Pulham extend lead after top clash

PULHAM extended their lead at the top of the Diss & District Table Tennis League's Leisure Sport Premier Division after beating second-placed Weybread Rejects 8-2 at home.

PULHAM extended their lead at the top of the Diss & District Table Tennis League's Leisure Sport Premier Division after beating second-placed Weybread Rejects 8-2 at home.

Steve Pendle continued his good form and kept his 100 per cent unbeaten record with another fine maximum.

James Skilleter pushed him the distance and was in with a chance at 8-8 in the fifth leg pushed two Pendle serves into net that allowed Pendle in to win 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8.

Skilleter took the two points for Rejects which included a fine win over Keith Hunt having been two legs down - 9-11, 2-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Hunt and Francis Webb won their other games although Webb was a little fortunate as he defeated Greg Collett in five legs after being 9-6 down in the fifth.

Shotguns A are in joint second with the Rejects but have played one match more. Recent results for them included a 9-1 win over Aslacton A and a 5-5 draw with Palgrave Terriers, although they did only have two players in the Palgrave match.

Peter Maybury unbeaten in both matches but was taken the distance by Aslacton's Dave Barnard before winning 4-11, 7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9. Aslacton A, also with two players, were beaten 7-3 by Roydon and found Alan Connelly and Nigel Manning too strong on the night.

In the Speedy Bat Sports first division Shotguns D have shot up to top spot after winning three matches - 10-0 over Shotguns F, 6-4 over Newton Flotman B and 7-3 over Shotguns E.

No real worries for the team against the F team, Pete Bowman took a maximum in the win over Flotman which included a rare defeat for John Williams 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 and Ken Bowman was undefeated against the E team. Ken beat Holly Fleming 9-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 in close battle but Fleming also went the distance against Pete Bowman and Marcus Hammond winning both games at 11-9 in the deciding leg.

Palgrave Stars are second who beat a two-man Aslacton B 6-4 with David Leeder unbeaten. Palgrave Tornadoes are third after dispatching Shotguns F 10-0. Adam Whitehouse nearly picked up a point for the F team before going down to Dennis Sore 3-11, 12-10, 11-6, 4-11, 8-11.

Thrandeston are fourth but lost to Botesdale Batters 7-3 where both Peter Evans and Nigel Bowen took maximums. Bowen played out a five leg game with Peter Buck eventually winning 9-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5 but the closest game of the night was between Kevin Smith and Evans where Evans won 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 13-15, 12-10.

Shotguns E beat fifth-placed Aslacton B who only fielded two players. Holly Fleming unbeaten but Nigel Barker and Barry Harbour beat Fleming and Paul Sturman 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9 in the doubles.

Diss Table Tennis youngsters won their first match after beating Newton Flotman B 7-3. John Williams was unbeaten for Flotman but Nathan Lamb, Jason Carroll and James Briddon all won their other games and the doubles.

Leisure Sport Premier Division: Roydon 7, Aslacton A 3; Pulham 8, Weybread Rejects 2; Palgrave Terriers 5, Shotguns A 5; Shotguns A 9, Aslacton A 1.

Speedy Bat Sports First Division: Shotguns D 6, Newton Flotman B 4; Shotguns D 10, Shotguns F 0; Shotguns E 7, Aslacton B 3; Newton Flotman B 3, Diss TT 7; Aslacton B 4, Palgrave Stars 6; Thrandeston 3, Botesdale Batters 7; Shotguns D 7, Shotguns E 3; Palgrave Tornadoes 10, Shotguns F 0.