Press Report ,Feb 5th, 2013
East Lancs. Table Tennis League Press Report , 5th February, 2013
Premier Division
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Pts
1. Burnley Boys Club 12 12 0 0 336
2. East Lancs 11 9 0 2 270
3. Ward & Stobbart 11 9 0 2 250
4. Ramsbottom B 11 3 0 8 197
5. Ramsbottom A 9 5 0 4 195
6. Rovers 11 6 0 5 195
7. Hyndburn TTC A 10 6 0 4 188
8. KSB A 10 2 0 8 131
9. Brierfield 11 2 0 9 115
10. Hyndburners 12 0 0 12 109
Premier Merit Top 5 excluded players with less than 65 sets played
1. Michael Moir Hyndburn TTC ‘A’ 95%
2. Martin Wyatt Burnley Boys Club 85%
3. Dave Kay Burnley Boys Club 78%
4. Graham Hoy Ramsbottom ‘A’ 77%
5. Andrea Harrison Burnley Boys Club 75%
5. Liam Bedford East Lancs 75%
Burnley Boys Club are the only team left in any division with 100% record of 12/12 wins and with Martin Wyatt, Dave Kay & Andrea Harrison all in the top 5 merit’s positions it seems nothing will stop their drive for a first league title. The reigning champions Hyndburn TTC ‘A’ are a long way down from their usual place, due to investing places in the top flight to nurture young talent, but Mick Moir is still claiming his usual number one place in the merits. Liam Bedford in joint 5th place in the merits is helping East Lancs maintain good form to hold the runners up spot, and League Chairman Ged Simpson’s team Ward & Stobbart are in 3rd. Ramsbottom ‘A’ on the back of Graham Hoy’s good personal form, are in 5th but could rise one or two places when they play their two games in hand. Brierfield & Hyndburners look likely to stay in the relegation places.
Division One
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Pts
1. Whalley Eagles 11 7 0 4 242
2. The Lions 10 6 2 2 229
3. Old Masters 10 8 1 1 226
4. Clitheroe LM B 10 5 0 5 198
5. Whalley Hawks 11 3 0 8 197
6. Ramsbottom C 10 4 2 4 197
7. Mavericks 10 6 0 4 195
8. Hyndburn TTC B 10 5 1 4 189
9. KSB B 8 4 0 4 158
10. HSC 8 3 0 5 157
11. KSB C 10 0 0 10 122
Division One, Merit Top 5 excluded players with less than 60% games played as per rules
1. Dave Allen Ramsbottom C 72%
2. Trevor Elkington KSB B 70%
3. Barry Hall Old Masters 68%
4. Alan Prudden Mavericks 67%
5. Ian Mitchell The Lions 66%
5. Martin Ormsby The Lions 66%
What a difference a year is making in the life of league fixtures secretary Mike Turner. This time last year his team Whalley Eagles looked doomed for relegation, yet now they sit top of the division! The Lions though with a game in hand are perched nicely in second spot, as Ian Mitchell & Martin Ormsby edge themselves into the merit places. Division One though looks very close and all bar bottom placed KSB ‘C’ could all still keep changing positions. KSB ‘B; will surely rise above their current lowly spot as Craig Milnes is much improved and Trevor Elkington is sailing high in second place in the merits. Barry Hall continues to impress and though his team Old Masters have slipped down into 3rd he will try to spur them on back up into a promotion spot. Allan Prudden of Mavericks is also performing well but top of the personal stakes is Ramsbottom ‘C’s Dave Allen. KSB ‘C’ have heart and effort but not quite enough form and are set for a drop back down.
Division Two
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Pts
1. Rolling Doals 11 8 1 2 262
2. Tackyfire 11 8 1 2 253
3. Whalley Kestrels 11 7 1 3 241
4. Ramsbottom D 10 6 0 4 206
5. Hyndburn TTC C 9 7 0 2 203
6 Adpak Aces 10 4 1 5 203
7. KSB D 8 4 0 4 166
8. Slayers 9 0 0 9 102
9. Whalley Falcons 8 1 0 7 91
10. Hyndburn TTC E 9 1 0 8 79
Division Two, Merit Top 5 excluded players with less than 60% games played as per rules
1. Stephen Siddall Ramsbottom ‘D’ 82%
2. Neil Hepworth Rolling Doals 79%
3. Richard Staines Hyndburn TTC ‘C’ 75%
4. Elton Atkins Tackyfire 72%
5. Steve Nightingale Whalley Kestrals 71%
Rolling Doals have started the second half of the season in great form and are top of Division Two, with Neil Hepworth also 2nd in the personal merits. With the way the fixtures pan out Tackyfire who are in second place have a harder fixture list at present but an easier run to finish, which probably still makes them favourites for the title and Elton Atkins will continue to spur them on. It is close though in Division Two and Whalley Kestrels have rose to third place, with a much improved Steve Nightingale finding his way into the merits for the first time. Ramsbottom ‘D’ boast the divisions top player in Stephen Siddall and are 4th ,but it is Hyndburn TTC ‘C’ in 5th place but with 2 games in hand who I expect to come out strongest in the latter games to make a push for promotion and with Richard Staines flying high and a vastly improving Adam Kemp, aided by the feisty Felicity Pickard, they are the team to watch out for. Slayers, Whalley Falcons & Hyndburn ‘E’ are adrift from the rest at the bottom and will fight each other in the battle to avoid relegation.
Division Three
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Pts
1. Misfits 12 11 1 0 290
2. KSB E 12 10 1 1 282
3. Doals Marauders 12 8 1 3 274
4. Hyndburn TTC D 12 7 1 4 265
5. Whalley Phoenix 13 8 0 5 233
6. Doals Vikings 11 5 0 6 176
7. KSB F 10 3 0 7 169
8. Whalley Merlins 12 1 0 11 166
9. Hyndburn TTC F 10 2 0 8 146
10. Doals Jetstream 9 0 0 9 94
Division Three, Merit Top 5 excluded players with less than 60% games played as per rules
1. Ross Erwin KSB ‘E’ 84%
2. Keith Ainscoe Misfits 80%
3. Carlton Cooper KSB ‘E’ 78%
4. Reece Monk Hyndburn TTC ‘D’ 69%
5. Harry Rawcliffe Misfits 68%
5. James Croyden Whalley Phoenix 68%
Misfits had a close win by just a point over KSB ‘E’ this week to remain the only other unbeaten team in the league. KSB’s Ross Erwin though was unbeaten in that game and is top of the merits. His team mate Carlton Cooper is 3rd, with Misfits Keith Ainscoe 2nd and Harry Rawcliffe in joint 5th place. This leaves Misfits 8 points clear over KSB ‘E’ in Division Three, with Doals Marauders staying 3rd after a good win this week over 4th placed Hyndburn TTC ‘D’. The youngsters from Hyndburn ‘D’ are doing well and Reece Monk is 4th in the merits. If anyone wants to know how and where to play Table Tennis, or how to enter new teams in the league please contact Harry Rawcliffe, ELTTL Development officer for more info on 01254 663451.
From Neil Hepworth (East Lancs. Table Tennis League Press Officer)
Email: Hepworth_neil@hotmail.com. Mob 07873834942