East Lancs. Table Tennis League: Press Report  April 1st 2015:

 From Neil Hepworth (East Lancs. Table Tennis League Press Officer)

Email: Hepworth_neil@hotmail.com. Mob 07480 152268

Premier division league

Premier Individual Merit Top 5 (players who haven’t played in at least half the matches are excluded)

First division

First Division Individual Merit Top 5 (players who haven’t played in at least half the matches are excluded)

Second division league

Third division league

 Division Three Individual Merit Top 5

(players who haven’t played in at least half the matches are excluded)

Overall league Summary

With just a month of the season to go,  B.L.C Clarets, after a recent 27:5 thumping of closest rivals Ramsbottom ‘A’, look almost sure to be crowned league champions. This is on the back of a fine season by Dave Kay & Keith Lee (3rd & 4th in merits). Ramsbottom  ‘A’, led by Martin Wyatt (merit: 2nd), are probably going to have to settle for being runners up now. The Lions at the foot of the table will be relegated and it is likely to be Rovers who will join them as Hyndburn TTC ‘A’ with Mick Moir, merit topper and the league’s best player likely to play their remaining games joined by Graham Young, they should be able to get enough points to stay up.  

Division One is going to go to the wire between Old Masters ‘A’ (boasting top player Howard Whewell) & Ramsbottom ‘C’ (Mohamed Butta, merit :5th), with Hyndburners still in the mix as well (Duncan Rigby , merit 3rd ).  Also Whalley Hawks, inspired by 4th merit placed Adam Robinson, have made a late run and catching the top 3 fast but have probably not got quite enough games left to close further and gain a top two spot. Despite 2nd best player in the division in Daven Argile, it is almost sure now that KSB ‘B’ & Tackyfire will finish in the drop Zone.

The winners & runners up in Division Two are already decided. Congratulations to the champions Ramsbottom ‘A’ whose trio of Adam Kensit, David Cain & Paul Wood have had a great season (3rd, 4th, 7th in merit table). Doals Marauders are also promoted (Neil Hepworth 1st in merits, Cliff Dale 2nd). Brierfield ‘B’ spurred on by Peter Howard (5th in merits) will face Rolling Doals next week to decide the 3rd & 4th place finishes. The bottom 3 teams are still close enough that it is all to play for in the last few games to decide which team will survive out of Best Centre Jets, KSB ‘C’ & KSB ‘D’.

The only remaining unbeaten team in the whole league are Best Centre Raptors (Dylan Storey merit 2nd, Richard Tokeley merit 5th), who have a big enough lead now with just 3 games to play to be confident of lifting the Division Three trophy. They have one hard game left to play against Ramsbottom ‘E’, which if they win should result in an unbeaten season, though such a win will be no foregone conclusion if Ramsbottom play their best 3. Slayers are currently second (Alan Duckworth merit: 3rd, Paul Waddington, merit 4th), but Ramsbottom ‘E’ are still close enough to challenge them for the other promotion place. Whalley Falcons Phil Clarkson is top of the merit table at present.

For info in how to start playing TT or how to join a club contact league development office Harry Rawcliffe on Tel 01254 663451

Burnley Focus

Burnley’s B.L.C Clarets have four of their 18 fixtures still to play in what is now the last month of the season, but after a convincing top of the table clash recently against Ramsbottom ‘A’, they look hot favourites to be the league champions. This has been inspired by a good squad, but in particular by Dave Kay & Keith Lee (3rd & 4th in merits respectively). Brierfield ‘A’ are still doing well and just below mid table with enough points to be unthreatened by the relegation fight now, their best player being Jack Keogh on a credible 56%.

There are no Burnley teams featured in the First Division, but In Division two Brierfield ‘B’s Peter Howard is still going strong and 5th in the individual merit performance, though they cannot catch Marauders now and are competing with the other Doals team (Rolling Doals) for 3rd place.  Best Centre Jets are finishing the season better than they started, especially with late season acquisition Ian Baskerville  looking a very decent player (allowed due to long term injury of Jordan Moore). They are in a very close battle with the two KSB teams at the foot of the table to survive. Worthy of note was a ‘Best’ performance by Nicolas Pongourou last week in beating Adam Kensit of Ramsbottom 3:2, one of the individual upsets of the season.  

Best centre Raptors in Division Three had a fine win over a strong Slayers team to maintain their fine unbeaten record (the only unbeaten team in the league), and should now lift the title (Dylan Storey , merit: 2nd, Richard Tokeley , merit: 5th). Best Centre Phantoms are at the struggling end of the table, but have improved a lot and can look forward to a better season next year. Best Centre is open to new players and beginners to join their club on a Monday night (Contact Darren Wright for more info on 07736473609)

Rossendale Focus

Rossendale has clubs in Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall & Bacup.

In the Premier Division, Ramsbottom ‘A’ have lost ground on leaders B.L.C Clarets, and are only 9 points above East Lancs 1st, so need Martin Wyatt (merit placed 2nd), to maintain his good form to clinch the runners up spot. Ramsbottom ‘B’ are 3rd from bottom but with games in hand should be just safe from relegation troubles.

Rossendale’s best placed Division One Team is Ramsbottom ‘C’, spurred on by Mohamed Butta (merit:5th), and with a game in hand are close enough to still take the title, but will at least hope for promotion, if they see of other rivals Hyndburners & and the late challenge of a resurgent Whalley Hawks. Rawtenstall’s KSB ‘A’ have steadied the ship since their wobble in the new year and are comfortable in 6th place. Sadly the ship is all about sunk for KSB ‘B’ who look sure to be relegated despite a fine individual season by Daven Argile (merit: 2nd).

In Division Two, Ramsbottom ‘D’ are already the champions (Adam Kensit, Merit 3rd, David Cain, merit: 4th, Paul Wood, merit: 7th). It is another Rossendale team, Bacup’s Doals Marauders who are also already sure of promotion in second place (Neil Hepworth, merit 1st, Cliff Dale, merit: 2nd). Rolling Doals are also going well and will finish either 3rd or 4th. KSB ‘C’ & KSB ‘D’ are still in a close fight for survival at the foot of the table. It is certain that one if not both of these KSB teams will be relegated, though either of them can be the team that survives if they finish well.

In Division Three, Ramsbottom ‘E’ are currently 3rd but can still push for a top two spot and promotion , but Rossendale’s other two Div 3 teams KSB ‘E’ & Doals Vikings are having a below par season.

For info of how to start playing TT in Rossendale please contact Ramsbottom Bryan Edwards on 01617975082, Rawtenstall contact Trevor Elkington on 07981387755. Bacup contact Neil Hepworth on 07480 152268