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Barrow Reach the Play-Offs

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This season was Barrow Table Tennis Clubs first in the 1st Division of the British League, and in typical Barrow style, we didn’t make things easy for ourselves!

Going into the first weekend, Barrow had a motley crew of just three players (Steve Dixon, Tristran Swan and Scott Crawford). Given the “step up” in quality from the 2nd Division to the 1st, there was little surprise when the team came away scoring exactly 0 points. It was a tough weekend, things were looking bleak and all thoughts were on survival.

The second weekend saw the return of much needed Jonathan Crawford (England top 90 player – though should be much higher) and new signing Bradley Evans (England top 20 player) joining Tristran Swan and Scott Crawford. There was little surprise when things proved to be much better than the first weekend with the team notching up two wins (Halton and Fastbats) and two draws (including high flying Ormesby II and Rotherham Scorpions). The team had caught the eye of some, but what was to follow was to surprise all, Barrow included.

Coming into the third weekend (which only includes two matches as opposed to the normal four), Barrow secured the signings of Gavin Rumgay (Scotland number 1) and the controversial legend that is Denis Neale (former World top 15 player). So with, Gavin Rumgay, Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford and Denis Neale, Barrow led out the strongest team ever to play for Barrow Table Tennis Club. Needless to say, with Gavin and Denis untested, the team won comfortably securing maximum points (against Grantham and Drumchapel Glasgow II). This meant going into the final weekend to quote the ETTA website, “They (Barrow Table Tennis Club) won’t be able to make the play-offs as they only have 10 points, but expect them to cause the leading teams all kinds of problems”.

Well, with Gavin Rumgay, Jonathan Crawford, Bradley Evans, Denis Neale, Tristran Swan and Scott Crawford turning out for Barrow the final weekend. They did indeed “cause the leading teams all kinds of problems”. On top of that, they secured a maximum 8 points (against Halton, Derwent, Rotherham and Fastbats) and managed the seemingly impossible by gaining a place in the play-offs to be held at Draycott on the 23rd and 24th of May. So, congratulations to all those that represented Barrow Table Tennis Club and a big thank you to club coach and manager, Duncan Crawford.

Posted by admin on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 6:38 pm 
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  • Mr Table Tennis

    Hey, just leaving a comment on the site.

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    Extract from ETTA write up of final British League weekend:

    Derwent lost their air of invincibility in round 11 when they were beaten 6-2 by a Gavin Rumgay inspired Barrow. No Premier division team would fail to be interested in a player of Rumgay’s quality and sure enough his presence has fuelled Barrow’s march up the table into third place. Rumgay didn’t quite bring his best form to the table but he still had enough in hand to beat Stephen Horsfield 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 and Simon Noutch 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3. Hard hitting Jonathan Crawford was also on really good form and he scored a superb 11-9, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5 victory over Simon Noutch. Crawford, (certainly under- ranked at no. 97) completed his double by getting the better of Richard Smith 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9.

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