Final League Tables and Averages for 06-07 Season

 

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Season 2006-2007 - A Final Summary

Division Two

Congratulations to Winchcombe Warriors, the champions of Division Two! They are the second Winchcombe team in succession to win this division. The team, comprising of Richard Bishop, Jan De Wet, Dave MacIntosh and Mike Vick, have performed consistently all season to pip nearest rivals Saracens C to the title. Richard Bishop has been the division’s outstanding player this season, and he finished top of the averages, losing out only once. So a special ‘Well done’ to him!

The division was tightly contested throughout the entire season, and Saracens C have particularly impressed me. I have always been a fan of Mike Dodwell’s crew – there is something about the attitude with which they play that epitomises the spirit of our game. However, they have been truly tremendous in challenging Winchcombe at the top. The division was so close that it took until Winchcombe’s final victory of the season to confirm who were to be the Champions. Credit must therefore also go to Mike Dodwell, Ross Greening, Terry Sims and Den Wadley for their contribution. Mike Dodwell has been in particularly fantastic form all season and I would like to congratulate him personally on this year’s success. Smiths C have also contributed to the exciting title-race at the top of the division, with Graham Chandler, Barrie Pope, Paul Singh and Chris White all proving to be difficult opponents and fairing well in the averages. However, their collective form dipped a little after the Christmas break, enabling the top two to pull away.

 

The remaining teams have continued to play some fine table tennis, working hard to finish as high as possible in this tightly contested division. Cheltenham D have had a marvellous season and their impressive doubles record has been one of the highlights of this season’s campaign. Just two defeats from 18 matches have ensured that they finished clear in fourth position. They have played almost uniquely with three players, Richard Gummow, Alan Harvey and Matt Mulcahy, with a little help on occasions from the very impressive Chris James, and their consistency throughout has ensured a very well deserved fourth place finish. This point is backed up in the averages where both Alan Harvey and Matt Mulcahy feature strongly, and in the Cheltenham Closed tournament where this pairing won the Minor Doubles and Matt Mulcahy won the Division Two Handicap Singles event.

 

Tewkesbury A have had a very topsy-turvy season and their players will question how much improvement they have made. Rob Amphlett has yet again been an absolute rock, but will be slightly disappointed that he lost to Richard Bishop again! For me personally, it has been my best season. I still haven’t quite reached the heights of consistency that will earn me 50% in the averages, but I am very happy with 40% and exceptional wins over Mark Nally and Graham Chandler – players I wouldn’t have even got close to two seasons ago – put a big smile on my face (sorry for injuring you Graham!!)

It was then very tight for the remaining places between CCS A, Smiths D and Saracens D who finished in that order, albeit based on alphabetical order between CCS A and Smith D who finished with identical totals.

 

Tewkesbury B and Saracens E were always going to be battling it out at the bottom of the table. However, they should be congratulated on their performances and it should be stated that both teams did not always come away with the amount of points they deserved. I have no idea if the league will be re-structured or remain as it is come the 07/08 season, but both teams should be commended on their performance and do compete in this division.  

Some facts about the season by numbers …

 

1. Richard Bishop (Winchcombe Warriors) sits proudly at the top of the averages, losing just one game all season to finish on 97%. He edged out Mike Dodwell (Saracens C – 93%) and Rob Amphlett (Tewkesbury A – 90%). All three players should be congratulated on their consistently high level of performance throughout the season – well done!
    

2. Tony Iles (Saracens D) played the most sets of competitive table tennis this year in Division Two. By playing 54 sets out of a possible 54, Tony was the only player to compete in every match playing three sets each time. He just edged out Matt Mulcahy and Alan Harvey who played 49 times each, and the following players played 45 or more: Chris Ball (48), David Hart (47), Terry Sims (46), and Mike Dodwell (46).
    

3. 46 different players competed in Division Two this year and 56 doubles combinations were tried out! This has meant a lot of work for me maintaining the averages! The division’s most successful doubles pairing were Chris Ball and Mike Gleeson (Smiths D) who won all five of their matches giving them a 100% record. Rob Amphlett and Simon Lockley (Tewkesbury A) and Richard Bishop and Mike Vick (Winchcombe Warriors) will also be pleased with their 100% records. However, the truly outstanding pair this season, as already mentioned, were Alan Harvey and Matt Mulcahy (Cheltenham D) who played together 11 times, winning 10, and also winning the Minor Doubles title. Congratulations must also be made to Richard Gummow who played in other doubles encounters and lost only once. A special mention must also be made of Dave Hart and Steve Murton (CCS A) who won 7 out of 8 doubles matches together.
    

