Thunder roll to the top

Among them, AS Thunder temorarily moved back to the top of fourth division with an excellent nine games to one victory over AS Nuggets.

Thunder reeled off the first five singles without losing a single set. Kyle Bonnes managed to stop the rout with a battling five set win over AS Thunder captain Jonny Wilson 12-10 in the fifth. However that was the Nuggets' sole victory.

Despite battling bravely they lost the next two singles with Ryan Herbison losing in four sets to Andrew Herbison 11-8, 7-11, 6-11 and 8-11, and George Graham losing in five sets to Jonny Moore 9-11' 11-8, 11-9, 7-11 and 9-11.

The two doubles went to the AS Thunder to keep them as the only threat to the Restaurant 1608's title aspirations with the sides meeting in Ballymoney on February 23. Man of the Match: Jonny Moore (AS Thunder]

AS Blaze 7, AS Nuggets 3: AS Blaze kept their faint hope of league silverware alive with a hard worked win over the improving AS Nuggets.

Dermot McElroy opened Blaze's account with a straight sets defeat of the talented David McCluggage. However Kyle Bonnes responded for the Nuggets defeating Rachel Johnston in four tight sets 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, and 11-8. An even tighter encounter saw the AS Nuggets take a two games to one lead with Ryan Herbison getting the better of Emma Johnston 11-9 in the fifth set.

Dermot McElroy squared the match with a fine straight sets victory over George Graham. AS Blaze's Rachel Johnston then recorded an excellent four sets win over David McCluggage and Emma Johnston mirrored her sister's victory defeating Ryan Herbison in four sets. Dermot McElroy and Rachel Johnston had two straight victories over Ryan Herbison and George Graham respectively before as Nuggets' David McCluggage defeated Emma Johnston in four sets to add some respectability to the score.

The doubles went to the AS Blaze duo of Dermot McElroy and Rachel Johnston to make the final score 7-3. Man of the match: Dermot McElroy (AS Blaze].

AS Tigers 6, AS Hawks 4: Fifth placed Tigers played host to the bottom side AS Hawks and in an extremely close encounter emerged winners by a 6:4 score line.

However it was the AS Hawks that soared into a three games to one lead with Chris Fullerton defeating Tigers' captain Darren Tweed 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 and Adam Greer 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 and Matthew Campbell defeating Michael McMullan 11-2, 11-4, 11-4. Only Stephen Witherspoon could record a victory for Tigers in the first four singles with a fighting 9 -11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 14-12 defeat of Jonah Gardner.

The poor start seemed to rouse the Tigers as they won the next five games. First Darren Tweed defeated Matthew Campbell 11-4, 11-7, 11-5, Michael McMullan defeated Jonah Gardner in a five set thriller 11-9 in the fifth, Stephen Witherspoon defeated Chris Fullerton in four tight sets and Adam Greer defeated Matthew Campbell in four sets. It was left to Tigers captain Darren Tweed to seal victory in the match with a straight sets victory over Jonah Gardner 11-6, 11-7, 11-8.

The doubles went to the AS Hawks duo of Fullerton and Campbell as they defeated Tweed and Greer in four sets. Man of the Match Stephen Witherspoon (AS Tigers)

AS Tigers 5, AS Blaze 5: Tigers put pay to AS Blaze's title aspirations when they eked out a hard fought draw.

Dermot McElroy recorded a fine straight sets win over AS Tiger's Darren Tweed. Michael McMullan drew the AS Tiger's level with an excellent straight sets defeat of Rachel Johnston. Emma Johnston defeated Stephen Witherspoon in a nail-biting contest edging to victory 12-10 in the fifth set.

Dermot McElroy defeated Adam Greer in straight sets to make it three games to one in favour of the AS Blaze. Rachel Johnston then lost out to Darren Tweed in another extremely close five setter 11-9 in the fifth. Emma Johnston managed to slip passed a battling Michael McMullan 13-11 in the fifth set and when Dermot McElroy defeated Stephen Witherspoon in straight sets it looked like the AS Blaze were about to notch up another victory.

Adam Greer had other ideas though as he fought back from to sets down to defeat Rachel Johnston 17-15 in the fifth set. This seemed to galvanise the AS Tigers' resolve as their Captain Darren Tweed recorded a fine four sets win over Emma Johnston 11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8.

The outcome of this enthralling match depended on the doubles and the AS Tiger's duo of Tweed and Greer pulled off a major shock as they defeated McElroy and Rachel Johnston in four sets 13-11, 11-7, 8-11 and 11 -8. Man of the Match: Dermot McElroy (AS Blaze]

KNOCKOUT CUP DRAWS

The Senior and Junior Knock-Out Cup draws took place last week. These are handicapped events with the Senior Cup comprised of teams from Division one and Division two. The Junior Cup is for teams from Divisions three and four.

In the Senior Cup AS Legends (0] were first out of the hat and have a plum home draw against the top ranked Ballyclare Methodist A (40] team who have a 40 point advantage.

AS Towers (320] also have a home draw against Ballyclare Methodist B (110] while AS Patriots (200] travel to the winners of the 120th Old Boys (300] and Carnmoney A (310] clash.

In the Junior Cup the AS Aztecs (70] have to play a preliminary match against Carnmoney B (100] with the winners at home to Ballyclare Methodist E (170]. AS Thunder (170] have a local derby against AS Nuggets (310] while AS Eagles (340] are at home to AS Wizards (190].

AS Jazz (100] are at home to Larne B (160] while AS Tigers (270] are at home to crack Ballymoney outfit Restaurant 1608 C (140]. AS Hawks [300] have a difficult away fixture to Ballyclare Methodist C [60] and on the same night AS Blaze [170] are away to Ballyclare Methodist D [50] team.

COACHING BOOST

The Academy Strongtower club was delighted to welcome Ballymena Councillor John Carson to the club.

The Councillor got a few table tennis tips from Ireland’s top lady table tennis player and Coach Amanda Mogey and was thrilled to see the numbers attending the club and impressed by the level of coaching.

“It is great to know that the small grant awarded by the Ballymena Borough Council has helped to make this coaching possible. I’m surprised to learn that there are a dozen or so teams from the Academy Strongtower club playing in the County Antrim League.

“Let’s hope that a few more clubs will be formed in a Borough which once boasted its own table tennis league and had some great international table tennis players - though I’m too young to remember their names!”

There are a further four weeks of coaching at the club. Coaching costs 2 per night to cover expenses.

TABLE QUIZ

The Academy Strongtower table Quiz is set for 20th February in Wellington Street Hall.

Members are asked to bring prizes for this event to the club and would encourage the families of club members to attend to help with much needed funding. Teams of up to six people are permitted in this fun fund raising event.

RANKING EVENT?

Academy Strongtower hopes to host the first Ulster ranking table tennis tournament to be held in Ballymena for over 30 years.

It is hoped that the event will take place on Saturday 10th April. Any local business interested in a sponsorship opportunity should contact club Secretary Norman McBride on 07879885683.