmed in the final set 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, by Lindley, who improved with each point played.

The most exciting set, and the most unpredictable, was that between Wood and Morley, which went to a deciding fifth game.

Wood set off like a house on fire, leading by 4-0 and changing ends at 5-2, at which point Morley, during a brilliant spell took the lead by 8-5, before going on to take the set by 11-7.

division i

Brooks A 8 (Senior 3, Rennison, Crosland 3) David Browns A 2 (Bailey, Taylor).

Brooks A 10 (Senior 3, Rennison 3, Crosland 3) Marsh Con A 0.

Woodfield Park A 8 (Pugh 3, Skarz 2, Wood 2) Almondbury Wes B 2 (Rawnsley 2).

Woodfield Park A 3 (Pugh, Boyd) Scissett WMC A 7 (Morley, McLean 3, Lindley 3).

Kingsmith A 9 (Dunne 3, Burgess 3, Wilkinson 2) Marsh Con A 1 (Hirst).

division ii

Marsh D 4 (Dawson, Bailes, A Normanton 2) Marsh B 6 (Hirst 2, G Normanton 3).

Golcar Lib 6 (Tattersley 2, Crosby 2, Singleton 2) Kingsmith FOB 4 (Heywood 3).

Brooks C 4 (Irving 2, Hullah 2) Marsh D 6 (Dawson 2, Bailes, A Normanton 2).

division iii

Newsome A 4 (Hudson 2, Lockwood 2) Newsome B 6 (Vaughan (Jnr) 2, Johnson, Vaughan (Snr) 2).

Kingsmith P W 10 (J Hodson 3, Charlton 3, Nutton 3) Brooks D 0.

Kingsmith D 8 (Powell 2, Waring 2, Thorpe 3) Newsome WMC C 2 (Cobbin, Dyson).

concorde handicap

Section CŠ – Almondbury B 363 Kingsmith Terriers 384.