Young guns go top of the table

Ballyclare Leagues

IN the top of the table clash in Division 4 it was Restaurant 1608 C coming out on top over Ballymena Academy Aztecs by a score line of 7-3. This win all but secures top spot in the league in the teams first season. Thomas McCann led by example starting the match off with super counter attacking play disposing of Academy’s number 1 by 3 sets to Nil. Team mentor Noel McCann followed up with a calm display to take out his younger opponent. Team Captain David Peden added another win using his experience and fast reflexes to out wit and baffle his adversary. Unlucky Brendan McKenna tried his best but just lost out in his two singles.

With the team buoyant they are looking forward to a run in the Knockout Cup which is a handicapped event for all league teams.

Ballymoney 1608A entertained Ballyclare B in their latest match. It was an opportunity for Mark Lynn to guest for the A team from his usual spot in Division 2. Mark who is unbeaten in Division 2 did not disappoint and out foxed both his opponents including an impressive 3-2 win over the experienced Ian Davies. Gary McClelland got back to winning ways taking 2 singles and the doubles with Mark. Brian Orr and John Fall also added wins making the final score line 10 sets to Nil.

Belfast League

Ballymoney got back to winning ways in the Belfast league after 3 consecutive defeats. The toon team hosted Cookstown and came out as 10-0 winners. This was a surprising result as in the previous fixture the score was a very tight 6-4 win. The 2 Sulkowski Poles and Mark McGuiggan all played very well and made the most of the home conditions and home support. The final match in the league is a re-arranged match against Belfast club Glenburn and a winning outcome here could result in a top 3 finnish.

Co Fermanagh Open

17 year old Paul McCreery (Crossgar) scored a magnificent hat trick of successes at the Stiga Fermanagh Open at Fivemiletown college on Saturday as combination bat specialist Amanda Mogey (Carnmoney) took the ladies title while Kevin Devaney (Ballina) and Peter Clarke (Annahilt) won the class two and veterans classes respectively.

Munster Open champion McCreery has often saved his best performances for forays outside the province but this time he really showed what he could do on home soil. He was just a different class and won the mens singles without dropping a set. In the quarters the talented Pole Maciek Szymanski felt the wrath of Paul’s ferocious attacks as did the much improved Sam Logue in the semis. The Queens destroyer Daryl Strong dumped Irish national champion Gavin Maguire out in straight sets but then lost his semi to left hander Conor Nolan after losing momentum at the start of the fifth. In their last four encounters McCreery and the hardhitting Nolan had fought out close five setters but this was different as the super fit topspin magician mesmerised Nolan with flashing forehands, breathtaking backhands and deft touches to run out an easy straight sets winner. The adversaries then joined forces to win the doubles and McCreery completed his Lakeland rout with a four set victory over a game Sam Logue in the U21 event.

Amanda Mogey never fails to impress and she badgered a series of opponents into submission with a fine display of power table tennis culminating in a 3-0 win over Dungannon topspin ace Ashley Given who is an ever growing threat to the Ulster No1.