Emphatic win puts Glodwick in good heart

REIGNING champions Glodwick hit the ground running in the 2008-09 Oldham and District Table Tennis League season.

In their opening division one match, they swept aside Rosehill ‘A’ 9-1, thanks to maximums from Phil Biggs and Khamal Hussain and a Zillur Rahman double.

New boys Saddleworth ‘A’ overcame Grotton ‘A’ 6-4 — Shaun Ellis was unbeaten for Grotton — and a Tristran Swann maximum earned Hollinwood ‘B’ a draw against their ‘A’ team.

Dave Griffith trebled for OTTC ‘A’ and, backed by doubles from Josh Boult & Matthew Weatherby, they recorded an 8-2 win over BAE ‘B’.

Maximums for Tom Lang and Tony Smith clinched a 7-3 win for BAE ‘A’ at Honeywell A, for whom Adam Rowbotham, Graham Young and Tommy Ryan posted singles.

In division two, the Honeywell Lane ‘B’ team of Ken Hayes, Barrie Royle and Howard Travis whitewashed newly-promoted Grotton ‘B’.

Werneth ‘C’ overcame Honeywell ‘C’ 8-2 — the result was closer than the scoreline suggests — while Hollinwood ‘C’ defeated their ‘D’ team 7-3 thanks to doubles from Dave Cheetham, Joe Redikin and John Flowers. Glen Dowse replied with a brace.

With a treble from Mike Pellowe and a Richard Hinchliffe double, Werneth ‘D’ enjoyed a good 7-3 win against Hyde YMCA ‘B’. New signing Steve Hilton registered a double for Hyde.

Coldhurst ‘A’ were 7-3 winners over Pennine, with a maximum from Simon Walsh and doubles from Paul Howarth and Gary Keylock. John Robertson scored Pennines’ points.

The Failsworth ‘A’ team of Steve Collins (three) Nathan Buckley (three) and Matthew Evans (two) made a terrific start to the season, defeating Unison ‘A’ 9-1.

Three wins for Pete Watson and two for Keith Moores netted Uppermill a draw on their return to this division against Hollinwood ‘E’.

Division three newcomers Droylsden returned from Failsworth ‘C’ with a 7-3 win.

Miles Benjamin, who was unbeaten, was ably assisted by Phil Denby (two) and Tim Greenald. Juniors Andrew Tarpey (two) and Paul King replied.

Promoted Deaf Club ‘A’ lost 6-4 at Coldhurst ‘B’, despite doubles from Ian Cockcroft and Prakash Bhojani.

A Jim Bollard maximum helped Unison ‘C’ to a 7-3 success over Failsworth ‘B’ 7-3.

Unbeaten Dave Varney was the star of the show for Coldhurst ‘C’, who were 7-3 winners over Gilders.

St Saviour’s, on debut, had a resounding 9-1 win against Werneth ‘F’ in division four, with maximums from their experienced coach Brian Huskinson and Alex Leach, plus two wins from Sean McPhail.

Our Lady’s, a new junior team in the league, drew with Werneth ‘G’.

Declan Beswick, Luke Riley and John Moran all contributed to the Our Lady’s cause, while Dave Murphy (three) and Fred Pickles (two) replied for Werneth.

The all girl junior team of OTTC ‘C’ were beaten 6-4 by by Honeywell ‘E’.

Twelve-year-old Natalie Dodd was unbeaten but Tom Loftus, the oldest player in the league, pushed her all the way.

Sarah Weatherby and Natalie’s younger sister, Nicole, should be encouraged by their performances.

The junior boys team of OTTC ‘D’, comprising Alex Reilly, Karl Jones and Sam Griffith, displayed good promise but went down 9-1 against experienced Unison ‘D’.

Changes to handbook —

Divisions two and three: The Failsworth School matches start at 8pm. Room to be vacated by 10pm.

Division four: New team St Saviours replace Droylsden ‘B’. Match night is Thursday; matches at Our Lady’s start from 7pm. Room needs to be vacated by 9.30pm.