by Tyrone Evelyn

A DEPLETED LEGENDS "A" inflicted the first defeat of the season on Diamonds International Henry's Lane "A" by trouncing them 4-1 in recent Division 3 action at the Table Tennis Centre, John Beckles Drive, Constitution Road, St Michael.

Despite having only a two-member team in Antonio Pilgrim and Ronald "Suki" King, Legends "A" still proved too much for Henry's Lane's trio of Albert Collymore Jnr, Megan Steinbok and Lisa Collymore.

King set Legends "A"
on their way with a
three-game (11-5, 11-9,
11-6) win over Albert Collymore Jnr.

The second game, pitting Legends captain Pilgrim against Steinbok, was one of the best, if not the best, of the evening.

Pilgrim fell behind 0-2 after losing the first two games at 9 and 12, but he bounced back in dramatic fashion to take the next three games 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 to win the set 3-2.

Lisa Collymore then won Henry's Lane's lone set, by the default route.

Legends "A" extended their lead to 3-1 when King and Pilgrim defeated Lisa Collymore and Steinbok in a thrilling five-game set, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9.

King, the world "Go As You Please" draughts champion, then wrapped up the match for his team by stopping Steinbok in four games, 11-4, 11-7,
9-11, 11-3.

Henry's Lane "B" fared much better than their colleagues, as they trounced Fast Loopers 4-0 to remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.

Nadia Payne rolled over Shaquille Branch in straight games 11-5, 11-6, 11-4; Roseanne Butcher dealt similarly with Jason Hoyte, who went under 11-0, 11-8, 11-9; Anthonette Riley won her set by default; while Payne and Butcher teamed up in the doubles and blew away Branch and Hoyte in straight games, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8.

Sharon "A" routed Sharon "B" 4-0. Rakim Hinds enjoyed a 11-1, 11-5, 11-3 win over Khadijah Jones; Michaela Batson was equally impressive in defeating Kayla Blackett 11-3, 11-2, 11-3; Nicholas Jackman then eased past Ramon Jackman 11-1, 11-5, 11-9; and in the doubles, Hinds and Dylan Herbert-Clarke defeated Ramon Jackman and Jermain Jackman
9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9.

In the other matches, Central Bank beat Kilowatt 4-3; Barbados Union of Teachers blanked Combined Schools 4-0; while Barbados Defence Force edged Legends "B" 4-3.