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TABLE TENNIS
All the
up-to-date news from Boston Table Tennis League scene
by Mick Williams
Index
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March 2007 |
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Click here for: Results round-up 2006-2007 season |
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News for week ending Sunday March 25 It was a bad week for Lodgers B. Events saw them slip
from fifth to eighth in the Yates and Greenhough Division One table. And
with only one match remaining (and this against prospective runners-up Graves
Park C) their survival in this division looks to be in grave doubt. However, the fall of three places was not all of Lodgers’
own doing. While losing 2-8 to their G team is not a great result, it could
have been worse. What really penalised them was that the three teams who were
directly below them all had reasonable results — Lodgers A beating Wrangle A
8-2, Graves Park A also beating Wrangle 9-1, while Stickney A (despite
losing), picked up three points at Penmaen A, who for some reason could only
field two players. The G team very quickly took control, Mark Hulme
beating Vic Clements in four legs while Kelvin Clements brushed aside Tim Day
11-1, 11-8, 11-1. Pete Evans pulled one back for the B team when beating Andy
Kirk who just lately has been playing well, while Hulme added to the score
with a narrow victory over Day. Kirk, after his first game defeat, got his
name on the board by beating Vic Clements, though not without some anxiety.
He lost the first set 4-11 but gradually got his game together to scrape the
next three 11-9, 11-6, 11-8. Kelvin Clements made short work of Evans, while
Kirk added to the G total beating Day in three straight. Evans gained a late
consolation for the B but Kelvin Clements wrapped up the singles beating his
father, Vic, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10. The doubles saw both teams put out
virtually untried partnerships, the B of Day and Evans doing rather well in
the first leg taking the game to Clements and Hulme only to go down 15-17.
The G though weathered the storm to win the next two quite comfortably to
guide their team to an 8-2 victory and still give them an outside chance for
third place Lodgers A, who have been at the wrong end of the
table all season, had their best result of the campaign so far beating
already doomed Wrangle 8-2 and this result will ensure their first division
status. Lodgers again turned to Graham Lacey to rescue them, Graham cruising
through his match winning in three straight and although both Dennis Pattrick
and Sam Cooper ran him fairly close, the result was never in doubt. Ian
Stones who had a better night and Trev Blackbourn, chipped in with two
apiece, both of them beating Dave Coulson who had a strangely quiet
night, failing to win a game. Coopers two wins was all Wrangle had to
show for their efforts and the doubles were no better either, Lacey and
Blackbourn muddling through for an 8-2 win. Stickney A are still in the relegation mix but
look as though they may pull through. They visited Penmaen and were pleasantly
surprised to find out that their opponents only had two players. Still
with Brian Hill in the team, Penmaen were never in any bother and with Brett
Heppenstall winning his singles in straight legs, consolidating his no.3
ranking position, who needs three players? The doubles was perhaps the
closest game of the night, Andrew Benjamin and Paul Hartnett despite going
down in three straight, two of the sets could hardly have been closer,
the Penmaen pair edging home 11-9, 11-7, 12-10. Shodfriars A, who last week shook off the
shackles of relegation, travelled to league champions Penmaen and with
only two players went down 0-10. This time Penmaen were at full
strength, all seven games being over in straight sets, the strong Penmaen
outfit sweeping aside the depleted Shoddy’s team. Graves Park A eased their relegation worries in
spectacular style with a 9-1 demolition of Wrangle, who are now just playing
out time. Rob Smith was in impressive form winning his singles, beating
Sam Cooper and Dennis Pattrick in three and despite dropping a set to Dave
Coulson, the result was never in doubt. Phil Brooks chipped in with
three for only the second time this season, being taken to four by
Coulson and Pattrick and five by Cooper, the latter being a game that swung
both ways and was in doubt right to the end. Nick Langley had to be content
with two, dropping his first game of the evening to Coulson, giving Wrangle
their solitary point and saving then from the humiliation of a whitewash. In the A D Dickinson Division Two,
Shodfriars C played two matches in four days and although winning both 7-3,
the best they can hope for is sixth place, the top five places being occupied
by teams from the Graves Park stable. Their match against Stickney B, saw Shoddy’s get
away to a flyer building up a 4-0 lead, Chris Cooke narrowly beating Cliff
“Dynamo” Davey, while Dave Hocking added to the score with a tight win over
Tim Sampson. Paul Maxwell pulled off a great win in a five set epic against
Tony Hall and after a first set hiccup, Hocking made the score 4-0 beating
the unlucky Davey 5-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6. Then came the Stickney
revival and in the game of the night Hall, using all his experience and skill
just got the better of Cooke, Tony nicking the vital fifth set 13-11.
