Division Two in the Huddersfield Table Tennis League has been especially competitive in recent years and this season already promises much of the same.
Last week’s matches ended in two 5-5 draws and three scores of 6-4.
Top performance came from newly-promoted Shelley, who beat Kingsmith PW 6-4, with young Jack Fisher winning all three of his games.
In Division One, Woodfield Park A followed up their opening win over Wilshaw Ash with another emphatic 9-1 victory at Kingsmith C.
It may prove to be a tough year for promoted Kingsmith, who were comfortable champions of Division Two last season, having been relegated a year earlier.
Their clubmates, Kingsmith A, have however started in confident style with wins over Scissett WMC A (9-1) and Kingsmith B (7-3). This is despite the continuing absence of both Phil Schofield and Geoff Dunne through illness.
Scissett added Larry Bainbridge to their ranks last week and he was unbeaten in their away trip to Wilshaw Beech.
Bainbridge took Tim Dyson very close before eventually losing in the Veterans final at the Closed Championships last April. He also plays in other Leagues, notably Oldham, so his regular availability may be key to Scissett’s fortunes this season.
Division Three has had to undergo some restructuring due to the unfortunate withdrawal of Almondbury Liberal Club just before the start of the season.
The club, new to the League, had entered two teams but were rocked by the sudden death of Paul Gregory, who had been the driving force behind them. It is to be hoped they will have regrouped in the coming months and be ready to go again next season.
A late entry from a second Golcar Liberal Club team has partially filled the void. Both Golcar teams will feature a father and son combination with the experienced David Singleton teaming up with son Scott, while relative rookies Ian and Rowan Morill will form the backbone of the B team.
Youth is having its fling in the lower division this season – New North Road Baptist B have two promising 17-year-olds in Aaron Barber and Oliver Grant. They were joined by Dave Atherton this week and while they were at the wrong end of a seemingly heavy 9-1 defeat by Wilshaw Elm, all three played exceptionally throughout the match, which did not finish until 10.40pm!
Deighton Leisure Centre are also fielding some of their promising youngsters in their F team.
Congratulations to Deighton, and Paul Simpson in particular, for winning Coach of the Year at the Disability Yorkshire Sports Awards. His wife Marsha won Volunteer of the Year.
