Published by Neil Hepworth
East Lancs. Table Tennis League: New Year Press Report 2016 From Neil (East Lancs. Table Tennis League Press Officer)Mob 07480 152268
Overall league Summary
It’s halfway through the season and the New Year sees the Premier Division as wide open as it’s been for years, with no team unbeaten. Ramsbottom ‘A’ head the table with just an 11 point lead, with 7 wins & 2 losses (Martyn Wyatt and Liam Bedford are 3rd and 4th in the individual merits). Howard Whewell is personally unbeaten and largely responsible for Old Masters having only lost just one game and the reason they are in second place close enough to still challenge Ramsbottom. East Lancs 1st are in 3rd place & in 4th place K.Ward Plumbing are going well aided by two top 5 merit performers currently with Keith Ward in 2nd place and Keith Jackson in 5th. In danger of relegation are Whalley Hawks who are still looking for their first win, with the other danger position is being contested between Rovers & Young Ramsbottom.
In Division One The Lions are dominating, pulling away with a massive lead, despite a loss to second place KSB ‘A’ who are unbeaten. Lions have 1st & 3rd place in the merits (Matt Harrison, Martin Ormsby) & KSB: 2nd & 5th (Daven Argile, Matt Hodgkinson). The other player in a top 5 merit position is Ramsbottom ‘C’s Keith Haworth in 4th place. Whalley Eagles are in 3rd place and surprising even themselves are Doals Marauders in 4th place. Struggling at the bottom of the table are Tackyfire with Whalley Kestrels & Mavericks just above them.
Division Two also a team topping the table with a comfortable lead in Ramsbottom D, whose only loss was to second place Best Centre Raptors, on a night without merit topper Stephen Siddall. Youngster Harry Bell is also doing his bit though for Ramsbottom and is 3rd in the individual merit table. Raptors in second place only promoted this year to the division are pinching themselves to find they have played all once and are undefeated (Dylan Storey 5th in the merits). It is deserved on merit though and if they hold their nerve Division One could beckon them next season. Hyndburners are 3rd spurred on by experienced campaigner Fred Wade (2nd in merits), and may not be quite strong enough to get promotion this year but if young Bailey Chamberlain keeps improving at his current rate they will make a strong challenge next season. Rolling Doals are in 4th spot. Trevor Elkington is 4th in the merits and mainly the reason for KSB ‘B’ beginning to pull away from the danger zone. Fighting to avoid relegation are the other two KSB teams (C & D) along with Brierfield B.
In Division Three it’s also a Happy New year for another Best Centre team, The Phantoms who are beginning to dominate the division and are unbeaten with 7 wins & a draw. Phantoms’ Scott Fleming is unbeaten and Jack Cooney is also in a top merit place in 5th. The other promotion place is more open but currently second place are Whalley Kites, with Slayers in 3rd. Slayers Peter Booth is 4th in the merits and if Slayers were able to get Paul Waddington playing more regularly alongside him they would threaten more strongly for promotion. Some young players deserving a mention are Hyndburn’s Joe Holt 2nd in the merits and Whalley Merlin’s Jack Haworth 3rd . Also a special mention of Hyndburn’s Theo Bishop, a young para TT player who has enjoyed his first personal victory of late. It is worth mentioning that when disabled players play in the league against ‘able bodied’ players they get no advantage given and play with the same rules. The new youngsters of St Augustine RC school, Billington, playing under the name of Whalley Falcons are also enjoying their first season and are improving all the time. For info in how to start playing TT or how to join a club contact league development office Harry on Tel 01254 663451
Burnley Focus
The Burnley representation in the Premier Division is found in Brierfield, who have won 3 out of 8 and are 7th, but doing well enough to not fear a relegation threat at present. Their best performing player in the first half of the season is Peter Lee who has an impressive 79% from the 3 matches he has featured in and Jack Keogh is also doing well on 68% from 4 matches.
