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BOSTON TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE

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Round-up for November 2005 by Mick Williams

Report for week ending Friday November 25:

Troubled times roll on for Wrangle

Wrangle A are having a terrible season in the Yates and Greenhough Division One and this wasn’t improved upon when they met Graves Park C who for the second week in succession were without Mick East, Dave Walters taking his place. Martin Walters and James Quinton were in tremendous form, both of them winning their singles without too much trouble, although Quinton was taken to four by Dennis Pattrick. Martin Walters, although dropping a leg to both Dave Coulson and Sam Cooper, the result was never in doubt. Dave Walters quickly got his name on the board with a good win over Coulson but against Pattrick especially in the last two, he was never in the frame. He was a little unlucky against Cooper though and despite lading two sets to one, allowed Cooper back into the game, Sam Winning the final end 11-9. With result in the bag Martin Walters and Quinton put the icing on the cake, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, claiming the doubles 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 to guide their team to an 8-2 victory.

The much-changed Stickney A side are not having the best of seasons. They started off with two heavy defeats. This was followed by two narrow 6-4 victories but even that has not lifted them clear of danger. This week they met Lodgers A who, not unlike Stickney are suffering, and their fourth place in the table is probably a false position as they have played more matches than their main rivals. Paul Hartnett led the Stickney charge winning his first two singles, his form belying his results from previous games, Paul struggling to overcome Trev Blackbourn but beating Ian Stones fairly convincingly. Lodgers, who were without No 10 ranked Graham Lacey (how long since Graham has been this low?), hit back, Stones and Bell winning two each. Both of them beat Geoff Bourne (good result this) and Steve Blanchard.

With Blackbourn also beating Blanchard, Lodgers were in charge but Hartnett kept the game alive with a comfortable win over Colin Bell, while Bourne who had had a disappointing night, finally got his act together, scraping home 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 against Blackbourn. With the doubles deciding the outcome Hartnett and Bourne combined and looking as though they were going to slip to defeat, turned the game round in the fifth to ease home 11-4 ensuring their team equally shared the points.

A few nights later, Lodgers turned in a much better performance when they met Shodfriars, running out 7-3 winners, giving them a somewhat flattering result. Graham Lacey was back in the team winning his singles, beating Jake the Pegg in four and Maurice Buck in straight ends but he might count himself lucky to beat Neil Snaith, having to come from two sets down to comfortably win the next two, taking the team to the vital fifth.This was a real cliff-hanger, Graham just edging home 12-10 to complete his hat-trick. Colin Bell chipped in with two, both these being close victories over Buck and Snaith but on another night these could so easily have swung the other way. Despite winning the first leg against Jake he was well beaten in the next three. Ian Stones had a quiet night, winning only one beating Maurice Buck in a tight five-ender, this being another game that could have gone either way.

Lodgers G comfortably held on to second spot beating their B team 8-2. Considering that they (the B) were newly promoted this season they have done quite well but the 1-9 defeat at the hands of Shodfriars B last week might have dented their confidence. However, it was the B who drew first blood, Vic Clements apart from a close first end scoring an effective victory over Andy Kirk but the joy was short lived, Kelvin Clements putting the G on level terms, with an effortless win over Tim Day. Pete Evans raised the B’s morale once more with a 14-12, 11-5, 3-11, 6-11, 13-11 win over No 6 ranked Ian Royle (excellent win this). Kirk pulled the G level, beating Day and the G machine switched into overdrive, Royle putting his defeat by Evans behind him, making short work of both Vic Clements and Day. Kelvin Clements wrapped up wins over Evans and his dad, Vic, while Kirk who got better as the night progressed wrapped up the singles with an 11-9, 11-6, 12-14, 11-5 win over the B’s Evans. The G were now flying Kirk and Kelvin Clements easing past the B’s duo of Evans and Vic Clements wrapping up an 8-2 victory.

