Saddleworth snatch cup success in final thriller

Glodwick clinched the first division championship for the third season in a row. Left to right: Mark Ramsbottom, Mick Moir, Khamal Hussain and Andy Jackson.

SADDLEWORTH CC A won the Oldham Table Tennis League Division 1 Handicap Cup, pipping BAE A by just 11 points.

Armed with a 27-point start, the game was gradually swinging towards BAE A and, with three games remaining, the scores were level.

Saddleworth’s Duncan Hadfield then gained a single-point advantage over Tony Smith before Darren Lindley increased the lead to four points after his victory against Tony Bates.

The final doubles settled the match with Saddleworth increasing their lead by seven points.

Darren Lindley (33) and Duncan Hadfield (1) made gains for Saddleworth while Tony Bates (35) and Tony Smith (5) replied for BAE.

In the Division 2 final, Coldhurst A were convincing winners against Pennine who had a 42 points start. Gains by Paul Howarth (66), Gary Keylock (22) and Simon King (18) turned the deficit into a 64 point victory.

Uppermill B retained the Division 3 cup with a completely different team from last season.

Despite conceding a 69 points start to Coldhurst D, they clawed back the points to gain the lead by four after seven games.

There were gains by all players from Uppermill - Howard Meadham (28), Stuart Hanson (34) and Jim Bradbury (36).

The Division 4 final between Owls B and Werneth E will take place at Werneth on April 28.