Warwickshire just miss table tennis promotion again despite fine county weekend

Nov 25 2009 by Bob Brown, Birmingham Mail

THE Warwickshire first team just missed out on promotion again despite winning six of their seven matches at the county weekend in Leamington.

Ian Ferguson, Adrian Pilgrim and Alan Hewitt had fine averages while Rachel Pilgrim and Helen Turner played their part.

The highlight for Warwicks was the 6-4 success over arch rivals Worcestershire, with Ferguson gaining crucial wins over Sasha Grokhotov and Davis Rogers, while the other members of the team won a singles in a fine team effort.

Smiths Wood B gained a 6-4 success over Smithereens A in the Premier Division of the Birmingham League despite a quality hat-trick by James Liddiard, who beat Helen Turner, Jack Styring and Tony Carter.

Leaders Hamstead A outplayed Beaufort Sports A in a 10-0 mauling.

West Midlands Police A drew 5-5 with Smiths Wood C, Leigh Bradford nabbing a maximum for Police.

Smiths Wood A retained title hopes with a 9-1 hammering of strugglers Sutton A.

Lee Holtham kept up his fine form for Colebridge Chiefs in Division One, although his side lost 6-4 to Sutton B.

Bhavesh Amlani gained his usual treble for Bournville A who were also beaten 6-4 at home by high-flying Streetly B.

Beaufort Sports B were indebted to Rob Sheldon’s maximum in a 6-4 victory at Quinborne A.

In Division Two Colebridge Giants had a stunning 8-2 victory over Smiths Wood D.

Mike Evetts and Frank Cotter were maximum men.