At the top sit Penmaen, who despite the absence of Jimmy Brewster, still handed out a 10-0 whipping to Wrangle. Every game except one was over in straight ends, this being the doubles with Sam Cooper and Dennis Pattrick narrowly nicking the third end 11-9 only to go down 6-11 in the fourth. This defeat only adds to Wrangle’s woe as they are now beginning to lose touch with the teams directly above them.

Mayflower climb to fourth spot

It was a poor week in the A D Dickinson Division Two with two of the five scheduled games being postponed for one reason or another.

Mayflower C moved up to fourth place in the table with a useful 7-3 win over Lodgers D. Mick Dodes did the main damage by winning his singles, although both Tony Kime and Graham Bonsor gave him a torrid time. Paul Gilbert picked up two, beating Bonsor and Nev Leggate but he had no answer to Kime who eased home 11-9, 11-6, 11-6. Emma Watson picked up another useful win beating Nev Leggate in four, while Dodes and Gilbert crowned a successful evening beating Kime and Bonsor in a close fought doubles to secure a 7-3 victory.

At the top of the division Mayflower B march on racking up a workmanlike 7-3 victory over Nomads. Adrian Hering was the destructor in chief, brushing aside Dean and Tris Clow and although Adrian lost the first set against Harry Paul, the result was never in doubt. Greg Pacho gave him excellent support also picking up his three but he was made to work that bit harder, requiring four to beat both Dean Clow and Paul but both times the fourth set was not difficult. No 3 ranked Greg Dombek, who so far had won 17 out of 18 had a disastrous night, losing all three, never getting to grips with any of the Nomads lads. However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Greg gaining some consolation, teaming up with Hering to comfortably win the doubles to steer the team to a 7-3 victory.

Graves Park B moved into second place to keep the pressure on Mayflower B with an 8-2 demolition of Shodfriars C, both Mick Maltby and Dave Graham having little trouble with either Dave Hocking or Paul Maxwell but being put under pressure by John Shortland. Hocking had shook the Park by giving Shodfriars an early lead, beating Mike Freeston but this was looked on as little more than an inconvenience as the Park ground out victory after victory. Freeston got his name on the board with a straightforward win over Maxwell and the Park looked set for a nine. However, the last singles of the night proved to be their undoing, Shortland who had played brilliantly all night for little reward, sprang into a 2-0 lead over Freeston and it took all of Mike’s resilience to pull it back to 2-2. The final set was a cliff-hanger, Shortland finally lynching it 11-9 giving him a well deserved win. It was left to Maltby and Graham to mop up in the doubles beating Maxwell and Hocking 11-3, 11-8, 11-6 to steer the team to comprehensive victory.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Lodgers A 5, Stickney A 5; Lodgers B 2, Lodgers G 8; Wrangle 2, Graves Park C 8; Shodfriars A 3, Lodgers A 7; Penmaen 10, Wrangle 0.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Mayflower C 7, Lodgers D 3; Nomads 3, Mayflower B 7; Graves Park B 8, Shodfriars C 2.

Report for week ending Friday November 18:

G-team look like relinquishing title

It looks as though Lodgers G will have to relinquish their hold on the Yates and Greenhough Division One title in the Boston and District Table Tennis League they have held for the last seven or eight years, despite still being unbeaten. It’s just that old boys Penmaen are now firmly back on the block in the championship stakes.