Sampson kept the ball rolling with a four set win over Maxwell and Hall put
Stickney back in with a shout with a three set victory over Hocking. Maxwell
halted the Stickney revival in its tracks with a 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 win
over Davey while Cooke wrapped up the singles with a four set win over a
disappointing Sampson. The doubles was a long an arduous affair, Cooke and
Hocking losing the first two but with great resolve, fought back taking the
next three giving Shoddy’s a 7-3 victory. For their second match of the week Shoddy’s
travelled to Kirton to take on fourth placed Graves Park F. Although getting
off to a good start Chris Cooke beating Alan Davey, the Park immediately drew
level, Fred Calvert beating John Shortland 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8. Paul
Maxwell gave Shoddy’s the lead, narrowly beating Kit Calvert and with
Cooke beating Fred Calvert 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 Shoddy’s looked in
control. Davy broke the mini-run with a good win over Maxwell but Shoddy’s
immediately hit back, Shortland disposing of Kit Calvert in three. The Park
reduced the deficit, Fred Calvert looking sharp beating Maxwell in three
straight but it was all to no avail, Cooke making short work of Kit Calvert,
while Shortland strode to a excellent, albeit narrow win over Davey. With
the doubles remaining, only pride was at stake but Maxwell and Cooke
started off well beating the Park pair of Davey and Fred Calvert 11-5. The
Park lads picked themselves up and bounced back to take the lead winning the
next two 11-9, 11-7 but the Shoddy’s lads to their credit picked up their
game winning the last two 11-8, 11-5 to guide their team to a great victory.
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News for week ending Sunday March 18 This was probably the defining week of the season in the
Yates and Greenhough Division One, with three of the top four being in
action including third place Shodfriars B taking on fourth placed Lodgers G.
Shoddy’s got away to a bright start through No.2 ranked Alan Ashberry who,
despite dropping a set to Andy Kirk, eased home 11-2, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4. But
this was immediately cancelled out when Kelvin Clements beat Roger Hooton in
three straight legs. Shoddy’s took the next one to regain the lead,
Scott Sykes beating Mark Hulme. And with Ashberry making short work of No.6
ranked Clements, Shoddy’s looked in control. Despite Kirk reducing the
arrears when narrowly beating Sykes, Hooton maintained the Shoddy’s lead with
a four-set win over Hulme. Lodgers were playing “catch up” but were running
out of games, Clements picking up his second of the night with an 11-6, 11-7,
11-6 victory over Sykes. This was to no avail as Ashberry immediately
increased the gap when beating Hulme in three straight sets. But Kirk, who
was having a good night, reduced the deficit when beating Hooton. Despite
losing the first leg 11-13, Andy turned the wick up in the next three winning
11-4, 11-9, 11-8 making the result reliant upon the doubles. As expected this
was the closest game of the evening, the Lodgers pairing of Kirk and Clements
looking to be on the verge of defeat, losing the first two ends 10-12, 5-11.
However, a transformation took place, the Lodgers pairing picking up the next
two, balancing the result on a knife edge. The final end was very tense but
the steadiness of Hooton and Ashberry paid off, giving them 11-9 victory,
guiding Shoddy’s to one of their now famous 6-4 victories. A few nights later Shoddy’s again took to the road,
visiting second placed Graves Park C, knowing that defeat here would
virtually cost them runners-up spot. Much to Shoddy’s dismay, the Park got
away to a flyer, Mick East beating Scott Sykes in a close five-ender, while
James Quinton scraped home against Roger Hooton in an equally close
encounter. Alan Ashberry, who arrived late, quickly reduced the deficit to
one, beating Martin Walters, while Sykes put Shoddy’s back in the frame,
comfortably overcoming Quinton without too much trouble. Shoddy’s burst
through to take the lead when No.2 ranked Ashberry beat East in four legs.
