Table Tennis: Scissett A complete whitewash in Huddersfield Table Tennis League

DIVISION I of the Huddersfield Table Tennis League has, for many years, effectively had three sub-divisions.

At the top, the strength in depth of both Brooks and Woodfield Park ensures that these two sides will contest the battle for the ICI Cup awarded to the champions.

Sitting just below them are a trio of sides with the potential to cause discomfort to the ‘big boys’ but never pose a sustained threat.

Currently leading that pack are Marsh Conservative A, for whom Tony Stead and Ian Tweedale are both having excellent seasons, averaging over 75%.

Last season’s merit award winner, Janet Adams, has a new partner in her Kingsmith A team in Mohammed Ali and they too both average over 75%, supported by Peter Fox with just under 50% to make them a formidable trio.

Scissett A have not always been able to field their strongest team but, when Roger Morley and Andrew Rawnsley feature, as they did against Marsh B, then they are a handful for all but the very best.

A rare blank return for Glyn Normanton emphasised Scissett’s dominance in completing a 10-0 thrashing – Stewart Clarke, also in fine form, completing the Scissett side.

Also suffering a 10-0 drubbing were bottom side Kingsmith PW at the hands of leaders Brooks A.

Kingsmith PW have failed to make any impression in the top flight after dominating the lower divisions, gaining successive promotions.

Ian Charlton and Dave Sherborne were both feared opponents in the lower level but find fewer opportunities to harvest their undoubted talents.

Paul Nutton’s service has always troubled lesser opponents but holds few fears for his current adversaries.

Brooks, fielding a strong side of Senior, Schofield and Crosland, were barely troubled.

Deighton A are reasonably strong enough to sustain a mid-table position but hold a potential ‘wild card’ within their ranks in Tomasz Pietrzyz, one of three Polish players to join Deighton in recent months.

He has yet to play in the top flight but has a 100% record in all matches played for the B and C teams in lower divisions .There seems little doubt that he would be a force in Division 1 but the shrewd Paul Simpson may have plans for him to support a promotion push for their B team.

David Brown’s Jonathan Taylor is key to their mid-table status. Boasting a 75% average, he last week defeated both Bob Sanderson and Fraser Krishke before losing to Tony Stead in his side’s 6-4 defeat by Marsh A.

Also notable was an excellent doubles win by his colleagues ‘Bill’ Bailey and Liam Fearn over Stead and Sanderson.

The relegation zone seems destined to be occupied by Marsh B and C teams together with Kingsmith’s B and PW, so plenty to play for.

In Division II, Pietrzyz proved the key to Deighton B’s 6-4 win over Wilshaw A. Last season’s merit winner Francis Cioffi found the Pole’s serve and all-round game too difficult to combat as he went down to only his second defeat of the season. As a result Deighton moved into second place in the table.

Kingsmith D’s Ron Powell and Pewist Osman suffered their first doubles defeat of the season when they fell to the dynamic duo of Neil Dawson and Adrian Normanton, themselves unbeaten so far, as Marsh E won 6-4.

Also noteworthy was the lack of success enjoyed by John Langfield on the night. He has proved far too strong for most of his opponents in Division III this season but found his step up to the next level a difficult one.

Huddersfield’s Veterans all enjoyed themselves in the latest round of Yorkshire League fixtures.

Pride of place goes to the Fourth team of Peter Walker, Keith Skarz and David Wood, who inflicted a first defeat of the season on Keighley.

Skarz was in fine form, winning all three matches and combining with Walker to win a close doubles. The clincher came in the final pairing between Walker and Andy Braithwaite.

Two contrasting styles produced a close match, Walker’s defence proving eventually too resilient as he won 11-3, 9-11, 13-11,12-10.

Victory too for the Third team, also by 6-4, over Ryedale. Mike Belk won all three, Roger Morley two and Stewart Clarke one while for the visitors, the diminutive left hander Ruth Pursglove caused problems with her acute angles and forehand loop.

The second team had to settle for a 5-5 draw against Bradford III – Ian Tweedale (3) and Phil Schofield (2) scoring.

The draw for the second round of the Concorde Trophy – completion date December 12 – is now almost complete.

Draw – Brooks B v Kingsmith A or B, Golcar Lib v Marsh Con B, Wilshaw C v Scissett WMC B, Woodfield Park A v Kingsmith Eng F, Marsh Con E v Wilshaw A, Wilshaw B v Deighton LC A, Shelley A v Deighton LC C, Kingsmith Eng E v Deighton LC B.