The Bennett brothers starred for BATTS as they overcame Ormeau in a tense 4-3 victory. The Harlow-based club secured their first win of the Premier Division season in a tight game in Belfast.

Jack Bennett, Joshua Bennett and Shayan Siraj made up the travelling trio with Jack getting the first points on the board. He beat Zak Wilson in five back and forth games to lay down an early marker. Josh then made it 2-0 to BATTS as he beat James Skelton before the doubles.

Paul McCreery teamed up with Wilson to give the home side their fist point of the afternoon, beating Jack and Joshua in four. It seemed that match turned the momentum of the tie as McCreery then won his singles game against Shayan Siraj 3-2 before Wilson got his first singles win of the day. He beat Bennett in three to give Ormeau a 3-2 lead with two to play.

Jack Bennett and Paul McCreery traded points in a tense match that went all the way to the wire. They shared the first four games, 11-9 9-11 11-6 6-11, to send it to a deciding fifth. Bennett held his nerve and evened the fixture at 3-3.

The tie was decided as Siraj beat Skelton in four ensuring BATTS would take their first win of the season. Ormeau, who were unbeaten until just three weeks ago, have now lost out in two close games in recent weeks but remain second in the league.

In Saturday’s only other tie North Ayrshire (NATTC) reinvigorated their season with a comprehensive 6-1 win against Urban TTC.

Colin Dalgleish and Martin Johnson won both of their singles games and Chris Main picked up one win in the tie. NATTC were also dominant in the doubles as Dalgleish and Main won in three.

Alim Hirji was the only Urban TTC player to register a victory. He beat Main in four to ensure it was not a clean sweep for the Scottish outfit. Joseph Hunter and Mateusz Mikosz picked up single game wins but were unable to match the strength of the North Ayrshire trio.

The league returns in 2022 for a mouth-watering encounter between the remaining unbeaten sides in the league, Archway Peterborough and Ormesby. That game will be played on Sunday 23rd January.

Results

North Ayrshire 6 Urban TTC 1
Christopher Main bt Mateusz Mikosz 3-1 (11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8)
Colin Dalgleish bt Alim Hirji 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11)
Colin Dalgleish / Christopher Main bt 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-3)
Martin Johnson bt Joseph Hunter 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-2)
Alim Hirji bt Christopher Main 3-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6)
Martin Johnson bt Mateusz Mikosz 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 12-10)
Colin Dalgleish bt Joseph Hunter 3-1 (12-10, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5)
Ormeau 3 BATTS 4
Jack Bennett bt Zak Wilson 3-2 (2-11, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9)
Joshua Bennett bt James Skelton 3-1 (11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7)
Paul McCreery/Zak Wilson bt Jack Bennett / Joshua Bennett 3-1 (12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9)
Paul McCreery bt Shayan Siraj 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7)
Zak Wilson bt Josh Bennett 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-9)
Jack Bennett bt Paul McCreery 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-)
Shayan Siraj bt James Skelton 3-1 (11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5)