23rd September-07
Captain's performance from Jason

If DHS London Progress I retain their British League Premier Division title they may well look back on the afternoon of Sunday 23 September 2007 as being the pivotal point of their Season. Results had not gone their way at all and with a determined Craig Howieson beating Jason Sugrue 12-10, 11-7, 14-12 Drumchapel Glasgow had moved into a commanding 3-1 lead. Things got even worse in the fifth game for the Champions with Drumchapel number one Ryan Jenkins beating Colum Slevin 13-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9. Progress were in deep trouble and although Terry Young eased the pressure by beating Stephen Jenkins none too easily 10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 13-11 few people would be prepared to bet on Progress sealing a draw. With Sau Ayemojubu, an earlier 11-9, 12-10, 14-16, 11-9 winner of a truly spell-binding game against Colum Slevin to face Jason Sugrue you had to fancy the Nigerian International. However, no one had advised Jason and he produced a truly inspired performance to beat Ayemojubu 11-9, 11-9, 11-9. A Captain’s performance of the very highest order. This set up a deciding match between two of the best number four players seen in the British League for a long time and it was Jiang Zhi Tao (he of the Ma Lin third ball attack) who came through to beat Craig Howieson 11-5, 13-11, 12-10. A terrific match had finished all square which meant that Progress are the first round leaders with seven points.

Two other matches also finished in draws with Oxford Fire Place Centre excelling to hold Sycamore to a draw. Jing Wei beat both Matt Kenny and Shaun Marples and his team-mates chipped in with two excellent wins. Vytas Rybakas scored a fine 13-11, 10-12, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7 win against Chris Brown and Daniel Ives secured a point for the Oxford side with a magnificent 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 win against Adam Frost. Oxford will return home knowing that it may well be beyond them to avoid relegation, but pretty satisfied all the same with their efforts.

TTK Greenhouse’s clash with BATTS Team Peniel followed what may become a familiar pattern this Season as Andrew Rushton and Gareth Herbert again won their four singles and BATTS picked up the other four games. The match finished all square - TTK’s third draw of the weekend . Herbert was stretched in both his singles, seeing off Craig Bryant 4-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 and the evergreen Ritchie Venner 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 whilst BATTS’s Neil Charles completed an undefeated day by beating Henry Medellin 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 and Daniel Basterfield 11-5, 11-7, 12-10.

Ellenborough will be delighted with their 5-3 victory against Ormesby I. Lorestas Trumpauskas, an impressive winner over Terry Young in the morning session carried on in a similar vein and he beat both Michael Marsden 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8 and David Meads 13-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5 whilst the under-rated .Jon Nilsson also won twice, beating Andrew Wilson 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 and Michael Marsden 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9. Thomas Bennborn was responsible for Ellenborough’s fifth win and he beat Damien Nicholls 12-10, 11-5, 11-8. It is not a match Gary Tendler will remember too fondly from a personal perspective, and the Essex star gallingly missed out 11-7, 7-11, 11-13, 13-11, 17-15 to Damien Nicholls as well as 2-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-13 against Andrew Wilson.

Finally, it has to be said that it was great to see such a large crowd present and hopefully everyone watching went home satisfied after witnessing what was an enthralling afternoon’s Table Tennis.

Steve Kerns Press Officer
British League