Ballymoney go into Pole position

Ballyclare League

WITH Ballymoney two points adrift at the top of the Premier league the visit to leaders Ballymena Academy legends was a must win match.

Ballymoney came out on top with an emphatic 8-2 success.

The legends were depleted with Pawet Sulkowski unavailable due to work commitments. In the first heavyweight clash it was Mark McGuiggan who overpowered Dawid Sulkowski by three sets to nil with each set won by the narrowest of margins.

John Fall followed up with victory over Ballymena Captain Wayne Charlton. These 2 wins set the scene and Brian Orr added 2 wins and Gary McClelland added another. Veteran Fall produced the game of the night against Dawid Sulkowski losing out 11-9 in the fifth set having trailed 5-0 and 8-3.

Meanwhile fortunes were not so good for the Premier team in the 1st round of the Knockout Cup. 280 points was the advantage that Knockagh B were allowed and it just proved to be a bridge to far for Orr, Fall and McClelland.

Indeed the Knockagh number one was able to take a set of each of the Ballymoney players when they were expected to win each game 11-4 to tie the match. They eventually lost out by 27 points.

In the same Knockout Cup it was Ballymoney 1608C from the fourth Division that travelled to Ballymena Academy and came away with the closest of wins by just three points. It all boiled down to the final game in the final doubles and David Peden and Thomas McCann held their nerve to come through to the delight of team mates Noel McCann and David McMichael.

Cardiff Grand Prix

Ulster had their most successful trip ever at a Grand Prix event with Non Playing Captain Brian Orr delighted with all the players competing.

Paul McCreery excelled to lift the Mens Open title beating Welsh number two Stephen Jenkins in the final. Paul also added the Band 1 singles and the U21 event to complete a brilliant treble.

Amanda Mogey from Carnmoney reached the final of the Ladies Singles losing out to Na Lui also an Ulster player in the final. Amanda accounted for Welsh number1, Naomi Owens, in the semi final by three sets to nil. This was a fantastic victory as Owens is a full time professional and also is ranked in the World. Amanda also won the Ladies Band 1 and the Restricted Singles.

Ashey Givan from Dungannon won the Ladies Band 2 and Band 3 events. Ashley is only 14 years old and has a great future in front of her.

Mark McGuiggan had a very successful run in the Men’s Singles reaching the last 16 taking out three quality players and running the number 4 seed Stephen Gertson very close in the process. Mark also reached the quarters of the U21 Men’s Singles and showed maturity in his play and a pleasing progression throughout the two days play. Mark has shown that he is now capable of bigger and better things and tournaments like this can only be good for the talented Raskarkin man.