Lodgers just held on to their undefeated record this week when they met the also unbeaten Shodfriars B, so something had to give. Shodfriars started off in fine style, Scott Sykes overpowering Andy Kirk in five and when star man, Alan Ashberry defeated Kelvin Clements 11-7, 11-7, 11-2, a shock looked to be on the cards. Lodgers quickly wiped that deficit out, Ian Royle getting them on the board beating Roger Hooton, while Clements opened his account comfortably beating Sykes. Hooton although winning the first two against Kirk, lost the plot in the next three to go down 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 6-11 and Lodgers were back in front. Ashberry levelled the scores beating Royle in four but Lodgers were not to be denied, Clements and Royle effortlessly beating Hooton and Sykes respectively, to give Lodgers a 5-3 lead. Ashberry made sure the doubles would decide the topic, brushing aside Kirk and then combined with Hooton in the doubles. Lodgers fielded their big guns, Clements and Royle and despite losing the first end 5-11 they stuck to their game plan to win the next three guiding their team to a narrow 6-4 victory and Shoddy’s first defeat of the season.

With “Smiler” Smith sitting out due to an old war wound, Shoddy’s fielded the same team that was beaten by Lodgers G when they met Lodgers B. This, though, was a different ball game, Alan Ashberry winning his singles with consummate ease, once again not dropping an end and being ably supported by Scott “Twinkle Toes” Sykes. Scott played extremely well to win his three singles and was sheer magic against the powerful Pete Evans, losing the first end but winning the next three in what was undeniably the game of the night. Roger Hooton chipped in with two, beating Vic Clements and Tim Day but he was unable to cope with Pete Evans who beat him in straight legs. Roger, though, gained some revenge in the doubles though, teaming up with “Twinkle Toes” to defeat Pete and Tim 11-2, 11-4, 12-10 for a 9-1 victory.

Stickney A with a new look team who have found this season trying, took on fellow strugglers Lodgers F, this being a nip and tuck game which might have swung either way. Lodgers took an early lead, Paul Hartnett in pole position, leading Pete Truepenny two sets to one and 6-1 up in the fourth, let Pete off the hook for him to win 11-9. Pete then comfortably took the final end 11-7. Despite this setback Stickney drew level, Geoff Bourne beating David Kime in a close five-setter but this was short lived, as Lodgers forged ahead again, Steve Harker making short work of Steve Blanchard. Bourne levelled for Stickney beating Truepenny in five, while Harker gave Stickney the lead for the first time on the night beating Hartnett in four but Lodgers hit back, Kime comfortably beating Blanchard in straight sets.

Bourne gave Stickney the lead again thus completing his hat-trick with a close four set win over Harker, while Blanchard put Stickney in the driving seat with a great win over Truepenny. Kime reduced the arrears in the last singles of the evening with an easy win over Hartnett but he (Hartnett) gained some kind of revenge combining with Bourne to steer Stickney to a 6-4 victory, beating the Lodgers pairing of Harker and Kime 11-7, 11-4, 11-9.

Graves Park A could only field two players for their clash with leaders Penmaen who were without Brian Hill, Brett Heppenstall who is recovering from injury filling in. As expected both Jimmy Brewster and Andy Gilbert picked up their singles but Brett failed to capitalise, losing in straight legs to Nick Langley and although doing slightly better against Rob Smith went down in the fifth. Credit to the Park though these two points being twice as many as all the other teams put together have taken.

With the season barely seven weeks old, Mayflower B in the A D Dickinson Division Two have opened up a considerably lead over a chasing pack of four. These, in turn have pulled away from the remainder of the teams in the division. Down in the basement things are equally as tight with Stickney B, William Lovell and Mayflower D who can’t seem to buy a win, while Shodfriars C and Pilgrim are not yet out of the mire.

Mayflower B firmly put themselves in charge, with two wins on consecutive days beating Lodgers D 7-03 in a re-arranged game and the following night beating Shodfriars C by the same score. Against Lodgers the two Hering boys were in great form, Mariusz Hering winning his game in three straight but being pushed hard by Tony Kime in the third, before scraping home 17-15. Adrian Hering gave him excellent support, also winning his three but although beating Nev Leggate convincingly, he required four to see off Tony Kime, while against Graham Bonsor, five was the order of the day. Greg Pacho had what could be described as a quiet night, failing against both Kime and Bonsor and it didn’t look too promising, when he lost the first end 10-12 to Nev Leggate. However, he recovered to take the next three sets without too much difficulty. Pacho’s luck didn’t change in the doubles, teaming up with Adrian Hering only to lose 9-11, 7-11, 4-11 to Kime and Bonsor giving the scoresheet a more respectable look.