But this was abruptly halted, Walters edging to an 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11,
11-4 victory over Hooton. Ashberry completed his hat-trick with a
comprehensive straight legs win over Quinton. But the Park fought back,
Walters putting them on level terms, beating Sykes in yet another
five-setter. With the game finely balanced, East came on to take on Hooton
and although Roger battled valiantly taking the third end, he lost the fourth
to go down 8-11. However, there was still all to play for, both teams
requiring the doubles for differing reasons, East and Walters after a
stuttering start, coming good to win 11-5, 11-13, 3-11, 11-8, 11-9 giving the
Park a 6-4 win. Another 6-4 scoreline, but this time against Shoddy’s, a
result they didn’t really need. While nothing is certain yet, this almost ensures
that the Park will now snatch second place and leave Shoddy’s scrapping with
Lodgers G for third place. Shodfriars A look to have done enough to ensure their
place in Division One next season and despite losing 3-7 to Lodgers A (did
Lodgers need this one?). They beat fellow strugglers Graves Park A 6-4. Lodgers,
when they have Graham Lacey playing look a top five team, but when he is not
— oh dear!. This match was one game he (Graham) had to play, winning
his singles, narrowly beating No.5 ranked Jake the Pegg 8-11, 11-8, 11-9,
7-11, 11-9. Graham does not feature in the rankings, due to not playing
the required number of games. He (Graham) then went on to beat Neil
Snaith and Maurice Buck, giving Lodgers a good launch platform. In between
these games Trev Blackbourn and Ian Stones had differing results, Blackbourn
playing possibly some of his best table tennis all season,
beating Snaith and Buck but having to concede the game against Jake
because of a calf injury. Stones, by contrast, had a poor night when
losing to both Snaith and Pegg, Jake taking him apart winning 11-6, 11-7,
11-6. His one bright spot came against Buck in which he
struggled, not stamping his authority on the game until the fifth end
that he handsomely won 11-5. Stones gained some reward for his poor singles
performance, combining with Lacey to ease home in the doubles beating Jake
and Snaith 11-7, 11-7 11-8. A few nights later Shoddy’s met Graves Park A, again
both team needing victory to fight off relegation. Both teams can take some
satisfaction from the result (6-4 to Shoddy’s) because it is now almost
certain that it has saved both of them from relegation. Shoddy’s were quick
off the mark, Jake the Pegg beating Rob Smith in straight legs, while Neil
Snaith beat N Angley (not a spelling mistake on my part but I think they
meant Nick Langley). Phil Brooks pulled one back for the Park, beating Buck
in four but Shoddy’s kept their noses in front, Snaith comfortably beating
Smith, while Jake kept them in the driving seat with a easy win over
Brooks. Suddenly the Park hit a purple patch, Langley beating Buck, while
Brooks did something his team-mates couldn’t — beat Snaith, while Smith
put the Park on level terms, beating the out of luck Buck. However, it could
not last. Pegg restored Shoddy’s dominance by beating Langley and then combining with Snaith to narrowly beat
Brooks and Smith in the doubles for a 6-4 victory. The A D Dickinson Division Two has been finalised
and it now certain that Graves Park B will be champions with Graves Park
Nomads as runners-up. Park B crowned their championship win in some style
beating club-mates Park E 8-2. Once again the Park could only field two
players (no Emma Watson) and it seems that Paul Gilbert and Mick Dodes
will play out the season. Despite Park E having only two players, Park B
always looked to be in control, Mike Freeston having no trouble with Paul
Gilbert, while Mick Maltby took Mick Dodes to the cleaners. Gilbert got the E
team on the board when beating Dave Graham. But the B bandwagon rolled on,
Freeston having no trouble with Dodes, Maltby beating Gilbert, while Graham
got his name on the board with a four set win over Dodes. The doubles (which
should have been straightforward for the B), simply weren’t. Dodes and
Gilbert gained some consolation for their singles defeats by beating the B pair
11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9. On the same night that B put their name on the title,
Graves Park Nomads captured the runners-up spot beating Lodgers E 8-2. No.5
ranked Colin Bell had a poor night, and for a player who had previously lost
only seven all season, losing two in one night is pretty abysmal. Things
didn’t go Colin’s way from the start, Tris Clow beating him in a close
five-ender while Dean Clow and Harry Paul added to the score by beating
Thomas Bell and Pete Bell respectively. A close contest saw Dean Clow
also beat Colin Bell and the score was turning into a rout, the Park leading
4-0. Pete Bell stopped the rot beating Tris Clow (good win this), in a tight
five-ender but the Park strode on, Harry Paul getting his second of the night
beating young Thomas Bell. Dean Clow completed his hat-trick beating
Pete Bell fairly comfortably, while Colin Bell still struggling to find some
form, picked up his first of the night beating Paul 8-11, 11-6, 11-8,
11-4. The two Clows wrapped up the doubles in some style, guiding Nomads
to an 8-2 win and the runners-up spot. Graves Park D, who have played no less than 11 of their
matches with only two players, have had what might have been classed as a
successful season and even working under these restrictions, look as though
they are going to finish third or fourth. Their latest match was against
Lodgers E who are battling gamely to pull away from the foot of the table.
