Students move to top of league after table tennis nail-biter

IN a titanic clash, decided by the last doubles game of the tie, NMMU A move to the top of the Nelson Mandela Bay table tennis premier league with a narrow 6-5 win over top seeds Aryan A this week.

The penultimate match saw an exciting pattern of topspin play as Rajesh Bhana (Aryan A) came from behind in the third game to beat Dipal Bhana, who now plays for NMMU A, 6-11 13-11 11-9.

With the final doubles game to be played, the sides were deadlocked at 5-5.

NMMU A captain Thembelani Magodla decided to use new recruit Pranev Naidu with Dipal Bhana to take on Aryan veterans Thiagasen Pather and Rajesh Bhana.

Bhana and Naidu, by attacking and defending well, ousted the Aryan pair 11-7 13-11.

Newcomers Ivan Peter had a testing night against a formidable Aryan B side. However, this was a replica of the Aryan A-NMMU game, with the scoreline level at 5-5 going into the last doubles match.

Monde Cola (Ivan Peter) was in fine form, winning all his matches and securing the last doubles with Nceba Ngcingwane, edging out Shahied Mamoojee and Shahied Abrahams 13-11 8-11 11-6.

Callies A captain Robert Kuscus beat Milly Navsaria 13-15 11-8 11-3. He helped his team to a 7-4 win.

In the first league, Sureshan Norman (Callies B) won all his matches against Despatch as they triumphed 7-4.

NMMU C proved too strong for NMMU E, winning 10-1, with Prishen Ryan and Ameer Choonara the star players.

Aryan C had an easy 11-0 win over Livvie Alumi B.

In the last match of the night, NMMU D had a comfortable win over Livvie Alumi A 11-0, with Wayne Burton, Hishaan Bhana and Ipfi Munakisi all showing good form.