After their recent successes Colebridge Eagles were given a stark reality check at the recently refurbished Sutton Coldfield Table Tennis Club last night.
Division One of the Birmingham League is split into two halves , the top four teams chasing promotion , the bottom six teams looking to avoid relegation. Sutton B belong amongst the top quartet , Colebridge Eagles the latter.
Eagles were grounded after a 9-1 defeat , though the score line was the same as the last encounter between the two teams , the match was considerably closer. Four of the ten sets went the distance , but Colebridge could only record one win , Mahroof Hussains’ over John Ludford. Two of Martin Rounds three wins went the distance , a gruelling chopping battle with Mahroof , which in a previous era may well have gone to expedite , ended in an 11-8 victory to the unorthodox right hander. Mike Evetts battle with Round ended in similar fashion , 13-11 to Round in the fifth.By contrast , Purdip Shoker did not drop a set all night , and appears a strong favourite for the individual title , with the most consistent forehand loop in the division. Farooq Kakar will rue losing to John Ludford , as he was leading by 9-5 in the fourth set , only for Ludford to battle back and take the match 13-11 in the decider.
A convivial match though , which did not conclude until well after 11 o’clock. Colebridge club mates , The Dinosaurs , endured another defeat on Monday in their match with promotion chasing Streetly B , losing 8-2. Both Brian Morris and Dan Ranford defeated Terry Cooper , but these were the only wins for the Dinosaurs , and do nothing to ease their relegation plight.