Colin Bell appears to be suffering a loss of confidence and although beating
No.11 ranked Paul Matschull in straight sets, he lost out to the No.8 ranked
Dave Walters, the latter easing home 11-9 ion the fourth. Both Thomas and
Pete Bell were no match for the Park lads and although Tom Bell ran Walters
close, the outcome was never in doubt. As so often with matches involving
Park D the doubles is crucial and this one was no exception, the Park pair of
Walters and Matschull easing home in four to give them a 6-4 victory. Lodgers D and Graves Park F, both teams occupying mid
table positions met, and from two evenly matched teams a close contest
ensued. Lodgers broke the ice when David Kime beat Alan Davy. But the Park
hit back, Kit Calvert playing exceptionally well to beat the experienced
Graham Bomsor in five legs in a very tight game. Barry Frankish swept aside
Nev Leggate but Lodgers levelled the score, Bonsor getting his name on the
board via beating Davy in four. The Park then surged ahead, Frankish who is
just outside the top ten, beating No.7 ranked Kime 11-8, 4-11, 9-11, 13-11,
12-10 in a game that could have swung either way. Calvert who is
growing in stature, breezed past Leggate in straight ends, while Frankish
completed his hat-trick beating Bonsor who had had a disappointing night
11-5, 11-5, 12-10. Davy after two defeats, made sure the Park were home and
dry, with a four set win over Leggate but Kime pulled one back, narrowly
beating the on form Calvert 8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10. Kime
then teamed up with Bonsor to comfortably win the doubles, beating Frankish
and Calvert in straight legs, rescuing Lodgers from what so easily have been
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News for week ending Sunday March 11 With the majority of action this week centred on
the A D Dickinson Division Two, Graves Park E (despite bringing
one match forward) had indifferent results this week beating an
under-performing Lodgers D 6-4 but losing a few nights later to stable-mates
Graves Park F (more of this later). The Park took control early on against Lodgers,
Paul Gilbert needing five legs to overcome No.7 ranked David Kime, while Mick
Dodes clipped the wings of Graham Bonsor, but not before he had taken a leg
off him. Lodgers though pulled these back fairly quickly, Nev Leggate picking
up a welcome win over Emma Watson, while Kime put his first game defeat
behind him to beat No.10 ranked Dodes 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-5. The Park,
though, edged in front, Gilbert never looking in trouble with Leggate. But
Bonsor levelled the score with a none-too-convincing win over Watson. Emma
took the first before narrowly losing the second but fading away in the
remaining two. Dodes had little trouble with Leggate, only to see Kime level
the proceedings beating Emma in three. Gilbert completed his
hat-trick with a straight sets win over Bonsor and then combined with
Dodes to beat the Lodgers pair of Kime and Leggate in the doubles to guide
the Park to a narrow 6-4 victory. A few night later the F team faced stable-mates
Graves Park E. This match was brought forward to alleviate problems with
player shortages later in the season. But for the F, this only created them.
