British League Division 2 North Final Table
British League Division 2 North Results
Barrow II Player Averages
After a team meal and a good night’s sleep, Barrow II returned to Draycott and Longeaton Table Tennis Centre for the team’s day of reckoning. The team arrived early, looked a little nervous and practiced hard in preparation for their first match – the crunch game against Elgre Nottingham II.
Barrow vs Elgre Nottingham II
After the previous day’s proceedings, Elgre Nottingham II went into the match sitting 1 point ahead of Barrow II and second from bottom in the table. Both teams faced tough opposition in the final matches to be played in the afternoon. This really was the game that would decide who would go up and who would go down. For Barrow II to stay up, a win was a must, whilst Nottingham Elgre II could make do with a draw. The two clubs previous meeting in the first half of the season had resulted in a 4 all draw.
First up for Barrow II was Scott Crawford and for Elgre Nottingham II it was Craig Feargieve. Scott throughout the season has been the team’s main man for wins, but worryingly, as the game got going, he looked lethargic. Despite this, he won the first set game 7, but then lost the next game 5. Scotty then battled through to take the next ends game 4 and 10. First blood for Barrow II.
Steve Temple
Next on court was Graham Coupe for Barrow II and Robert Fearn for Elgre Nottingham II. The first two sets saw Graham edged out 8 and 9. Graham then pulled a set back game 5, but this was as far as his comeback would go as he lost the next set by the same margin. The score now sat at 2-1 to Barrow and the next game would see the intensity rise a notch or two as Tom Smith battled with Jimmy Brewster. Tom went 2 sets up, game 7 and game 8 before losing the next two sets game 9 and game 11. Once again, Tom found himself embroiled in a 5-set thriller which was to go all the way. Unfortunately, it was to be Jimmy Brewster’s day as he took the final set game 10.
At the halfway mark the score was 2 apiece, with nothing separating Barrow II and Elgre Nottingham II. For Barrow II, the margin for error had diminished as the team could only afford to loose 1 more match from the remaining 4 matches. It seemed that Elgre Nottingham II were now in the driving seat.
Tom Smith
From the start, it was obvious that both players were desperate to ‘save’ their respective clubs as an exhibition of determined table tennis ensued. Such was the determination that barriers went flying as desperate bids were made to retrieve balls from all sides of the court. After one incredible rally after another, the match finally entered a 5th and final set. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than this!
As the game got started, it was Tom that had the better body language and composure. This showed as he took a comfortable lead, which he held to take the set game 4. This importantly gave Barrow II the much needed victory to take them out of the relegation spot. Well done Tom!
Final Score: Barrow II 5 – 3 Elgre Nottingham II
Barrow II: Scott Crawford (2), Steve Temple (2), Graham Coupe, Tom Smith (1)
Elgre Nottingham II: Chris Brewer, Craig Feargrieve (1), Jimmy Brewster (1), Robert Fearn (1)
Barrow II vs Derwent II
With Elgre Nottingham II facing the divisions top team Burton Uxbridge I, it looked like Barrow II was safe. However, nothing can be taken for granted and complacency can be a dangerous thing. Derwent II were 5th in the division and beat Barrow II 3-5 in the teams previous meeting. Given the form and confidence been shown by Barrow II, it looked like this match was winnable.
Indeed, it is amazing how a couple of wins can transform a team. Barring a first match hiccup which saw Steve Temple narrowly loose to Richard Moss 5, 13 and 12, the team went on to destroy Derwent II 7-1 laying to bed any relegation fears in the process. Amongst the wins for the Barrow team was one noticeable one for Graham Coupe who beat the much higher ranked Mick Wilcockson 10, 10 and 10.
Final Score: Barrow II 7 – 1 Derwent II
Barrow II: Scott Crawford (2), Steve Temple (1), Graham Coupe (2), Mark Temple (2)
Derwent II: Richard Moss (1), Mick Wilcockson, Nathan Horsley, Richard Crowther
Going into the final weekend of Division 2 North of the British League, Barrow II were languishing at the bottom of the table. They were 1 point behind Elgre Nottingham II and 5 points behind Halton II. With 4 matches to be played, a maximum of 8 points to be won and only 1 team to be relegated, leap-frogging Elgre Nottingham II seemed to be Barrow II’s only hope for survival.
Barrow II vs Chesterfield
On paper, Barrow II’s first match looked to be the toughest of the weekend as they lined up against 2nd placed Chesterfield, a team that had convincingly beat them 8-0 in the first half of the season.
