NEWLY-PROMOTED Wey Valley kicked off their Weymouth & District League Division Two season with a narrow 21-15 defeat to Preston C.

Ethan Bingham continued his good form as top of the averages from Division Three last year by picking up nine points but the Preston team proved too strong to ultimately win a close match for whom Roger Winstanley (7) top scored.

There was a dominant 29-7 victory for Budmouth B in the match against school rivals All Saints A.

All the Budmouth players scored a maximum nine points but Ollie James (3) for All Saints provided stiff opposition losing to George Ackerley in three legs which all went to deuce and went down 14-12 in the fifth leg to Sam Melhuish.

The fast improving Sophie Storey was the pick of the Budmouth players dropping only one leg in an otherwise faultless display.

The All Saints boys gained a small consolation in the doubles shading it 12-10 in the fifth leg.

Preston A started their season with a very 19-18 victory over Springfield C.

A 3-2 win for Derrick Shilliday (1) and Derrick Smith (7) in the doubles over Sue Moloney (7) and Pete Anderson (6) secured the win.

Wyke A opened their account with a 23-18 victory over Shipton Gorge C but it was Dan Corren who was the player of the night in securing a maximum.

Preston A and Wey Valley’s second matches saw them play each other with the former running out 26-10 winners.

Preston’s Derrick Smith scored a maximum with Ethan Bingham scoring eight for Wey Valley.

All Saints A got a win on the board in beating Colliton C 22-14.

Both Andy Millar and Richard Lane scored maximums for the victors.

Preston C were soon brought down with a bump in their second match in losing 30-7 to Wyke A.

Steve Rockett (3) and Roger Winstanley (3) both took Stuart Walden (9) to five sets and Rockett even had a two-set lead before succumbing 12-10 in the decider.

The opening match in Division Three was a close one from beginning to end between two new teams starting their table tennis journey. 

Young Ollie Storey of Budmouth D produced a maximum in his debut match but he was pushed all the way by Tom Hepburn (8) in the match of the night. 

Ben Chen (7) also enjoyed a good debut for All Saints B and with Nina and Alfie Moggeridge for Budmouth and Nathan Bushell for All Saints scoring three each the match was in the balance with the doubles to play. 

Storey’s brave attacking play then helped Budmouth D to a close 3-0 win so ensuring that the overall match score was 18-each.

Budmouth C consisted of the Browne sisters only and they narrowly lost 20-15 to Wyke B. 

Ashleigh won two matches and Jaimee one against a full strength Wyke team, which included Roy Sharp, who lost just one set for his two wins. 

Preston D got off to a winning start in beating Springfield D 20-14. 

The victor’s Stan Smith top scored with a full nine points.

Mike Wood scored a very good eight points for Springfield. 

Springfield soon made up for that defeat in sneaking a close 18-16 win over Colliton D. 

This was the first league match for the Colliton boys and what a performance they gave. 

The match of the night was probably the first which Daniel Scotchmer (6) just edged 12-10 in the fifth, past the wily, experienced Ken Winship (6). 

Monique Chester almost recorded her first victory against Louis Stoker (4) but he was just too quick for her. 

Going into the doubles, Colliton were 16-15 up but the highly experienced Winship/David Moth partnership turned the match with a convincing 3-0 triumph to give Springfield a narrow victory. 

Despite only having two players, Colliton A inflicted an 18-15 defeat on All Saints B. Andrew Pearce won all three of his matches and Hugh Lawes two before also winning the doubles 3-0. 

A Mark Gugan maximum helped Colliton B defeat Preston D 24-14. 

Stan Smith top scored for Preston with eight.

Full fixtures, results and averages are available at ttleague.co.uk/default.aspx