Victory for St John’s keeps them in race

Victory for St John’s keeps them in race

6 December 2023

AS the Lecale Table Tennis League programme heads for the Christmas break there are the usual backlog of matches still to be 

played. 

In Division 1, Banbridge eagerly await their home match with Owenbeg who also have to play St John’s.

Meanwhile, in Division 2, it is a three-horse race following St John’s’ victory over Drumaness, which has edged them in front. 

The crucial match this week is the Strangford A and Drumaness encounter, with both teams needing a win to stay in contention.

DRUMANESS............................3 

ST JOHN’S.................................7

ST John’s, with Jim Mills in the side, has their sights on the league title after they ran out comfortable winners against the current league champions. 

In the first match of the night Pat Mulholland found Vincey Poland, who has been in excellent form since the start on the season, a tough operator, losing in straight games. 

Hugh Scott started well in his match with Jim Mills, winning the first game to three but was unable to maintain the momentum, ultimately losing the next three three before Charlie Murray pulled one back.

St John’s made it 4-1 in a very close fifth game doubles match and the next encounter between Mills and Mulholland was equally a tight affair with the St John’s man getting home 11-7 in the fifth. 

These two matches were to prove crucial as the match entered its final stage. 

Hugh Scott pulled out another win on the cards against Sean Poland but brother Vincey completed his hat-trick of wins on the night to secure the points for St John’s with his victory over Charlie Murray.

The league officials and players would like to wish Vincey Poland, who is currently in hospital, a speedy recovery and hope it won’t be to too long before we see him back in action. 

STRANGFORD B.......................0

OWENBEG...............................10

THIS was another very entertaining match with both sets of players enjoying the camaraderie among the competition. 

Mario got the ball rolling for Strangford against John McAvoy, losing a good humoured match in straight sets. 

In the next match, Nuala Hynds, who is enjoying playing in the league, was up against the talented young player Manus McAvoy, who has a big future in the game ahead of him. 

Nuala can be pleased with the points she put on the cards in her three-game defeat. 

Owenbeg completed the first round hat-trick of wins with Eugene McNeill’s close three-game victory over Ann McBride. 

The home side continued to make the visitors work for every point and were unlucky in a couple of matches not to get a win on the card.