4. And finally, in a season full of competitive sportsmanship, I have calculated that there were approximately 1980 congratulatory handshakes at the end of matches, and that does not include thanking umpires!

Overall, this has been a great season. Well done to every player in every team. And thanks for helping to make my job as secretary as easy as possible. I look forward to playing most of you again next year – and watch out – I’m getting better! 

 

Simon Lockley
Division Two Secretary

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Division Three

First and foremost we must congratulate Saracens F on deservedly securing the title, and similar commendations are due to Tirley Tigers who finish as runners up. These eventual placings were pretty evident very early in the season, and we wish both of these sides the best of fortunes as they (once again!) try their luck in higher circles next time around.  They will need it if the results of those sides who were promoted last season are anything to go by!

Whilst handing out the ’awards’ perhaps a mention should be made of James Bird (Cheltenham G), Andy Sutherland (Cheltenham J), and Dave Cosnette (Saracens F) who according to my data did not miss a match all season. Well done!

 

The final points totals suggest a division which was effectively divided into two, the top five teams showing a clear pair of heels (can you do that in table tennis?) to those below.

 

With Saracens F and Tirley Tigers taking the elite places, it was left to Winchcombe Eagles, Tewkesbury C and Cheltenham F to fight it out for the next three slots.

Us Eagles had sat in fourth place for most of the time, this having been our predicted finishing spot when it all started.

Then however, it all started happening around us!

 

With Mike Maxwell of Tewkesbury taking some time out in the early months of this year, and with the possible realisation that they would not secure a promotion place, Tewkesbury tended to field less strong teams in the second half of the season, and lost some ground as a result.

At the same time Cheltenham F made a strong surge with a string of impressive results, including a draw with Saracens F. They were strengthened by the return of Chris James who had been out ‘on loan’ in the second division for the permitted number of matches, but the improvement in their young squad of Karl Foster, Matt Williams and Dominic James as the season progressed was very evident.

 

In the end, our Eagles gained third place by a whisker, finishing on the same number of points as Cheltenham F. Both sides can reflect upon individual performances won and lost which led to the eventual outcome!

 

Those sides in the lower half should not feel discouraged in any way, because the impression which one gets is that this season has been the most competitive in the third division for some time. To support this, I compared the results from this season against 2005/6 in terms of results (okay I know I should get out more!) and this produced some startling differences as shown below:

                                                                                            

Match Score                     2005/6          2006/7

                                                                                                  
5-5                               10%            10%

                                                                                                    

6-4                                5%             22%
                                                                                                  

7-3                               17%            14%

                                                                                                  

8-2                               16%            16%

                                                                                                  

9-1                               16%            20%

                                                                                                 

10-0                              36%            18%
 

As you can see, many less ‘whitewashes’ this time around which is good for competition generally.

The withdrawal from the division of Chelsea Building Society B side very late in the season was very regrettable, and has of course resulted in all of their results being removed, with consequent impact upon the averages of all those players who have competed against them. Whilst Chelsea’s decision did not materially affect any of the major placings, it is nevertheless unfortunate to find a team in a situation where they have to make this move so close to the end of the season. As I understand it, changes in shift work patterns were the main cause, but with a little more communication from them, one wonders whether some additional players (even non-Chelsea) could have been drafted in just to help them to complete their matches.

 

Civil Service B were grateful for the occasional services of Rob Browning, and Cheltenham G have James Bird to thank for a fair number of their points.

 

Another much improved player is Michael Brook of Cheltenham H, whilst all of the youthful Cheltenham F side can be happy with the progress which they have made.

For those of you with a nostalgic bent, and who have possibly been around the table tennis circuit for more than a year or two, I can offer you this somewhat amusing tale as a finale. On a recent result card, (I shall not reveal the teams!) the details were immaculately entered until one reached the doubles, where the score had been meticulously recorded as 21-5, 21-2, 21-3!

 

If you think it was you, it probably was! 

 

Derek Brown
Division Three Secretary

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