British League Division 1 North Third Weekend Table

British League Division 1 North Results

British League Division 1 North Barrow Player Averages

British League Division 2 North Third Weekend Table

British League Division 2 North Results

Barrow II Player Averages

Drumchapel Glasgow II (with a maximum 16 points) carried on where they had left off, although they won’t be eligible for a place in the Premier Division play-offs and with Ormesby II (11 points) only able to compete in the Play-Offs if their Premier division side are relegated, you can expect a real battle to secure third and fourth spot. Elgre Nottingham (10 points) and Barrow Fastbats (10 points) lead the way at present.

Drumchapel Glasgow (Craig Hardie, Terry McLernon, Richie Main and Chris Main) faced a tricky test against Ormesby in round five, and although they were never behind victory wasn’t assured until the last game when Chris Main saw off Eddie Fambely 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 to make the score 5-3. Craig Hardie didn’t put a foot wrong, beating Andrew Wilson 12-10, 11-7, 11-8 as well as another Premier division hopeful Patrick Thomas by a very impressive 13-11, 11-2, 11-7 scoreline, Thomas‘s first defeat of the campaign. Elgre Nottingham also caused the Champions-elect numerous problems before succumbing 5-3, and again Craig Hardie led the way from the no. one position by winning his two singles. His 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 victory over England no. four Veteran Lee Neil being particularly clinical.

Drumchapel’s 6-2 win over Sheffield was never in doubt, although Simon Pugh and Paul Johnson both impressed here by beating Terry McLernon 3-1. Drumchapel were equally dominant against Northfield I, again coming out on top 6-2. Both Northfield wins were achieved by former Scottish international Keith Rodger who rolled back the years, as he beat Terry McLernon 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 and Craig Hardie 4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

The big shock came in round seven where Elgre Nottingham overwhelmed Ormesby II 7-1, yes 7-1! On paper the two teams: Elgre – Chris Rogers, Lee Neil, David Arrowsmith and Stewart Mudie and Ormesby – Patrick Thomas, Andrew Wilson, Steve Brunskill and Karina Lefevre looked evenly matched. Not so. Elgre stormed into a 7-0 lead before Karina Lefevre saved her team from a whitewash by getting the better of Stewart Mudie 11-7, 11-8, 12-10. Chris Rogers, still a force to be reckoned with beat both Andrew Wilson (3-1) and Patrick Thomas (3-1) whilst Lee Neil was even more dominant, beating Thomas 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 and Steve Brunskill 11-8, 11-8, 11-4. With their team on a real high David Arrowsmith was determined to get in on the act as well and how well he played. He beat Karina Lefevre 13-11, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11 and in a really determined display Andrew Wilson (9-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-0).

With seven points out of eight Barrow Fastbats enjoyed a good weekend and their success owed a lot to the form of Bradley Evans and Jonathan Crawford, both of who won seven singles out of eight. Jonathan Crawford (still under-rated at no. 61 nationally) tasted defeat in his first singles against Keith Rodger, but, from there on he left an impressive list of scalps trailing behind him. He beat Lindsay Taylor, Simon Pugh, Paul Johnson, Dave Harvey, Eddie Roofe, Richard Lightowler and Garry Watson. Bradley Evans accounted for Keith Rodger and only tasted defeat once, when beaten 11-1, 9-11, 9-11, 8-11 by an inspired Chris Ford (Halton I). Improving Scott Crawford also impressed in the match against Halton and he scored an excellent 11-8, 1-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 victory over the afore-mentioned Chris Ford.

Barrow vs. Sycamore

Barrow, who were without their top player – Scottish international Gavin Rumgay did well to hold runaway Division One South & Midlands Champions Sycamore to a draw. Sycamore’s Sam Perry played his part by beating Jonathan Crawford (11-5, 11-9, 11-6) as well as Bradley Evans (11-5, 11-7, 13-11) whilst the old Warrior himself – Denis Neale showed all the experience you would expect from a former England number one. He beat both Sean Cullen (13-11, 7-11, 8- 11, 11-9, 11-9) and Adam Frost (3-11, 11-5, 11-7,13-11).

