Hollinwood lose a cliffhanger

TABLE TENNIS: DROYLSDEN hung on for victory by the skin of their teeth in their Oldham Table Tennis League Division Two first-round Handicap Cup match against Hollinwood.

Conceding 31 points start, they looked to have matters in hand when they led by 17 with just the doubles to play, Tim Greenald gaining 25 and Mike Truter 33.

But the Droylsden pair lost 13 points to John Foster and Paul Rourke, which meant that Hollinwood could pull off an unlikely triumph if they could win the last doubles by five.

However, Hollinwood only managed a two-points victory, leaving relieved Droylsden winners by two.

In Division Three, Uppermill ‘B’ made full use of their 33 points start against Coldhurst ‘C’, holding on to win by six.

It all hinged on the final doubles in which they gained 10 points to clinch victory.

Howard Meadham (+17) starred for Uppermill, while Ryan Conway (+53) shone for Coldhurst.

Grotton ‘B’ conceded 10 points start to Werneth ‘E’ and with gains from Steve Smith (+31) and Neil Tomlinson (+9) went on to win by 19 points. Suresh Patel (+8) and Phil Coombe (+9) played well for Werneth.

Honeywell ‘B’ overcame their ‘A’ team in Division One, with their 62-points start proving just enough as they held on to win by 14. Tommy Ryan was the pick of the ‘B’ team, gaining 11 points.

Grotton ‘B’ conceded 48 to BAE ‘B’, but with Sean Ellis (+45), Stuart Sykes (+16) and Phil Schofield (+2) in good form, they won by 14.