Archway teams riding high in British League

This event is Table Tennis England’s premier national club competition spanning 16 divisions, 120 teams from across Britain and over 500 players including a good international representation of players from China, Sweden, France, Germany and Israel.

Archway I won all four of their matches in Widnes including a crucial 5-4 win over second-placed Cardiff to extend their lead at the top of Division 1A to four points at the halfway stage of the season.

It was a great team effort culminated in Archway number four Joe Killoran coming home 11-9 in the final game of the final match with the score poised at 4-4.

Archway number one George Downing went unbeaten with eight wins from eight, new signing and former Welsh international Michael Marsden acquitted himself well and local boy Adam Jepson also played his part with some timely results in the other team wins against Halton, Draycott and Plymouth.

BRITISH LEAGUE

DIVISION 1A

P W D L Pts

Archway Pboro I 8 8 0 0 16

Cardiff City II 8 6 0 2 12

St Marys Hull 8 5 0 3 10

Swerve 8 4 0 4 8

Halton I 8 4 0 4 8

Joola Plymouth I 8 2 0 6 4

XLNT Draycott I 8 2 0 6 4

Wood Green I 8 1 0 7 2

In Division C4 played in Nottingham, Archway II also stretched their lead at the top of the division with convincing wins over the London-based Fusion club, Corby Smash, and tellingly against Colebridge (Birmingham) where Alan ‘chopper’ Cherry picked up the man-of-the-match with award-winning performances to save a match point in a singles and joined forces with Simon Pryke to win the doubles from a seemingly impossible position.

Mirek Pazdzior and Diccon Gray also chipped in with good wins to eventually seal a convincing 7-2 victory that didn’t really reflect the closeness of some of the games.

Archway IV had less joy, finding the going tough, losing all four matches.

The team consisting of Brett Heppenstall, Rachel Pilgrim, Julian Tee, Dave Rowell and Steve Williams despite not being able to win this weekend, remain in a credible sixth position.

BRITISH LEAGUE

DIVISION C4

P W D L Pts

Archway Pboro II 8 8 0 0 16

Colebridge 8 7 0 1 14

Greenhouse 8 5 0 3 10

Nottingham IV 8 5 0 3 10

Fusion III 8 4 0 4 8

Archway Pboro IV 8 2 0 6 4

Wensum II 8 1 0 7 2

Corby Smash III 8 0 0 8 0

Archway III, playing in Harlow, performed creditably in Division C7, winning two and losing two matches to move up to sixth.

The team comprised Steve Gray, Jacub Kurowski, Martin Freeland and Miro Vala.

BRITISH LEAGUE

DIVISION C7

P W D L Pts

Table Tennis Fight Club 8 8 0 0 16

Dartfordians 8 7 0 1 14

Fusion IV 8 6 0 2 12

Woodford Wells TTC II 8 4 0 4 8

Jersey TTA 8 3 0 5 6

Archway Pboro III 8 2 0 6 4

Morpeth 8 2 0 6 4

BATTS IV 8 0 0 8 0

Archway team manager Julian Tee said: “Overall it was a good weekend and particularly pleasing to see the first and second teams put in strong performances to continue their quest for promotion to higher divisions.”

n The Archway club are hosting half-term holiday coaching for young people wishing to try the sport.

Aimed at the 7 -13 age group, and free of charge, it will take place at the club’s Top Table venue at 282 Lincoln Road, PE1 2ND from Monday Oct 22-Friday Oct 27 (10am-noon). Contact is Steve Williams on 07957 132257.