ARIMA HAWKS suffered their second setback in as many days in the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association (T&TTTA) 2nd Division League when they were held to a 3-3 draw by Solo Crusaders “A”, at the Arima West Government Primary School, on Tuesday night.

On Monday, at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in St Augustine, Hawks and UWI battled to a 3-3 draw. While the Arimians would have been disappointed with the result, the two points earned took them to 23 points, the same as D’Abadie Youths. D’Abadie retained the top spot on the team standings, thanks to a superior set difference.

On Tuesday, though, the Hawks claimed the lead, the two points from their draw with Crusaders “A” carrying them to 25 points. But while Hawks have completed their 10-match first round schedule, D’Abadie have only played eight times and are tipped to be back in front at the end of the opening round.

The Hawks were favourites in Tuesday’s showdown with Crusaders “A”. But the Diego Martin-based outfit produced a spirited performance, taking a 3-1 lead in the fixture before the home team clawed back to secure the draw.

Rawle Parsons gave Hawks a winning start, battling past veteran chopper Merle Baggoo 11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 12-10. Crusaders “A” drew level, thanks to Catherine Spicer’s 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9 triumph over Brittany Joseph. Kwame Laurence then outlasted Wayne Oudit 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9 to send the visitors ahead.

Spicer and Laurence combined for a 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9 doubles victory over Parsons and Linda Partap-Boodhan, the result earning Crusaders “A” an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

Partap-Boodhan got past Billy Guo in straight games, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, to keep Hawks in the contest. And in the clash of national women’s singles champions, 14-year-old Joseph, the 2012 champ, got the better of Baggoo, the 1963 winner, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.

On Monday, Ronald Williams was the hero for UWI, beating Parsons 7-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, and Oudit 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5. The other win for UWI in their hard-earned draw with Hawks came in the doubles, Agib Harford and Vidal Sarwan upsetting Parsons and Partap-Boodhan 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9.

Oudit, Kerron Ali and Partap-Boodhan were in winners’ row for Hawks. Oudit whipped Sarwan 11-4, 11-5, 11-6, Ali stopped Harford at 9, 8 and 7, and Partap-Boodhan defeated Tishaun Mathews 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4.

Crusaders “B” kept their title hopes alive with a 4-2 triumph over Carenage Blasters, at the Himalaya Club in Barataria, on Tuesday.

For Crusaders “B”, Imtiaz Mohammed beat Nigel Morgan 11-4, 11-7, 11-5, Vinoo Maraj cruised past Donald Humphrey at 5, 9 and 5, Wayne Lemessey battled past Morgan 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, and in the doubles, the Mohammed/Riad Abasali combination got the better of Rakellon Pierre and Khadeem Moore 11-9, 13-11, 11-6.

For Blasters, Pierre battled from behind to beat Lemessey 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8, and Moore edged Abasali 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10.

On Monday, University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) completed their first round schedule in style, Lawrence Ince winning twice to steer his team to a 4-2 victory over hosts, Montrose United.

Ince trounced Musa Mohammed at 4, 4 and 4, and defeated Isa Mohammed 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5. Aleena Edwards also had the winning touch for UTT. She got the better of Saleem Mohammed 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5, and teamed up with Davone Joseph for an 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 doubles triumph over Saleem Mohammed and Sharaz Ali.

For Montrose, Isa Mohammed beat Joseph 11-4, 16-14, 11-6, and Ali stopped Siddiq Ramsingh at 4, 6 and 5.

The league continued late yesterday, in Montrose, with a showdown between the home team and Blasters.

Today, Montrose face Crusaders “B” at seven p.m. at the Himalaya Club in Barataria. At 8.30, Crusaders “B” tackle D’Abadie at the same venue. And at the Central Diego Martin Community Centre, in Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, Crusaders “A” square off against Blasters, also at 8.30.

2nd Division standings

P W D L SW SL SD Pts
Arima Hawks 10 6 3 1 35 17 18 25
D’Abadie Youths 8 7 1 0 31 8 23 23
UTT 10 5 2 3 30 26 4 22
Crusaders “B” 7 6 0 1 25 12 13 19
Montrose United 8 3 3 2 24 19 5 17
Crusaders “A” 9 2 4 3 23 24 -1 17
Carenage Blasters 7 2 1 4 16 23 -7 12
UWI 7 1 3 3 16 23 -7 12
Under 18 Boys “B” 7 0 1 6 8 27 -19 8
Under 15 Boys 5 0 2 3 9 18 -9 7
Under 15 Girls 6 0 0 6 4 24 -20 6