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Season Preview
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 12:34 — jpsnelson
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The Guildford Table Tennis Association reaches a major landmark this coming season. It is 75 years old and to mark the event there will be a series of different activities. The first one is an Open Day at Christ’s College on Saturday 14th November from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm when the general public will be invited to have a ‘go’. There will be representatives of clubs present to give information about the geographical spread of the league. In the spring there will be a dinner on 20th March and any players current or retired or would like to attend should contact the league’s Chairman, John Callcut. All details of events will be on the league’s website, www.gttl.co.uk
Meanwhile the action starts next week and it is different looking top flight. Two teams who had an entitlement to being in the top flight have either disbanded or not taken up the opportunity. This leaves the bottom end of the table a little weaker but there is no change to the strength at the top. Burymead B will be defending the title yet again but Godalming A is sure to put in a concerted effort to wrest the title away. There will the usual challenges from Merrow A and B plus Burymead A and possibly Challoner A but I think the title will be between Burymead B and Godalming A. My tip, for what it is worth, is Godalming A. The other teams I have mentioned will probably comprise the rest of the top half of the table. In the middle will probably be Broadmoor, Merrow C and Merrow D. This leaves Godalming B, Challoner B and Ash A in my anticipated relegation dogfight. My prediction is Ash A and Challoner B to fill the bottom two places.
The standard in the First Division is definitely lower than last season and this has opened the gate to quite a few teams. Both the Merrow sides have some strength but are they going to be consistent enough to take the title. This could be the year that Aftermath A breaks back into the big time and Woking A, Bramley A, Burymead C and College Hill A will certainly be competitive. Then there is the team that ran away with Division Two last season, Godalming C. Eight teams mentioned so far and any could take the title. What of the rest. College Hill B is a bit of an unknown quantity but Aftermath B, Cody A and Challoner C (as E) were around the bottom of the table last season. Putting my head on the block I will go for Merrow E and Aftermath A to get into the promotion slots and Aftermath B and Challoner C to be in the relegation positions.
Division Two looks a little over loaded with Bramley teams but this is due to the fact that the two Pegasus teams in the division have now relocated to Bramley. The strong teams in this division look to be Godalming D and Woking B. Both include new players to this level but they look the strongest on paper. The rest of the top half will probably include two Bramley teams and Merrow G. Sitting in the middle I predict will be Burymead D with Allianz and Bramley E. This gives a bottom three, according to me, of Ash B, Aftermath C and Merrow H. I think that Ash B and Merrow H will drop down.
It becomes even harder down the divisions as there are so many changes of personnel. Last season Division Three was the most exciting division with the outcome of promotion literally being decided in the last set. Again I see a tight top of the table with four teams likely to be involved. Cranleigh A and Challoner D were in the mix last season and will be again this. Aftermath D, dropping from the Second, and new boys College Hill C are my other tips. I will go for the proven Cranleigh A and Challoner D. Not far behind, in the middle of the table I predict both Godalming sides and the promoted Merrow J. This leaves four teams battling to avoid the drop, Abinger, Cody B, Aftermath E and Ash C. With me leaving Ash C they are now stronger so they should be OK and Aftermath E will have gained from the experience of last season so my tips for relegation are Cody B and Abinger.
The Fourth Division is Bramley E’s to lose. With the nucleus of the team relegated from the third division plus added strength I would not be surprised if they went the season unbeaten. One of the Godalming teams will have to come into the reckoning but time will tell which one. Both the Woking sides have experience in their ranks but I think they will just miss out. Most of the rest of the division comprises teams consisting of players who are playing to keep relatively fit with no aspirations of a higher standard and youngsters who are just developing their game. Which is as it should be.
Dave Brown