Barrow vs. Derwent I

Derwent, having previously beaten Brighton decisively 7-1, continued on their winning ways by getting the better of Barrow 5-3. Barrow led 3-2 after Bradley Evans had recorded his second win, a hard-fought 11-9,11-6, 4-11, 5-11, 11-9 success against Mark Simpson but Derwent weren’t finished. Simon Noutch came through in five ends against Denis Neale whilst a battling Stephen Horsfield came up trumps in the fifth game against Jonathan Crawford. Richard Smith eventually sealed his side’s victory after a marathon match 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 against Scott Crawford.

Barrow vs. Brighton I

Round three produced some of the best play of the weekend and Brighton started well against Barrow, taking a 2-0 lead. Jack Boult scored an outstanding 13-11, 9-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9 win over Bradley Evans and Dov Katz did well to get the better of Jonathan Crawford 8-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8.
However, the fast-improving Scott Crawford (certainly one of the most improved players over the course of the season) won twice to lead the Barrow fight-back. He showed real determination to beat Reece Tan 7-11, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9 and he sealed his side’s victory by getting the better of Jon Clarke 11-8, 12- 14, 11-7, 11-8.

Barrow vs. Urban Progress I

Urban Progress I overcome Barrow 6-2 in a match which was marred by one controversial incident. Denis Neale and Zoltan Hosszu were locked in a spell-binding encounter at one game all and at 10-10 in the second game Denis was faulted for a foul service. He was understandably very annoyed at the decision (you have to question if it had to be made at such an important stage of the game – and there was a lot of sympathy for Denis with this). The all-action William Maybanks gave another demonstration that he was the outstanding player of the weekend beating Bradley Evans 11-6, 11-5, 13-11.

Barrow vs. Elgre Nottingham I

The match between Barrow and Elgre Nottingham ended in a draw. Bradley Evans won twice for Barrow whilst Scott Crawford beat Emma Vickers over five ends and Jonathan Crawford got the better of Stewart Mudie 11-5, 12-10, 11-9.

Barrow vs Sycamore

Barrow vs Derwent I

Brighton I vs Barrow

Barrow vs Urban Progress I

Elgre Nottingham I vs Barrow

Click here to see the British League Play-Off tables and averages.

Six teams will battle it out at the Draycott & Long Eaton Table Tennis Centre in Derbyshire over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 23rd and 24th May, for two places in next year’s British League Premier Division.

If the competition is as fiercely fought as it was last year, then the matches should be very exciting indeed. The three teams who were crowned Champions in their respective Divisions were: Derwent in Division One North, Urban Progress in Division One South and Sycamore in Division One South and Midlands. These will undoubtedly be amongst the teams to watch out for, but don’t write off the three other sides either.

Division One South runners-up Brighton cannot be discounted. They have real depth in their team with the fast-improving Cadets Zak Zilesnick and Reece Tan in the numbers three and four positions. Similarly, you can’t discount Elgre Nottingham either. They may have finished a massive ten points behind an outstanding Sycamore side of Kevin Dolder, Sam Perry, Adam Frost, Jason Ramage, Sean Cullen and Danny Lowe but their team has a nice blend of experience and youthful promise. The Elgre squad of Chris Rogers, Lee Neil, Stewart Mudie, Mark Green, David Arrowsmith and Emma Vickers will relish the prospect of going into this weekend as under-dogs.

Barrow’s fortunes will depend to a great extent whether Scottish number one Gavin Rumgay is available. However, this looks extremely doubtful because of the clash with the Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow. However, the hard-hitting and improving brothers Jonathan and Scott Crawford will still be a force to be reckoned with and with former English number one Denis Neale in their squad, as well as England no. 36 Bradley Evans no one will take them too lightly.

Likely squads are as follows:
Derwent: Simon Noutch, Mark Simpson, Stephen Horsfield, Richard Smith, Trevor Williams, Richard Moss.
Barrow: Gavin Rumgay, Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford, Scott Crawford, Denis Neale, Tristran Swan, Steve Dixon.
Urban Progress: Tibor Kadar, William Maybanks, Costas Papantoniou, Laszlo Varga, Zoltan Hosszu.
Brighton: Alexander Ioannou, Dov Katz, Jack Boult, Zak Zilesnick, Reece Tan.
Sycamore: Kevin Dolder, Sam Perry, Adam Frost, Jason Ramage, Sean Cullen, Danny Lowe.
Elgre Nottingham: Chris Rogers, Lee Neil, Stewart Mudie, Mark Green, David Arrowsmith, Emma Vickers.

Click here to see the British League Play-Off results.

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.