Demolition Men Flatten Owls

New team to the Worksop Table Tennis League DTH Redlands Demolition Men kicked off the new league season with a fine debut win in Division Three over Worksop Owls. Although the Demolition Men had a familiar face to the league in veteran Derek Piper they still fielded two players making their debuts and both contributed to their fine 7-3 win. Derek Piper registered a hat trick of wins beating all three Owls players in Jasper Turner, Harry Beer and Finlay Coburn with debutant Perry Bradford matching him defeating all three of the Owls side in straight sets. Although the other debutant Ethan Shevill could not manage to register a win in the singles he did team up with Piper to register a fine doubles win which not only saw his team chalk up a 7-3 win but also propelled them to the top of the Division and early leaders of Division Three.
One of the pre-season favourites for the Division Three title Sparken Hill Falcons kicked off their chase for silver ware with a hard earned 6-4 win over Worksop Welfare Harriers ‘B’ who based on this performance will also be in and around the top end of the Division. The Falcons had a hat trick from Neil Penny to thank for their victory but both Father and Son Mick and Jordan Potter both made significant contributions to their team’s victory after both beating Nick Sievewright in the singles and then teaming up in the doubles to beat Dan Saul and Sievewright comfortably in straight sets. For the Harriers both Graham Stent and Dan Saul each enjoyed two wins each, both beating Mick and Jordan Potter.
The surprise leaders in Division One are Sparken Hill Ospreys who enjoyed an 8-2 win over the new boys in the Division DTH Redlands X-Youth. The Ospreys who last season played as Manton Misfits have added new players to their squad after leaving Manton Miners Welfare and are looking forward to a positive season. Kalpesh Bhatt and Matt Fowkes both started the new season in fine form returning hat tricks but the Ospreys didn’t have it all their own way as the X-Youth side didn’t disgrace themselves in their first ever match in the top flight with both Jeff Reay and Mark Bloomer beating Andy Thorley and with other games being close could have even pinched an unlikely draw.
Other winners in Division One were DTH Redlands Roosters who are the defending champions and their club colleagues Redlands Fluffy Toys with both sides enjoying 7-3 victories, the Roosters over Sparken Hill Starlings and the Fluffy Toys over Stanley Street ‘A’.
Two sides that couldn’t be separated were Worksop Miners Welfare and DTH Redlands Monsters with the Monsters being a little unlucky not to take all three points in a thrilling 5-5 draw. A Man of The Match performance from Welfares Richard Element ensured that his team came away with a share of the spoils as he won all his three singles games which culminated in him having to win the last game of the night to rescue a point for his side which he did in a nail biting 5 set win over Orestas Riauba. Element also had a hand in the doubles as he and Dave Marsh teamed up to come back from 2-0 down against Orestas and Martynas Riauba to win yet another 5-set thriller in a close and tense encounter. Dave Marsh added a single win over Orestas to add to his sides tally but with all three Riauba brothers enjoying wins over Mick Bell plus Valentinas and Martynas also beating Dave Marsh it meant that the match ended up all square.
Into Division Two now and after the opening week of the new season 2 teams share the lead at the top and both making the perfect start to life in Division Two. Sparken Hill Vultures recorded a 10-0 win over club colleagues the Blue Jays who came up from Division Three last season with hat tricks all round for James Wormwell, Kyle McIntosh and making his Worksop debut Ben Crapper with McIntosh and Wormwell teaming up to take the doubles.    
Not to be out done, Manton Sports also recorded a 10-0 victory which came away at DTH Redlands Rookies. James Weston, Alan Wilson and Keith Smith all enjoyed 100% starts with only Wilson really being troubled as he came through a 5-set game with Elliott Jordan. Smith and Weston took the doubles against Lewis Linacre and Dilip Malkan.
Other Division Two Result: Worksop Welfare Harriers 6 Sparken Hill Eagles 4