Cockcroft stars in Deaf recovery

TABLE TENNIS:

UPPERMILL ‘A’ and Deaf Club ‘A’ are neck and neck in Division Two of the Oldham and District Table Tennis League after a 5-5 draw.

Mark Simpson was unbeaten for Uppermill — two of the sets went to five games — as his side fashioned a 5-3 advantage.

Ian Cockcroft then stepped up to take his second set of the night — an epic encounter with David Grundy ended 17-15 in the fifth game — before joining Liaqat Ali to level the match in the doubles.

Third-placed Birley Moss maintained their push for the title with a 6-4 win at home to Honeywell ‘D’, for whom Steven Collins and Peter Buckley notched two each.

In Division One, Hollinwood ‘B’ scored an 8-2 victory over their ‘A’ team. Two sets each for Paul King, Mohammed Sagied and Nathan Buckley built up a decisive 6-0 lead, before George Jones snatched one back. King and Buckley then took a third set to wrap up their sixth win of the season.

Werneth came from behind three times to draw 5-5 against Unison ‘A’.

Owls ‘A’ saw in the New Year with their second win of the season in Division Three — a 6-4 victory at home to Gilders Tackle.

Grotton ‘A’ are joint first with Saddleworth — the latter have two matches in hand — after an 8-2 win at Honeywell.

Deaf Club ‘B’, with unbeaten David Varney leading the way, remain second in Division Four after a 7-3 success at Coldhurst ‘D’.