Emma Watson had other commitments, so the F decided to go with two. Paul
Gilbert, through no fault of his own had to pull out at the 11th hour, so
Captain Mick Dodes, not wanting to postpone the game at such a late stage
decided to play with only one player, strictly a case of “then there was
one”. Mick brushed aside Alan Davy and Kit Calvert, though both of them
pushed him hard in the third end but against Barry Frankish, Dodes found he
had a fight on his hands. Despite losing the first 8-11 he picked himself up
to nick the next two 17-15, 11-6 to give him a 2-1 lead. Frankish eased home
11-5 in the fourth to set up the decider and Dodes after taking a breather in
the fourth, went all out in the fifth to win 11-7. Therefore with no
doubles to play and six walkovers, the E recorded a rather fortunate 7-3
victory. Graves Park B have the title in their grasp
knocking over Shodfriars C 10-0 and a few night later virtually sealing the
title with an 8-2 victory over Penmaen B. A scoreline of 0-10 it may have
been but Shodfriars fought long and hard with four games going the full
distance, while another three went to four legs. John Shortland was the
pick of the Shoddy’s team, taking both Mick Maltby and Dave Graham to five,
while going to four with Mike Freeston. Dave Hocking and Paul Maxwell were
both unlucky not to get something from Dave Graham, Hocking going down 10-12
in the fourth, while Maxwell took him to five. The doubles was nothing
to write home about, the Park pair as expected easing home in three. A few night later the Park visited Penmaen who
could only field two players. However, it was Sasha Martin who opened the
scoring giving Penmaen an early lead, beating Mike Freeston 12-14, 11-5, 11-5,
11-8 but this was quickly cancelled out, Mick Maltby having no trouble with
Reuben Reed. Dave Graham added to the lead with a good win over Martin who
was having a great evening, Dave snatching the fourth and fifth to inflict
upon Sasha one of his rare defeats. Freeston and Graham had no trouble
with Reed, while in the last game of the night Martin ranked No.6 sprang the
shock of the night, beating No1 ranked Maltby, who previous to this had lost
only one all season, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7. Penmaen this time with a full complement of
players, entertained Graves Park F, the Park getting away to a good start,
Barry Frankish making short work of Rachael Searles, while Kit Calvert
did likewise against Reuben Reed. Sasha Martin reduced the arrears with
a narrow win over Fred Calvert but Frankish gave the Park a cushion of two
comfortably beating Reed. Fred Calvert extended the Park’s lead beating
Searles but Sasha Martin kept Penmaen in the hunt, needing four to get the
better of Kit Calvert. Park pressed further ahead Fred Calvert beating
Reed but Penmaen were far from finished, Martin completing his hat-trick
beating Frankish, while Searles ensured a grandstand finish, brushing aside
Kit Calvert in three straight. With the doubles deciding the result, Frankish
and Calvert senior took to the table, comfortably beating the Penmaen pair of
Martin and Searles 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, to guide their team to a 6-4 victory. Stickney B and Lodgers E, two teams of equal
standing and who both desperately need points met, the spoils of an
entertaining match being equally shared. Colin Bell again won his singles but
he had a scare in his opening match and despite winning the first two ends
11-9, 11-9 against a resurgent Tony Sharpe (will he keep Cliff out
of the team?) The latter won the next two to make it all square. Colin,
however, got his act together in the final leg running out a comfortable 11-5
winner but knowing he had been a little fortunate. Young Thomas Bell was no
match for the experienced Stickney lads, while Pete Bell picked up one
beating Tim Sampson, who is going through a barren spell. With the Yates and Greenhough Division One title
already sewn up, all eyes are on the second third and fourth spot, with three
teams in what has been a tight race. Graves Park C made themselves firm
favourites, beating club-mates Graves Park A 8-2 and this defeat for the A
plunges them deep into the relegation zone and of their four remaining
matches, only one has a win written over it. However, it was Rob Smith who put the A on the
board with a straight leg win over Martin Walters but his two team mates gave
him little support, Nick Langley going down to No.4 ranked Mick East while Phil
Brooks, after holding a two set lead over James Quinton, lost his way in the
next three. Walters extended the C’s lead beating Langley 11-2, 11-9,
11-7 and despite Smith reducing the deficit, beating Quinton in a five set
thriller, the C moved relentlessly on sweeping all before them. East
made short work of Brooks, while Quinton came close to losing against Langley
before closing down to win the fourth and fifth 11-8, 11-8. Walters got the
better of Brooks while East who is beginning to show something of his old
form, beat Smith 11-2, 11-4 but struggling in the third to edge home
12-10. With only the doubles remaining East and Walters despite losing
the second set cruised home for an 8-2 victory, setting the team on course
for second spot. Shodfriars B another of the teams in the mix
gained a narrow 6-4 victory over Lodgers B, another team that must be in fear
of the drop. No.2 ranked Alan Ashberry again turned in a sparkling
performance winning his singles, never looking in trouble against the Lodgers
lads and sweeping aside No.8 ranked Pete Evans 11-4, 11-4, 11-7. Scott Sykes
chipped in with two beating Vic Clements and Tim Day and although taking
Evans to five, Pete won the final one quite convincingly. Dave “Smiler” Smith
looked ominously out of touch, losing in straight legs to both Evans and
Clements and despite taking Day to five he faded in the vital end 8-11. The
crucial doubles saw Ashberry and Sykes take on Clements and Evans, the
Shoddy's pair easing home in three ends guiding the team to a 6-4 victory.
