The final round of fixtures in the 2022-23 SBL Premier Division were played at the weekend, and encapsulated the thrilling season that has just come to a close. Ormeau and Ormesby shared one of the games of the season, North Ayrshire were pushed to the brink by Urban TTC and it took a remarkable doubles comeback for Fusion to eventually overcome BATTS.

Ormeau, who moved beyond reach at the top of the table two weeks ago, were presented with the league trophy, but not before an enthralling and high-quality match against Ormesby. 

The north-east side have put pressure on Ormeau throughout the year, despite losing one of their top players, Sam Mabey, to injury in January. David McBeath, Benjamin Piggott and Thomas Rayner welcomed the title winners to Ormesby, but ensured it wasn’t just a coronation for the travelling Ormeau squad.

In the opening two ties McBeath beat Oriol Monzo and Damien Provost overcame Piggott to leave things level heading into the doubles. Matt Ware joined up with Zak Wilson for the visitors, but they were beaten 11-4, 11-2, 12-10 by McBeath and Piggott.

Ware quickly bounced back as he beat Rayner in three to once again level the tie at 2-2. McBeath’s only singles loss this season was against Damien Provost in February, and he exacted revenge on Saturday winning in four and leaving Ormesby on the edge of victory. 

With the fixture played across two tables, Oriol Monzo wrapped up a win against Rayner in three to ensure the winning team would be decided by the ongoing match between Piggott and Ware. At 2-0 it appeared Ware had done enough, but Piggott fought back to win in five, take three points for the home side and a second-place finish in the league. 

Alan Ransome, Ormesby Table Tennis Club Chairman said: “Congratulations to Ormeau on winning the title for the first time. They had a very good team in the league and deserved their success. 

“From a Senior British League Premier Division perspective this was the best match that I have been to since we restarted home and away a few years ago. The two sides were very evenly balanced. David McBeath was the star beating both of Ormeau’s main players, Damien Provost and Oriol Monzo, but the match climaxed in the final set. It was a great performance by Ben in the final match.

“The match was not just impressive because of the standard of play, but it was also attended by a reasonable quantity of spectators. Ormeau brought supporters with them, and the good play was appreciated by all present.

“Our first team did well to finish in second position in the Senior British League Premier Division despite our number two player, Sam Mabey being injured for the whole of the second half of the season and David McBeath being unavailable for two of the fixtures due to his commitments to British Para.”

North Ayrshire (NATTC) secured third position on Saturday, described as a “great achievement” by club founder Billy Main. They welcomed Urban TTC to Saltcoats for their final match, and it was yet another close affair for the Scottish side. 

NATTC started off with the impressive Martin Johnson on top form, taking an early 2-0 lead against Toby Ellis. Ellis was then on the brink of defeat but fought back from 10-7 down, saving three match points in the process, to win the third. Johnson came back to wrap up the match 3-1. 

His younger brother Jamie was making his home debut, starting against Alim Hirji. He fought back from two sets down, but Hirji was eventually too strong, winning in five. 

Johnson and Main were dominant in the doubles, beating Ellis and James Hamblett in three. They both then won their following singles ties in three, with Johnson betaing Hirji and Main overcoming Hamblett to ensure the home-side would pick up the three points. 

Urban’s Ellis and Hamblett got the travelling side back on the board, winning the final two ties to leave the final score at 4-3.

In the bottom half of the league BATTS travelled to Fusion, knowing that anything but victory would leave them at the bottom of the table. Shaquille Webb-Dixon, Lorestas Trumpauskas and Robert Pelc made up the home team. They faced Shayan Siraj, Josh Bennett and Adam Nutland. 

Scores were level at 1-1 heading into the doubles as Webb-Dixon and Bennett picked up early wins. 

Webb Dixon and Trumpauskas fought back from 2-0 down against Bennett and Nutland to win the doubles encounter and give the home side a 2-1 lead. Wins for Pelc and Webb Dixon took the game beyond BATTS and ensured they would finish the season above their opposition.

You can watch every match from the season again on TTE.TV. 

The inaugural Senior British League Premier Division Cup will take place on June 3-4. The draw has been completed and will see Ormeau start their bid for a league and cup double against Brighton. Find out more here.

Results

Ormesby 4 Ormeau 3

David McBeath (ORMS) bt Oriol Monzo (ORM) 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7)

Damien Provost (ORM) bt Benjamin Piggott (ORMS) 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-4)

David McBeath/Benjamin Piggott (ORMS) bt Matt Ware/Zak Wilson (ORM) 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 12-10)

Matt Ware (ORM) bt Thomas Rayner (ORMS) 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5)

David McBeath (ORMS) bt Damien Provost (ORM) 3-1 (11-5, 12-10, 2-11, 12-10)

Oriol Monzo (ORM) bt Thomas Rayner (ORMS) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-9)

 Benjamin Piggott (ORMS) bt Matt Ware (ORM) 3-2 (10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4)

North Ayrshire 4 Urban TTC 3

Martin Johnson (NAT) bt Toby Ellis (URB) 3-1 (11-8, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6)

Alim Hirji (URB) bt Jamie Johnson (NAT) 3-2 (16-14, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6)

Martin Johnson/Chris Main (NAT) bt Toby Ellis/James Hamblett (URB) 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-7)

Chris Main (NAT) bt  James Hamblett (URB) 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-3)

Martin Johnson (NAT) bt Alim Hirji (URB) 3-0 (16-14, 11-5, 11-8)

Toby Ellis (URB) bt Chris Main (NAT) 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 15-13)

James Hamblett (URB) bt Jamie Johnson (NAT) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-9)

Fusion 4 BATTS 3

Shaquille Webb Dixon (FUS) bt Shayan Siraj (BAT) 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5)

Josh Bennett (BAT) bt Lorestas Trumpauskas (FUS) 3-2 (11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-5)

Shaquille Webb Dixon/Lorestas Trumpauskas (FUS) bt Josh Bennett/Adam Nutland (BAT) 3-2 (8-11, 13-15, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7)

Robert Pelc (FUS) bt Adam Nutland (BAT) 3-2 (11-8, 4-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7)

Shaquille Webb Dixon (FUS) bt Josh Bennett (BAT) 3-1 (11-8,4-11, 11-9, 12-10)

Shayan Siraj (BAT) bt Robert Pelc (FUS) 3-1 (11-4, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5)

Adam Nutland (BAT) bt Lorestas Trumpauskas (FUS) 3-1 (2-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7)