YMCA ‘A’ hold nerve in summit meeting

TABLE TENNIS: HYDE YMCA ‘A’ poked their noses in front in the race for the Oldham and District Table Tennis League Division Two title with an 8-2 defeat of rivals Werneth ‘C’.

It was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests, with three of the four five-set matches going the way of the eventual winners.

Geoff Ogden completed a hat-trick for Hyde, while Karen Hill supplied Werneth’s double.

Maximums from Barrie Royle and Pete Buckley helped clinch a 9-1 victory for Honeywell ‘C’ over struggling Droylsden.

In Division One, Glodwick ‘A’ secured all 10 points against Werneth ‘B’.

Doubles partners Andy Jackson and Khamal Hussain ensured the whitewash with a 12-10 win in the fifth.

Mark Ramsbottom was also unbeaten on the night.

Mick Pellowe, on his debut, put in an exceptional unbeaten performance for Werneth ‘A’ in their 7-3 win against Rosehill.

He won all three of his games, while Stuart Meredith and Jon DePledge had two wins apiece.

A tight affair between Werneth ‘E’ and Hollinwood ‘E’ in Division Three ended all-square, with five of the games decided in the fifth set.

Matty Kelly, Dave Jefferson and Paul Rourke won two each for their respective teams.

Another tight match in Division Three saw Owls ‘A’ defeat Saddleworth ‘B’ 6-4.

Richard Tamworth was yet again the difference, with a treble for the Owls. Alex Griffiths replied with two for Saddleworth.

In Division Four, Abishek Balakrishnan was the star of the show for Our Lady’s ‘A’, recording a maximum in the 5-5 draw against Unison ‘C’.

Balakrishnan claimed the scalp of the experienced Mike O’Gara, who usually plays in Division Three.

Maximums from Ken Dunkerley and Brian Hall saw Honeywell ‘E’ run out 8-2 winners over Werneth ‘E’.

Peter Ganley registered a double for Honeywell, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Joe Taylor.

In Division Five, Deaf Club ‘C’ extended their unbeaten record and in the process helped their promotion credentials with an 8-2 win over Coldhurst ‘E’.

Malcolm Normanton and Scott Fleming were unbeaten on the night and Ron Tench supplied two wins for Deaf Club.

Elsewhere, Uppermill ‘C’ notched a 7-3 win over Owls ‘B’, with Jim Bradbury and Stuart Hanson winning three each.