Bad result for Shoddy’s and if they want to capture second spot they will
have to record better scores than 6-4. Good result for Lodgers though
and two more fours from their remaining two matches might just keep them
away from relegation. Shodfriars A went a long way to extract themselves out of the relegation zone, beating a two-man Wrangle team 7-3. If Wrangle could have fielded a full team, they might easily have won their first match of the season. “Jake the Pegg” won both his games, but it was far from easy, being taken to five legs by Coulson, while being shaken by Sam Cooper, Sam winning the first leg 11-6. Neil Snaith chipped in with one beating Cooper (another tight five-ender) and in yet in another marathon game he went down in the fifth to Dave Coulson. At three games all it was delicately poised but the Shoddy’s pair of Pegg and Snaith edged the doubles and with three walkovers this gave them a somewhat invaluable win.
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News for week ending Sunday March 4 The Boston and District Table Tennis League is at
the three-quarters mark. Penmaen A already look dead certs to retain the Yates
and Greenhough Division One title. Being without Brian Hill and No.1 ranked Jim
Brewster, Penmaen visited Graves Park C, who themselves look as though
they might nick second place. With Andy Gilbert back after injury, Penmaen
also included Sasha Martin from their Division Two side. Sasha was making his
second appearance of the season for the A team. Penmaen started off brightly,
Brett Heppenstall making light work of James Quinton and although Martin
Walters levelled the score beating Sasha Martin, he had to fight all
the way. A surprised Walters found himself 0-2 down, staring at 12-14
and 8-11 defeats. And although winning the third end 11-6, he struggled in
the next two just scraping home by the skin of his teeth 12-10,
13-11. Mick East came to the table but could do nothing against a
on-form Andy Gilbert, Andy winning the first two with some ease. And although
losing the third set, he edged the fourth 12-10, which led East to state
this was the best he has ever seen Andy play. Walters was engaged in a
five-set thriller with Heppenstall before going down 9-11 in the fifth, while
Gilbert (despite a stutter in the third leg), gave Quinton short shrift to
put Penmaen 4-1 in the lead. The Park reduced the
arrears, East beating Martin, Sasha taking the second
13-11 but East fought back to win the next two. Gilbert added to the
score with an 2-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 win over Walters while Heppenstall put
the issue beyond doubt with a five-set win over East, losing the first two
but coming good in the next two before scraping the final end 13-11. Quinton
gave the score an air of respectability, beating Martin fairly easily but
they (Park) got no joy in the doubles, Heppenstall and Gilbert scraping home
13-11, 5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9. With this match out of the way Penmaen need
only five points from their remaining four matches thus making mathematically
sure that no other team can catch them. In their latest foray Park B took on two players
Park D, the B securing a 9-1 victory. A big win it may have been, but
what a tight game it was, only one game over in three straight legs. Mick
Maltby comfortably beat Dave Walters. There were four titanic five-setters,
the games often being too close to call. But in the end three of the four
went the B team’s way, Walters picking up the D’s solitary consolation
point when coming from 1-2 down to beat Freeston 11-6, 13-15, 11-6,
13-11, 12-10. Dave Graham tidied up the singles for the B team beating
Walters in four and then combined with Maltby for the doubles. Despite
losing the second 2-11 they picked themselves up to win the next two 11-5, 11-7
and with three walkovers it looked on paper like a resounding
win. Second placed Graves Park Nomads chalked up
another big win beating injury ravaged Stickney B 9-1. Despite Stickney
opening the scoring, Tony Sharpe hammering a lacklustre Walt Bridges 11-6,
