SEVENOAKS TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

DIVISION 3 - 21.03.10

CONEY HILL STAVE OFF CHALLENGE FROM CROWNWOODS TO TAKE TITLE

Coney Hill A sat at the head of the Division 3 table at the start of the final meeting with Crownwoods handily placed four points behind them.   Darenth D were definitely going down but any one of three teams, Otford B, Darenth C and Teen & 20 C could go with them.

Darenth C (Dave Field/Andy Larner) had a tough assignment in their first match against Crownwoods (Lloyd Francis/Jim Johnson).   Both teams were keen to get what points they could for very different reasons.   Crownwoods made the better start with Francis defeating Field and Johnson taking out Larner who didn't seem to be quite with it.   The doubles could have easily gone the other way but was taken by Crownwoods, 16-14, 11-9, 11-9 and it wasn't until the fourth set that Darenth got on the scoreboard when Field beat Johnson in four.   Larner had his chances against Francis but frittered away too many points early in the fifth after coming back from 0-2 down.   it was disaster for Darenth C and put huge pressure on them for their second match with one of the other relegation candidates, Otford B.

Otford B (Peter Coles/Mike Palmer) likewise had a disaster against Coney Hill A (Dennis Wood/Harry Isaacs) and went down 0-5 despite scrapping for everything.   They took games in four of the five sets and Palmer seemed at one stage to have the measure of Isaacs defence but wasn't able to press home his advantage.

It has to be said that Teen & 20 C were considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Joe Johnssen with Peter Duke.   This not only affected the relegation issue but could have influenced the final outcome of promotion as well.   Duke responded well to Johnssen's presence and turned in a fine supportive performance.   They had a comfortable win over Darenth D where Steve Fuller was on sub duty with Olli Markkanen.

At the end of nine rounds there had therefore been something of a shake up in the table.   Coney Hill A were five points clear of Crownwoods so they still needed a point to secure the title but Teen & 20 C had moved ahead of Darenth C and were now level with Otford B.

There were two key matches in the last round, given that Crownwoods could be expected to beat Darenth D.

In the first Coney Hill A (Wood/Isaacs) had a big fight on their hands with Teen & 20 C (Johnssen/Duke).   Johnssen got Teen & 20 C away to a solid start defeating Wood in four.   Then followed an excellent set between Duke and Isaacs.   Duke snatched the first game 12-10 but Isaacs fought back to go into a 2-1 lead.   Duke levelled at two all and took a strong hold early in the fifth and cruised home 11-5.   Teen & 20 moved into a 4-0 lead and a play off was looming large on the horizon.   Wood raced away with the first against Duke taking that 11-1.   Duke recovered to level at one apiece.   The next two were shared and the fifth was close.   Wood, however, got his nose in front, put up the shutters and won it 11-8 which meant the title was Coney Hill's as Crownwoods (Francis/Johnson) could do no more than get five from their match with Darenth D (Fuller/Markkanen) which they did.

The second key match was between Otford C (Palmer/Coles) and Darenth C (Larner/Field) effectively a relegation decider.   Otford needed two points to survive and Darenth four, a big ask.   Darenth's hopes were raised when Larner defeated Palmer and Field could have had the first game from Coles.   It developed into another of the epic battles which these two usually have.   Field went 2-1 up and held a comfortable lead in the fourth but Coles dug, hauled back the deficit and then held on to win 11-9 in the fifth.   Otford retained their place in the Division by winning the doubles and the reverse singles were shared so the match finished 3-2 in Otford's favour.

Coney Hill A thus return to Division 2 after a two year gap and Crownwoods will accompany them.   With regards to relegation, it is true to say that had Johnssen played more regularly for Teen & 20 they would not have been in relegation trouble and may possibly have been promotion contenders.   Darenth C and D will be in Division 4 next year and the C will doubtless be keen to bounce back.