There is no Burnley representation in Division One this year though that could change for next as Best Centre Raptors are in a promotion spot at present in Division Two having got through the first half of the season winning all their 9 games. Dylan Storey features in the top 5 merits on 69% but Liam Walsh is not far behind on 67%. The other Division two Best Centre Team, Jets, will also be pleased they are competing better this season with 3 out of 8 wins, being placed 6th, but crucially a few places clear of the relegation zone. Their best performing player is Ian Baskerville on 60%. Also Division Two has another Burnley team Brierfield B. With just 1 win to date they are caught up in a relegation fight being currently 3rd from bottom. Brierfield’s best player this year at the moment is Peter Marshland on 58%.
In Division Three, Best Centre Phantoms are also unbeaten with 7 wins and a draw and have a clear lead at the top, looking set for winning the title and promotion spurred on by merit topper Scott Fleming on 90%, with Jack Cooney also in a top 5 merit place on 67%, not to mention club Captain Darren Wright on 79% from the two matches he has featured in. Best Centre is open to new players and beginners to join their club on a Monday night (Contact Darren for more info on 07736473609)
Ramsbottom & Rossendale Focus
Ramsbottom ‘A’ in a more open title contest than usual in the Premier Division, still look favourites to gain the crown this year, and are top with 7 out of 9 wins. A strong squad with Dave Kay on 72%, Martin Wyatt on 71%, & Liam Bedford on 70% . Ramsbottom ‘B’ are in a mid-table spot with Martin Holt their best player on 65%. Young Ramsbottom are struggling in the Premiership relegation scrap 3rd from bottom with just 1 win out of 9 played, but their young man Dominic Siddall playing for the first time in the Premier Division this year is putting in a credible performance with 46% stats.
In Division One, Rossendale have promotion hopefuls in Rawtenstall’s Kay Street Baptist’s (KSB ) ‘A’ who are unbeaten with 9 wins, inspired spiritually and physically by Kay Street Baptist Church Minister the Reverend Matt Hirst on an formidable 81%. They also have one of the Divisions better players in Daven Argile on 77%, with another strong player in Matt Hodgkinson helping out on 68%. One of the surprises in Division One this season are Bacup (Weir) based team Doals Marauders, surpassing all expectations up to present with 5 out of 8 wins and currently 4th. Their best player is the dogged campaigner Cliff Dale on 59%. Just behind Marauders, but in all likelihood to jump past them soon are Ramsbottom ‘C’, led by the individually good play this year from Keith Haworth on 69% and 4th in the merits.
In Division Two Ramsbottom ‘D’ sit very comfortably on top, and baring some major mishap should win the title. Rammy’s Stephen Siddall the divisions best player on 80% , also with young team mate Harry Bell not far behind on 75%. Rolling Doals (Weir, Bacup), are 4th with 5/9 wins, their leading player Clive Shedlow on 57% and getting better as the season progresses. Rolling Doals David Greenwood also holding his own with 52%. KSB’ B’ have finally woken up with 3 out of 3 wins in December to make 4 out of 8 overall and have now lifted themselves above the danger-zone, in no small part due to the individual performance of Trevor Elkington (75%). The other two Division Two KSB teams (‘C’ & ‘D’) do however find themselves at the bottom of the table and will have to improve a lot in the second half of season if they are to avoid relegation, despite some good individual players (KSB ‘C’ Carlton Cooper on 61% ‘KSB ‘D’ Craig Milnes on 62% ).
One Ramsbottom team & two Rossendale teams feature in Division Three, none of which are challenging for honours. Ramsbottom ‘E’ are 6th with just 1 win out of 7, best player being Bryan Edwards on 61%. Doals Vikings, are only 7th but will rise when games are caught up with and have won 3 out of 6 (Duncan Taylor on 61%, Ian Mills on 53%). KSB ‘E’ are 8th with 2 out of 6 wins, best performer being Andy Wood on 59%. For info of how to start playing TT in Ramsbottom / Rossendale please contact Ramsbottom Bryan on 01617975082, Rawtenstall contact Trevor on 07981387755. Bacup contact Neil on 07480 152268
Your privacy matters to us, we only use cookies to track your use of this website so that we can improve your experience.