The following night Greg Dombek took the place of Adrian Hering and he (Greg) looked in tremendous form, dismissing all the Shoddys lads in three straight, never appearing to be stretched. Mariusz Hering gave him some able backing, also winning his singles in straight sets, although he was involved on a tight contest against Paul Maxwell, Mariusz winning the third 19-17 for the longest game of the season. Greg Pacho again had a disappointing night, being well beaten by Dave Hocking and although taking an end out of Roly Sharp and Paul Maxwell the result was never in doubt.

Fresh form their 0-10 defeat by Mayflower B, which left Graves Park D shell shocked, they had a chance to redeem themselves when they met stablemates Graves Park B, who for the second week in succession could only field two players. Sadly the D didn’t grasp that chance and had to settle for a 5-5 draw, James Smith and Paul Matshull losing to both Mick Maltby who was on fire, and Mike Freeston who was gently smouldering. Sam Smith picked up a win against Freeston but against Maltby he was never in the hunt. However, he (Sam) Gained some recompense in the doubles, teaming up with Matschull to win in four making sure their team earned an equal share of the spoils.

Lodgers D who don’t seem to be fulfilling their potential stuttered to a 5-5 draw against strugglers William Lovell, Tony Kime being in tremendous form, winning his three but being taken to four ends by Tom Huskisson. Graham Bonsor again chipped in with two beating Huskisson and Michael Bradshaw but despite a hard game against Tom Phoenix, he went down in the fifth. Nev Leggate failed to register which left the game hinging on the doubles, the

Lovell pairing of Phoenix and Huskisson pinching it in the fifth end for an equal share of the spoils.

Nomads moved into fourth place in the table with wins on consecutive evenings beating Mayflower D 10-0 and Lodgers D 7-3. The match against Mayflower shows 10-0 but that it not the true story, Rachael Searles and Sasha Martin pushing Tris Clow all the way, Tris scraping home against Sasha 14-12 in the fifth. Sasha also gave Dean Clow a torrid time, but Rachel although scoring well in the second and third end, couldn’t break through his defence. None of this impressed Walt Bridges who brushed the opposition aside with equanimity, Walt never looking in trouble while winning his singles.

The following night Nomads expected to be set a sterner task when they met old adversaries Lodgers D.

Nomads gave Harry Paul his first outing and he didn’t disappoint, winning his singles but being given a run for his money by Nev Leggate and Tony Kime. His match with Tony went right to the wire, Harry after losing the first two, making a great comeback in the next three, winning 11-8, 11-9, 13-11. Dean and Tris Clow chipped in with two each, both of them beating Nev Leggate and Graham Bonsor, who chose to have one of his off nights.

However, Bonsor gained a crumb of consolation in the doubles, combining with Kime to narrowly beat the two Clows by 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9 to give the score some sort of credibility.

Pilgrim have had a less than happy season and after a useful win and a draw from their first three matches, their season has gone steadily downhill. From being in third place in the table they are now down in seventh spot just above the re-election zone.

This week they were given a table tennis lesson by the mighty Mayflower B who look as though they could go through the season undefeated, the two Hering boys (father and son) and Greg Dombek sweeping Pilgrim aside, every game but one being over in straight legs. Only Barry Frankish put up any real fight taking Adrian Hering all the way but losing the vital fifth end 5-11.

