Yorkshire & Devon Promoted
by Barry Snowden
The listing was posted by English Table Tennis Association
With this seasons County Championships Senior Premier division culminating at Walsall towards the end of the month there is all to play for at both ends of the table as the two counties who will replace the bottom two in this seasons competition are now known as Yorkshire and Devonshire will play in next seasons’ top flight.
Seniors 1A
Yorkshire claimed their place back in the premier division after an absence of one year when they took division 1a after an exciting weekends’ action at Cramlington, County Durham which saw them take the title by one point from Leicestershire.
With third placed Lincolnshire ending the weekend 4 points adrift of the runners up it quickly became clear that the clash between Yorkshire and Leicestershire was going to be decisive in the outcome of the division although there was also an element of good fortune in the title going in the direction of the White Rose county.
Yorkshire began their quest with a straight forward 10- nil whitewash of Cambrdgeshire before beating their old roses enemy Lancashire 7-3 and in both matches it was a strong performance by the men players of Simon Noutch, Richard Lightowler and Richard Smith that produced a winning platform for Yorkshire.
The battle of the Yorkshire teams saw Yorkshire defeat their south of the county rivals 6-4 but could consider themselves a touch fortunate as South Yorkshire were unable to field a lady player and gifted Yorkshire 4 sets and fortunately for Yorkshire they found skipper Simon Noutch in top form as his two sets gave Yorkshire victory.
In the clash between Yorkshire and Leicestershire Yorkshire were always in control during the early part of the match as they soon established an unbeatable 5-2 lead but Leicestershire hit back as firstly Chris Rogers beat Simon Noutch in a five game thriller 8-11 13-11 12-10 8-11 119 and when Karen Smith beat Nicola Smith 11-3 13-11 11-4 in the penultimate set the sides were now within a set but Richard Smith restored the smiles to Yorkshires’ faces when he beat Dave Gannon 11-8 11-6 11-9 to clinch victory and complete the first day with Yorkshire heading the table on eight points from four straight wins.
Sunday saw Yorkshire record 8-2 victories against Durham and Northumberland before just overcoming a potential banana skin when they were held to a draw by Lincolnshire and this too proved fortunate for Yorkshire as Lincolnshire played with one lady player short but this draw saw Yorkshire promoted to the premier division as champions.
Seniors 1B
Division 1b could not have been tighter as Devonshire took the title by virtue of a superior games ratio from runner up Cornwall as both counties had completed their fixtures at the Batts centre in Harlow with identical wins, loses and sets and a countback of game saw Devonshire emerge as champions in this most thrilling of divisions which saw Middlesex seconds also in the mix as they finished one point adrift.
The crucial three matches of this division all took place on the Sunday of this two day event and saw Middlesex seconds defeat title chasing Devon 6-4 in a match that saw Middlesex go 3-nil down before levelling at 4-all and taking the remaining two sets to record a 6-4 victory and stun Devon.
An earlier draw against Essex No 2 had harmed Middlesex and nothing less than a victory over Cornwall would boost their title aspirations but on this occasion it was Cornwall who emerged victorious as they emerged from 2-4 down to storm back and take the last four sets to record a 6-4 victory and thwart the title hopes of Middlesex.
The crucial match on the final day was between the top two and saw Devon win a thrilling match 7-3 with contributions coming from all five players as Rich Marshall and Vicky Smith both recorded unbeaten performances and with Mike Hugh, Toby Mattacott and Sally Smith all chipping in with one set apiece it was victory for Devonshire and with it abeit by the skin of their teeth a place in the Premier league next season.