This weekend it was the turn of the last of the major British Clubs Leagues to get underway when women’s teams arrived from all around the British isles to compete in Wolverhampton. Cippenham Table Tennis Club sent two teams and both performed well in their divisions with two players, Rachael Iles and Antonina Bohach, the latter on debut, both unbeaten over their ten individual matches.

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The Cippenham first team, comprising the three players who represented the club in the Premier Division of the junior edition of the British Clubs League a few weeks ago, reigned supreme in Division 2 of the women’s league, winning all five matches and lead the table two points clear of nearest rivals Worthing. Mia Lakhani and Anna Piercey gave great support to the unbeaten Rachael, who won four of the five available player of the match awards, each winning seven of their ten matches.

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The opening match of the weekend, on Saturday morning, pitched Cippenham against Drumchapel Glasgow second team. Rachael had her toughest match of the weekend against Ruby Elliott who she defeated 13-11 in the fifth and deciding game as Cippenham romped to a 4-0 winning scoreline. Mia and Anna then both lost narrowly in the fifth games of their sets to make the final score 4-2. St Neots were next and suffered the same fate, beaten 4-2 although this time it fell to Mia to win the decisive set, 11-6 in the fifth against Lily Walters, who Anna had earlier beaten 3-0 to ensure Cippenham maximum points. Saturday concluded with a 6-0 romp against Joola Plymouth 2 with Anna awarded player of the match courtesy of two 3-0 victories, rich reward for her hard work with coach Ken Phillips over the past six months.

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Another day, but the same dominant performance as second-placed Worthing were put to the sword 5-1. The south coasters had only Sally Hughes’ victory over Mia to show for their efforts as Rachael and Anna both claimed a brace. The weekend was rounded off with another 5-1 win over Draycott 2 as Cippenham ran up a 5-0 scoreline before Anna lost the final set. Cippenham sit proudly atop Division 2 with a great chance in the new year, when the league recommences, to secure back-to-back titles and promotions.

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The Cippenham second team featured in Division 4 and sit in third place at the half-way stage of the season with six points to show from their five matches, two of which were won to go alongside two draws and a solitary defeat. New signing Antonina Bohach was supreme, winning all her ten matches  while Mary Heffernan and Julie Dean both won half of their matches and Jemma Walker, making a comeback to the national arena after several years away, won once. Antonina was awarded three player of the match awards while Mary was rewarded for her efforts in the final match.

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The weekend started well with a 4-2 victory over Drumchapel Glasgow 3. The two that eluded Cippenham were both Mary’s as Antonina and Julie won two each. Cippenham’s only loss of the weekend cam next when Rita Lopes inspired her Cleeve Park team to a 4-2 success, Cippenham’s scores coming, of course, from Antonina. The day produced all three possible results when the late afternoon match against Butterfly Lilleshall Lighting finished all-square 3-3. Mary's win over Clare Styles won the points when added to the inevitable two from Antonina.

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Sunday morning produced another draw against Greenhouse 2 but Cippenham could consider themselves to be on the unlucky side of this as their three wins were all 3-0 and fairly easy at that, while two of the three losses came about in the deciding games. The final match of the weekend brought Jemma’s first win and she was unlucky not to have made it two as she lost 12-10 in the fifth to Chloe Ireland who plays for Cippenham in the Maidenhead League. The final result was 5-1 over Halton 3 with two each from Antonina and player of the match Mary.