Scott Crawford
Next up for Barrow II was Mark Temple and for Chesterfield Andy Henry. A tough battle ensued, but it was Mark that succumbed to defeat (9, -3, -3, 5, -4). Then up stepped Steve, was he going to avenge his brother’s loss and guarantee Barrow II at least a draw? Unfortunately not, as Shaun Bibby proved to be too strong (-10. -9, 9, -6).
With one match remaining, Barrow II were now losing 3-4 to Chesterfield. With a lot at stake, the pressure was on Tom Smith to beat Warren Slaney. After four close sets, 8, -10, -9 and 10, it looked like things were going to go Barrow II’s way as Tom led 10-5 in the fifth and final set, guaranteeing himself at least 5 match points. However, he faltered, eventually loosing 13-11.
The disappointment in Tom’s face was clear and things weren’t made any better for him and the team as news came through that Elgre Nottingham II had won their match against Halton II. This meant Elgre Nottingham II were now 3 points ahead of Barrow II, with 6 points to play for.
Final Score: Barrow II 3 – 5 Chesterfield
Barrow II: Scott Crawford (2), Steve Temple, Mark Temple, Tom Smith (1)
Chesterfield: Andrew Horsfield (1), Andy Henry (1), Shaun Bibby (1), Warren Slaney (2)
Barrow II vs Drumchapel Glasgow III
Next up for Barrow II was Drumchapel Glasgow III, a team sitting 3rd in the division and a team that had inflicted a 5-3 victory over Barrow II in the first half of the season. With these facts, the morning’s loss still fresh in the players mind and the loss of No. 1 Scott Crawford (replaced by Graham Coupe) to the 1st team, victory looked unlikely.
Graham Coupe
This new-found belief was short lived as Steve Temple lost in another five-set thriller to Andrew Dunlop (-7, 7, -7, 5, -8). However, this proved to be nothing more than a blip as successive victories for Tom Smith, Mark Temple and Steve Temple gave Barrow II a strong 4-1 lead. A draw was therefore guaranteed, but with Elgre Nottingham II now sitting 3 points clear, a victory was a must.
Drumchapel Glasgow III weren’t prepared to make Barrow II’s life easy as they demonstrated the grit and determination associated with the Scots. They pulled two wins back with victories for Nathan Courtney over Graham Coupe (-6, -6, -10) and Andrew Dunlop over Mark Temple (-8, -5, 13, -1). With the score sitting at 4-3 in Barrow II’s favour, but the momentum going Glasgow Drumchapels IIIs way, things were looking hairy.
Once again, it was Tom Smith that found himself under the spotlight as he faced up to Connor Moran. Tom had already proven by his earlier victory over Nathan Courtney that he had pulled himself together, but were flashbacks of the morning’s loss to Warren Slaney going to come back and haunt him? Thankfully not, as Tom claimed a comfortable victory 8, 7 and 8 and in doing so sealed Barrow IIs first win of the season. Was this a first win too late though? Was it going to maintain a 3 point gap, or close the gap to Elgre Nottingham II?
Thankfully, it was the latter as Chesterfield lost to Derwent II. The day’s events had cancelled each other out and Barrow II could go back to the hotel with the knowledge that the teams destiny was still in their own hands.
Final Score: Barrow II 5 – 3 Glasgow Drumchapel III
Barrow II: Steve Temple (1), Graham Coupe (1), Mark Temple (1), Tom Smith (2)
Glasgow Drumchapel III: Andrew McFadyen, Andrew Dunlop (2), Nathan Courtney (1), Connor Moran
Scott Crawford
The team – whose home is under threat as Furness Academy looks to expand its South Site – have won back-to-back promotions in the past three seasons, rising from Division Three to Division One in the national standings.
Last season, the club made the Premiership play-offs for the first time in their history, missing out to Sycamore and Derwent.
This season has seen the creation of a second Barrow team in Division Two of the British League, while the first team has been strengthened with the acquisition of England number two and London 2012 Olympics hopeful Darius Knight, as well as Croatian number three Jakov Krivić.
This calibre of player has been brought under the Barrow banner by Scott and Jonathan Crawford, two former Dowdales pupils, who are now part of the national table tennis academy in Bristol.
Their links with some of the best players in the country have allowed the Barrow team to excel, and this weekend will see key fixtures take place.
Both teams go into the final games of their British League campaigns with everything to play for, with four matches taking place over two days, in Draycott and Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
The two sides find themselves in very different positions, with the first team able to relax as, barring mathematical improbabilities, they have all but secured a Premier Division play-off place.