Graves Park D eased to second place in the table although the three teams below them all have matches in hand, with a 9-1 win over Stickney B who are struggling to get away from the foot of the table. Having said that some of the games were tight, Sharpe going down 9-11 in the fourth to Dave Walters and 8-11 in the fourth to Paul Matschull, while Tony Hall took Matschull all the way before losing out 7-11 in the fifth. Nobody in the Stickney team were any match for young Sam Smith who despatched all the Stickney lads in straight sets. Paul Matschull, despite some close games gave him good support while Dave Walters lost the Park’s only game, losing out to the wily Tony Hall for Stickney’s solitary point.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Stickney A 6, Lodgers F 4; Shodfriars B 9, Lodgers B 1; Lodgers G 6, Shodfriars B 4; Graves Park a 2, Penmaen 8; Penmaen 10, Graves Park C 0.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Shodfriars C 3, Mayflower B 7; Mayflower B 7, Lodgers D 3; Graves Park D 10, Mayflower B 0; Graves Park D 5, Graves Park B 5; Lodgers D 5, William Lovell 5; Mayflower D 10, Nomads 0; Nomads 7, Lodgers D 3; Mayflower B 10, Pilgrim 0; Pilgrim 6, Mayflower D 4; Stickney B 1, Graves Park D 9.

Report for week ending Friday November 11:

New recruit proving a gem for Shodfriars B

The Boston and District Table Tennis League seems to have settled down, some teams doing better than expected, others doing worse. One of the surprise teams is the unfancied Shodfriars B, who at the moment are on a winning streak and with the signing of Alan Ashberry, they have uncovered a real gem.

Although being rested last week, (is this the Shoddy answer to the Chelsea squad system?), Alan was back in the team for the Lodgers F fixture. And he showed no ill effects from a week off, easily winning his singles to maintain his 100 percent record. Team mate Scott Sykes gave him excellent support, picking up two, beating David Kime in three and Steve Harker in five but in a tight game with Pete Truepenny, he lost it at the death going down 10-12 in the final end. Dave “Smiler” Smith didn’t have a happy night, losing out to Truepenny and Harker in five legs but he was never in the game against Kime, going down 6-11, 5-11, 10-12. With both teams requiring the doubles the result was in the balance, the two star Shoddys players taking on the Kime/Harker duo. This game swung both ways, Lodgers holding the early advantage but the Shoddy’s pair fought back to take the final end 11-8 to give them a 6-4 win and maintain the teams 100 percent record.

Another surprise team is Lodgers B who were only promoted this season and their 4-6 defeat by Graves Park A last week was their first reverse of the first season. This week they returned to the winning trail with a vengeance, beating near neighbours Wrangle 9-1, Vic Clements and Pete Evans both winning their singles, Vic having to work hard against Dave Coulson. Pete, although disposing of Frank Burbidge and Dave Coulson quite easily, had his work cut out by Sam Cooper who picked up Wrangle’s consolation point by comfortably beating Tim Day 11-2, 11-2, 11-7.

If the aforementioned teams are doing better than expected, Wrangle — who last season finished halfway up the league — must be doing a lot worse than expected. After four woeful defeats in which they picked up five points they also went down 1-9 when they met all conquering Lodgers G. Lodgers who so far had not shown the power of last season, rolled it out for this match, crushing Wrangle who turned in a lamentable performance, 9-1. Kelvin Clements and Ian Royle had little trouble with the Wrangle lads and although Frank Burbidge took the first leg off Royle, the result was never in doubt. Andy Kirk did well to pick up two, beating Burbidge and Dave Coulson and although winning the first two against Sam Cooper, he allowed him to get back into the game, faltering in the last three, Sam gaining Wrangle’s solitary point.

Graves Park C who in the last fortnight or so have had indifferent results, met their A team and after the first two matches looked as thought they were going to win it at a canter, James Quinton disposing of Nick Langley, while Martin Walters narrowly eat Rob Smith. Mick East entered the fray against Phil Brooks, narrowly winning the first 11-9 but Phil turning in a champagne performance, comfortably won the next three 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 and this must be his best ever achievement, beating such a high profile player.

