Table Tennis: Natland A steer 13 points clear (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Table Tennis: Natland A steer 13 points clear

4:10pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Sport By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

NATLAND A head the Division 1 table in the Kendal and District League, but last season’s runners-up Ibis and defending champions Glaxo A hold five games in hand.

Natland earned their 11th victory of the season in a 9-1 demolition of strugglers Dallam A which puts them 13 points clear of Burton A in second place.

Natland forged an unassailable 5-0 advantage, with Dallam unfortunate not to get on the score-sheet when Lawrence Duncan was edged out 11-9 by Mark Ashburn in a tense fifth set and their dominance continued in the second half as Harry Carter completed a hat-trick of victories.

Burton A have a game in hand after scraping past Crook A 6-4. Phil Swift helped Crook to a slender 3-2 advantage by defeating Martin Wakelin and Julie Stitch, while Mike Taylor and John Howarth scored victories against Wakelin to double Crook’s points total to four.

But Chris Knowles’ three wins, in addition to Stitch’s double successes and a straight sets victory allowed Burton to limp over the line 6-4 and Crook slip to seventh.

In Division 3, Natland E and Burton G were involved in a pulsating 5-5 stalemate. Danny Jackson and George Pickering won two matches apiece, while Mark Stitch chipped in with a 12-10 success in the fourth set against Edward Pickthall. Natland had Richard San Jose to thank for helping his side salvage a draw as he remained unbeaten with three victories, while George Pickthall eased to victory 3-0 against Stitch to see Natland home for a draw.

Natland D are teetering over the relegation zone, as they lie third from bottom and are in imminent danger following a 10-0 defeat against league leaders Dallam E.

Dallam’s Elliot and Max Webster, and Sam Horrocks showed no mercy with three wins each.

Fiona Thompson was unfortunate not to defeat Horrocks, as she narrowly lost out 11-3 in a deciding set but Natland are now 40 points above the drop zone, while Dallam hold a 78 point cushion at the top.