Meanwhile, Barrow TTC II go into the weekend, bottom of Division Two and battling for survival.
The most important and decisive match of the weekend will come when Barrow TTC II face second-from-bottom Nottingham Elgre, who are one point ahead in the standings. It is set to be a nail-biting weekend for Barrow, whose star players have travelled to Furness to coach many of the area’s young rising stars.
The first team will field a squad including both Crawfords and former Parkview pupil Tristran Swan, as well as rising star Bradley Evans and Kendal League player Steve Dixon.
Barrow TTC 1st team (from): Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford, Tristran Swan, Steve Dixon, Scott Crawford
Barrow TTC 2nd team (from): Scott Crawford, Steve Temple, Graham Coupe, Mark Temple, Tom Smith.
If the first team do rise into the Premier Division, then the cost of running the team is set to rise.
While their home is under threat, the teams are also looking for sponsorship to help fund their progress.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the club can email sponsorship@barrowtabletennisclub.co.uk for details regarding packages available for next season.
British League Division 2 North Third Weekend Table
British League Division 2 North Results
Barrow II Player Averages
British League Division 2 North First Weekend Table
British League Division 2 North Results
Barrow II Player Averages
Chesterfield and Burton Uxbridge lead the way with seven points, although Burton may have a slight advantage as they have already beaten third-placed Halton II who have five points. It is fair to say that this Division is yet to sort itself out. Chesterfield’s blip came in round three against Derwent II (four points from the weekend) who won all four games from the numbers one and two positions. Richard Moss scored two superb wins over Andy Henry (11-8, 11-8, 2-11, 15-13) and Andrew Horsfield (7-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4) and Chris Loxston excelled as well. Loxston beat both Andrew Horsfield (11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7) and James Brown (15-13, 11-13, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8). Derwent were in the driving seat. Could they take the match ?. The answer turned out to be “no”. Chesterfield no. four Shaun Bibby won both of his singles defeating Mick Wilcockson 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7 and Richard Crowther 11-6, 12-14, 11-4, 11-5 to keep his team in the hunt.
Chesterfield returned to winning ways in round four whitewashing Barrow Fastbats II 8-0 with Andrew Horsfield, Andy Henry, James Brown and Shaun Bibby carrying all before them. Barrow (and particular Steve Temple) will justifiably feel a little hard done by losing both games narrowly that went to the fifth end. They say that fortunes favours the brave, or, in Table Tennis the winning team and that was the case here. Andy Henry prevailed 12-10, 11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 12-10 against Temple and Andrew Horsfield also beat the gallant Temple, this time by an agonising 10-12, 13-11, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10.
Burton Uxbridge impressed greatly, beating Halton II 7-1. The scoreline flattered them, as they won all three five-enders (another case of fortune favouring the winning team), but, it was still a strong performance from the Burton side. Alastair McTavish scored two hard-fought wins, beating Keith Bird
(12-14, 13-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6) and Jake Shaw (11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9) whilst Russell Boome also played his part. He beat newcomer Paul Orzechowski (10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9) as well as Keith Bird (11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7).
Burton’s dropped point came (like Chesterfield) against Derwent II, in the first round. Richard Moss took the Player of the Match Award, and deservedly so. He beat both Alastair McTavish (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8) and Russell Boome (11-8, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9) as his side moved into a 3-2 lead. McTavish levelled the scores by getting the better of Mick Wilcockson 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 but Chris Loxston restored Derwent’s advantage as he saw off David Savage 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7. Burton were relieved to get a draw although Paznarcyk Bednarczak always looked like beating Nathan Horsley and duly ran out a 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 winner.
Having drawn with the two leading sides you would expect to see Derwent listed amongst the challengers, but, they tasted defeat in round four when beaten 5-3 by Drumchapel Glasgow II. It wasn’t such a happy game for Richard Moss, beaten by both Andrew McFadden (3-2) and Chris Main (3-1)
as Drumchapel raced into a 3-0 and 4-1 lead. Rebecca Russell secured victory for her side by getting the better of Richard Crowther 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8.
Halton II’s fine 5-3 victory over Drumchapel Glasgow II leaves the Scottish team on four points. Halton excelled in this match. They won all four five setters. Andrew McFadyen set the tone in the first match, fighting back from 2-0 down to get the better of Keith Bird 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 whilst Rebecca Russell also showed real determination. She fought back from 2-0 down to beat Caroline Hallows 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7. There was no joy for Caroline Hallows against Andrew McFadyen either, she led 2-0 before Andrew hauled his way back into contention to triumph 5-11, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-4.
