18th OCTOBER 2008 - IW vs BERKSHIRE VI by John Prean
The Island Veterans Team (over 40 age group) play in Division 4C, and made a strong start against a disappointing Berkshire side. IW was represented by Julie Thorn, Don Hobbs, Lee Orton and Simon Underhay, all players who are very much amongst the best in Division 1. Harder matches lie ahead, but there are real hopes of promotion. The final score was 10-0.
(For the full scorecard click here)
22nd NOVEMBER 2008 - IW vs SOMERSET II by Ron Kemp
The Veterans Team continued their challenge for the Division 4C title with a well fought draw against stronger opposition. IW was again represented by Julie Thorn, Don Hobbs, Lee Orton and Simon Underhay. This was a very close match throughout, and the mixed doubles games became very important to the final result, as IW squeezed through the final XD game to make the score 5-5.
(For the full scorecard click here)
6th DECEMBER 2008 - IW vs WILTSHIRE IV by John Prean
The Island Veterans defeated Wiltshire 4 by 6-4 at the CPC Centre. The match was as close as the score suggests, the Island’s final superiority being the improved form of Julie Thorn, whose play her opposite number could not match. However, before the last match there remained all to play for as the Island led only 5-4. Don Hobbs and Julie won this decisive match to produce the 6-4 victory.
(Full scoreboard to follow)
7th FEBRUARY 2009 - IW vs SUSSEX IV by Ron Kemp
In an exciting display of table tennis, the Island Veterans beat the strong Sussex IV team by 9-1 at the CPC Centre. Sussex were previously league leaders, and this defeat will almost certainly put paid to their chances of promotion. But it will all hang on the final set of matches of this year’s campaign as to who will take the title.
The match was far closer than the score suggests, with 6 of the 10 games going to the final fifth set, but all IW players were in inspired form, and took all of the close matches to run away with the scoreline. Don Hobbs set the scene with an excellent win over Sussex No 1 Gary Bonner; then Lee Orton just hung on to beat Martin Kellaway 10 in the fifth to make the score 2-0. Roger Hookey continued the IW success with a comfortable win in 4 games against Steve Barby. The first mixed doubles game also went the way of IW, when Julie Thorn and Don won a close game in 4 sets. Don then beat Martin in three to make the match score 5-0 and at least a point for IW.
Julie then took centre stage against Christine Wicks, a very steady left handed counter hitter with short pimples on one side of her bat - always difficult to play against! Julie was 2-0 down, but pulled herself together with typically aggressive forehand kills to take the next three games and the match! The men’s doubles saw Roger and Lee win in three after a very tight first game to make the match score 7-0. Lee then inexplicably lost concentration when going down to Steve 3-0, before Roger put paid to any further success for Sussex by beating Gary 3-0. The final mixed doubles was another exciting game, and IW pulled themselves around from 1-2 down to take the game and match 9-1.
The final matches will be played during March, and IW still have an outside chance of the title!! The final game will be at the CPC, so watch for details of the date and come along and support your Veterans team!!
(For the full scoreboard click here)
VETERANS MATCHES 2008/09