In the Andover Table Tennis League the Advertiser Cup produced a very close match between two well handicapped sides that went to the final set. The final score was Pumas 4 Hanson Lions 5. Shaun Carver won two for Pumas with Zac Hine and Matt Carter winning two for Lions. The match score was 1-1 when Matt beat Shaun 20-21, 21-15, 14-21. Zac won his second set beating Danas Kairys 21-18, 18-21, 15-21, to give Lions a 3-1 advantage. Ray Carver reduced the deficit, then Shaun evened the score by defeating Manish Chitnis 21-16, 16-21, 21-17. Matt then made the score 4-3 beating Danas 21-16, 17-21, 17-21. Pumas fought back with Shaun taking his second win 20-21, 21-17, 21-16 against Zac so it went down to the last set when Manish, who had not won previously, surprisingly defeated Ray 20-21, 14-21 to give Lions the winning margin.

In Division 2 Hanson E beat Hanson F 7-3 with three apiece for Karl Jones and Jonny Macey. Emma Shepherd unfortunately lost all her sets which gave Pete and Luke Chatterway and Val Fox their first winning sets of the season. Luke has improved his game and was unfortunate to go down to Jonny in four close games.

The other match in this division saw 3D’s beat a two man Test Valley A team 9-1. Nicky Downs and Marie Dyke got maximums for 3D’s, but at least Oliver Raymond managed a 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11 win over Brian Dyke.

Division 1 leaders Pumas recorded a 2-8 away win over Hanson B. Richard Fettes notched up his usual three, ably assisted by two each from Ray and Shaun Carver. Trevor Whitelock won two for Hanson, but had to work hard to overcome Shaun in five games 11-8, 12-14, 11-4, 6-1, 11-3.

Figheldean went down 3-7 to Hanson A, with surprisingly nobody recording a maximum. The home side’s Phil Cook won two, as did Dan Geary, Josh White and Steve Rollason for Hanson. Both these teams were involved in subsequent matches. Figheldean were away to Hanson Lions and won 0-10, thanks to three each from Lionel Coles, Julie Dean and Phil Cook. Hanson A defeated Hanson D 10-0, with Dan Geary, Peter Henderson and Steve Rollason recording three each.