Busy week for the Lecale League

St John’s A 3 v Strangford A. 7 With John Mc Cusker and Marty Trainor unavailable Peter Madine was called up from the B team who contributed to a convincing Strangford win. Skipper Colin McKinty got his side off to a good start with a straight set win over Sean Poland. Peter Madine whose has been in excellent form for the B team made two in a 5th match nip and tuck contest with Terry Murphy with the evergreen Joe McConville completing the Strangford hat trick with his 3 love win over Jim Mills. St John’s started the fight back with Sean Poland’s straight game victory over Peter Madine but Strangford made 4 when Mc Conville came through a fought 5 game match against a battling Terry Murphy to put his side 4-1 ahead. Jim Mills pulled another game back with his straight set win over Colin McKinty But Strangford wrapped up the points with Joe Mc Conville’s 3 game win over Sean Poland and Colin McKinty’s victory over Terry Murphy with McKinty and Madine winning the doubles match St John’s B v 9 Strangford B 1 This Strangford team always enjoys their table tennis and this match was no exception. With their skipper called up for A team Nuala Hynds who dedication to practice is clearly paying off joined the affable Michael Deeny with Rory McSwiggan completing the Strangford line up. The St John’s teams with the legend Vincey Poland the experienced John Magee alongside Brain Curran another player who enjoys his table tennis the visitors knew that the result was never in doubt but Rory Mc Swiggan’s win over Brian Curran was consolation for an excellent team effort. Another night of excellent table tennis at Owenbeg bowling club premises with two Banbridge teams the visitors to Downpatrick. Owenbeg A 5v Banbridge A 5 Owenbeg knew they needed something from this match to keep their title hopes on tract and in the end of a contest with most matches of 4 and 5 game duration a draw was a fair result. Hugh Scott had a difficult first opponent in the experienced Brian Morrow who showed that despite his long absence from the game has lost none of the attacking prowess that made him a feared opponent winning in 3 sets. Pat Mulholland evened the score with a similar winning margin against another talent newcomer to the Banbridge Vignesh M and Jason Gill 2-1 win over Gary Smith left his side going in the second round 2-1 ahead. But the visitor’s doubles win made it 2-2. Hugh Scott put Owenbeg into a 3-1 lead with a straight game victory over Vignesh followed by Pat Mulholland’s victory over Gary Smith increase the lead to 3 games but Brain Morrow lead the fight back with his victory over Jason Gill which left the last 3 games to decide the result. Hugh Scott got his side to the finish line with the match between Pat Mulholland and Brian Morrow crucial for both teams. Brain lost the first game but won the next 3 to leave it 5-4 with everything depending on the last contest between Vignesh and Jason Gill. Vignesh raced into a two game lead and although Jason won the 4th the Banbridge man ensured that his team would get a share of the points winning 3-1. Owenbeg B 6 Banbridge B 4 Owenbeg B got another victory under their belt with a good team performance against Banbridge B. This was another close affair with wins for both teams changing almost with every game played. John McEvoy got his side off to a good start with a close 4 victory. Gary Smith evened the score with a similar winning margin over Manus McEvoy before Geraldine Magill 3 love win over Lorraine gave her side a 2-1 lead going into the second round. Banbridge evened the score with 4 set doubles win but John McEvoy made put his side back in the lead with his 3 sets win over Gary Smith followed by Manus McEvoy’s win over Lorraine Smith which put his side into a two game lead. Back came the Bridge winning the next game but John McEvoy hat trick of wins put his side into a 5-.3 lead the winning post was in sight for Owenbeg and although Banbridge put another win on the card Geraldine Magill ensured victory for her team with a 4 game victory over Gary Smith.