In a critical encounter, this week, in the Guildford Table Tennis League Fourth Division saw Woking B take a commanding lead, and probably the title, beating nearest rivals Cody B 7-3 . Cody were not helped in their cause by fielding a weakened side. Cody, with the Hammond cup already under their belt, had led the Division all season and looked set for the double but Woking have put in a strong finish, with Malcolm Hollett, Alex Bolychevsky and Igor Vypirailenko proving their worth in the long run home.
Division Three’s title hopefuls will go to the wire with five points covering the top four, but College Hill D are in pole position three points ahead of the chasing pack after a 7-3 win over Godalming J and what looks like an easier run in. Match of the week was a middle of the table affair between Ash B and Godalming K won by Ash 6-4, no less than six of the games went to five sets. Muhammad Talha, for Godalming, was involved in two of them and was unbeaten on the night.
Ash A showed their class in a 9-1 beating of Bramley A and have almost clinched the Division One title .However the scorecard indicated a much closer match than the score suggests. Merrow E appear to have confirmed second place in this Division.
‘It’s all over bar the shouting’ in Division Two with Godalming E now a racing certainty with Woking A and Godalming G contesting runners up spot.
The Premier Division with the title already sewn up by Godalming saw Merrow, still with an outside chance of second spot, take on Godalming B in a feast of great’ Ping’ typical of the standards expected from one of the finest leagues in the Country. Merrow edged it 6-4. A feature was a great win by Robin Honey over John Robinson at deuce in the fifth denying him a maximum.