Sauto class shows as Bright fail to deliver

Sauto class shows as Bright fail to deliver

6 November 2019

THE Senior Section derby match in the East Down Churches Table Tennis League between Drumlough and Annahilt A saw the visitors win all 10 matches.

Roy Coard, the Annahilt veteran, playing as first man this season, looked sharp in both his singles as he swept aside Harold Kerr 11-6, 

11-7, 11-8 and then the former Annahilt player Mervyn Cairns 11-6, 11-8, 11-4.

Kyle Graham, number one at Annahilt last season, had a smooth 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 victory over Kerr, but in the best game of the night, was pushed all the way before he got the better of Cairns in five sets 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6.

Peter and Tom Jordan, in only their second season and their first in the top flight, can feel pleased as they both scored well against the useful Annahilt third and fourth men, Ian Sinclair and Geoff Beattie.

In the second doubles they lost 11-6, 12-10, 12-10 to the same duo. A good match that as enjoyed by both teams.

As previously reported, Bright’s long running run came to an end when they lost out 6-4 at home to Banbridge A.

Tiago Sauto made a rare appearance for the South Down side and he showed his class with a superb 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 victory over Brian McCandless and a 11-7, 11-3, 11-6, win over Victor Edgar.

Earlier, McCandless had beaten Joe Colvin 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 and Edgar also beat the visiting number one 11-4, 11-6, 11-8. Adrian Brown just pipped old rival Jimmy Sterling 13-11 in the fifth set, but his 11-8, 11-8, 11-2 defeat to Rodney Simmons probably cost his side a point.

Arnold Ennis put up his usual good performance and was perhaps a bit unfortunate to lose to the unbeaten Simmons 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 6-11 and then in four hard sets to Sterling.

The first doubles saw McCandless and Edgar better Colvin and Sterling 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, but in the second doubles Ennis and Brown were beaten in straight sets by Sauto and Simmons.

Banbridge A recorded a 10-0 win over St John’s B.

The home side proved much tot strong for the visiting Newcastle side, who put up a good show in some of the singles and also at first doubles.

With Arnold Morgan ill after his flu injection, Ray Fleming came in for his first game of the season for the league leaders.