A good week at the office for Ballymena D

County Antrim Division 2

Ballymena D had two tough away matches to play this week to recover from the postponed matches in January caused by the bad weather.

Two victories were a must to keep alive their division 2 title aspirations.

First Ballymena B travelled on Wednesday to Greenisland to face a revitalised Knockagh B – a difficult venue due to the cramped facilities.

Isaias Montilla took the first match against Knockagh captain Colin Clements 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4. Michael Witherspoon emerged victorious in a real tough for game battle with Knockagh ’s ever improving Mark Davies.

Hugh Greer put on a super performance to defeat Ballymena stalwart David Witherspoon 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8. This spurred on Knockagh B as the next two matches went their way with the flamboyant attacking style of Keith Mooney proving too much on this occasion for Michael Witherspoon and in what was the match of the night Clements edging past David Witherspoon 11-8 in the deciding game.

Montilla however stopped the slide with a very narrow straight games win over Davies. At the match tied 3 all it was all to play for and David Witherspoon managed to better Keith Mooney in four games 11-7, 14-12, 5-11, 11-8. Montilla played his usual attacking game against Hugh Greer to emerge victor over the vastly improved Hugh Greer 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6.

Captain Michael Witherspoon secured the points for Ballymena C with a comfortable 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 over Clements with his wonderful backhand smash doing the damage. The Knockagh pairing of Davies and Greer took the doubles to make the final score 6-4 in favour of Ballymena D. Man of the Match: Isaias Montilla

Knockagh B 4 Ballymena D 6

Fresh from their victory the previous night, Ballymena C travelled to Ballymoney to play the derby match against Osmond C who had faltered in the last few weeks but were sure to pose a tough opponent due to the local rivalry.

Montilla got the visitors off to a positive start defeating Gary Dempsey 11-6,11-5,11-6. Ruth McGilligan – who plays for Ballymena in the Belfast league put on a real battling performance for Osmond only to lose out to Ballymena D captain Michael Witherspoon 7-11 in the fifth and deciding game.

Ruth’s kid brother Neil McCracken had a ding dong battle with David Witherspoon and this time it was the Osmond player who won in the deciding game 11-7. Michael Witherspoon once again emerged a 3-2 winner for Ballymena this team defeating Osmond captain Dempsey. David Witherspoon beat McGilligan 3-1 and Isaias beat McCraken 3-0 to put Ballymena D th the driving seat. Dempsey beat David Witherspoon over four games to earn Osmond C a reprieve.

But it was short lived as Montilla and Michael Witherspoon beat McGilligan and McCraken in straight games to secure victory. The doubles went to Osmond C to make the final score Osmond C 3 Ballymena D 7.

Man of the Match - Michael Witherspoon.

Osmond C 3 Ballymena D 7.

County Antrim Division 3

Ballymena F continue to keep the heat on Osmond E in the Division 3 title race with an excellent win over Larne B.

Stephen Larkin, new bat in hand, got Ballymena off to the best possible start against Matt Agnew winning 11-2, 11-4, 11-8. Ballymena’s captain Mike Morarran doubled the advantage beating Lee Richard over four tight games.

Martin McQuillan then found some scintillating attacking form to win three straight against Rachelle White. Lee Semple put Larne on the board beating George Damian 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10.

Captain Morarran had a real tussle with the excellent Agnew winning 11-6 in the deciding game. Larkin continued his imperious form with a three straight win over Kee Richmond 11-4, 11-5, 11-5.

George Damien then secured victory beating Rachelle White in straight games. Lee Semple notched up his and Larne’s second win of the night beating McQuillan in four games.

However, Ballymena finished in style by winning both doubles to claim a 8-2 victory.

Man of the Match: Stephen Larkin