11-3, 11-6, Nomads were soon on level pegging, Dean Clow dismissing Tim
Sampson in three. With Harry Paul beating Tony Hall, who hadn’t had a game
for six weeks, Nomads quickly gained control, Dean Clow extending the lead
with a four set win over a persistent Tony Sharpe. The game
that probably changed the course of the game saw Hall pull a muscle in his
leg and unable to continue, had to concede the game against Bridges. Paul
extended the Stickney lead by beating Sampson. And with Hall’s injury not improving,
he conceded his match against Clow. Sharpe, Stickney’s man of the match
had a tight five-ender with Paul, before going down 5-11 in the fifth and
then combining with Sampson to narrowly lose the doubles. This result has not
helped Stickney’s quest in their battle to pull away from the foot of
the table but with the man of the match performance from Sharpe, will Cliff
(coach) Davey, win back his place in the team when he returns from
globetrotting aboard luxury cruise liners. No matter how hard they try, Penmaen B are still
chasing that first elusive win, coming close again this week, drawing 5-5
with Lodgers D who have settled for mid-table obscurity. Sasha Martin was the
linchpin for Penmaen, winning his singles, beating Nev Leggate in three
staright but requiring four legs, before getting the better of both David
Kime and Graham Bonsor, by the narrowest of margins. Jamie Holland (playing
only his second match of the season), picked up one POINT when beating Nev
Leggate. But he was no match for Kime or Bonsor who effortlessly eased home.
All the Lodgers’ lads beat young Reuben Reed, who although taking the second
leg from Leggate, was eased out in the next two. With the doubles deciding
the final result, Martin crowned a successful evening combining with Holland
to overcome the experienced duo of Kime and Bonsor in a five set thriller
that swung both ways, earning Penmaen a deserved draw.
|
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Latest
rankings (as at March 4)
|
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|
|
Yates & Greenhough Division One
|
|
||||||
|
|
Pos
|
Player
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
J Brewster |
Penmaen A |
36 |
36 |
100 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
A Ashberry |
Shodfriars B |
36 |
32 |
89 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
B Heppenstall |
Penmaen A |
33 |
27 |
82 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
M East |
Graves Park C |
39 |
31 |
79 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
R Pegg |
Shodfriars A |
39 |
31 |
79 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
K Clements |
Lodgers G |
42 |
32 |
76 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
M Walters |
Graves Park C |
39 |
27 |
69 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
P Evans |
Lodgers B |
45 |
30 |
67 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
R Smith |
Graves Park A |
39 |
22 |
56 |
|
|
|
|
10 |
J Quinton |
Graves Park C |
39 |
22 |
56 |
|
|
|
|
A D Dickinson Division Two
|
|
||||||
|
|
Pos
|
Player
|
Team
|
W
|
L
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
M Maltby |
Graves Park B |
34 |
33 |
97 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
D Graham |
Graves Park B |
32 |
28 |
88 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
M Freeston |
Graves Park B |
32 |
28 |
88 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
D Clow |
Park Nomads |
42 |
34 |
81 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
C Bell |
Lodgers E |
35 |
28 |
80 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
S Martin |
Penmaen B |
33 |
26 |
79 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
D Kime |
Lodgers D |
38 |
29 |
76 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
D Walters |
Graves Park D |
41 |
31 |
75 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
P Gilbert |
Graves Park E |
35 |
25 |
71 |
|
|
|
|
10 |
M Dodes |
Graves Park E |
38 |
27 |
71 |
|
|
|
|
11 |
P Matschull |
Graves Park D |
41 |
28 |
68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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