The C though were far from deflated by this defeat took the bull by the horns, Walters beating Langley, while Quinton after a first set hic-cup against Brooks comfortably took the next three. The A though pulled one back in unexpected circumstances, Smith sweeping aside a very much disenchanted East 11-2, 11-3, 11-2. However, the C team forged ahead, Walters beating Brooks while East got his game together narrowly beating Langley 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4. Smith pulled another back for the A but it was too late, Walters and Quinton wrapping up the doubles in four to give the C team a 7-3 victory which on paper looks comfortable but in reality it was very different. The A D Dickinson Division Two is proving to be an intriguing division, with three teams leaving the pack trailing in their wake.

Graves Park B blew any chance they might have had of retaining the leadership, only turning out with two players, (they only had to ask), when they met fellow challengers Mayflower C. Despite putting up a brave showing, Mike Freeston and Dave Graham winning two apiece, both beating Paul Gilbert and Emma Watson, they were no match for a sharp Mick Dodes whose two wins and three walkovers put Mayflower in pole position. The doubles proved to be the decider and this was a strange affair the Mayflower pair collapsing in the first end, losing 1-11. They picked up their game in the second to win 11-6 but promptly lost 6-11 in the third and the Park were back in command. A tense fourth saw Mayflower pinch it 14-12 and in the vital fifth they gained the upper hand at the crucial time to win 11-8 to guide their team to a 6-4 victory.

Mayflower B who will certainly be challenging for the title, virtually dispelled any hopes Graves Park D may not have had of winning any honours, punishing them 10-0. Mariusz Hering and Greg Dombek reigned supreme for Mayflower brushing aside the Park lads in straight ends, while young Adran Hering also won his three but he had his work cut out by Paul Matschull and Sam Smith both games going the full distance. With Maurisz Hering and Dombek in top form, the doubles were a mere formality the Mayflower pair comprehensively winning 11-2, 11-7, 11-4 to register a whitewash.

Mayflower C fresh from their success at the Park turned out the heavy squad when they met Stickney B, who it must be said have had a dreadful start to the season. Things were just beginning to look up for Stickney (a win and a draw in their last two matches) when they ran into an in form Mayflower team. The Mayflower team ran riot Paul Gilbert looking very alert winning his games in straight ends but both Tony Hall and Tim Sampson ran him close. Pete Hamlett and Mick Dodes gave him excellent support, both of them winning their games. The closest Stickney came to claiming a win was when Sampson after a long first set, went down 16-18 to Dodes but it mattered little, as Dodes quickly recovered to take the next two 11-4, 11-4.

Stickney B had a better result though when they met old rivals Lodgers D. These clashes over the years have always been tight and this game was no exception. Graham Bonsor got Lodgers away to a good start and after losing the first two to Tony Sharpe, got his game together to win the next three 11-6, 11-6, 11-3. Tim Sampson put Lodgers on level terms with a comfortable win over Nev Leggate, while Tony Hall turned the form book upside down beating Tony Kime in four. Undeterred, Lodgers strode on to snatch the lead back, Bonsor, (who is playing well), and Kime, beating Sampson and Sharpe respectively. Hall drew Stickney level again with a three leg win over Leggate but Kime kept Lodgers in the lead with a hard fought victory over Sampson.

Hall who was having a brilliant evening, notched up his hat trick to put Stickney on level terms and it looked as though they (Stickney) were going to take the match when Sharpe beat Leggate in a last gasp effort. The deciding doubles were as expected tight, the Stickney pair of Hall and Sampson winning the first, but the experienced Lodgers pair of Bonsor and Kime began to shine, winning the next three to make sure their team earned an equal share of the spoils.

Shodfriars C who have only had a mediocre start to the season racked up their first win with a far from easy victory over the young Mayflower D team, who could only field two players. Despite only having two players this wasn’t a bad result for Mayflower, Sasha Martin beating an out of touch John Shortland, while Andrew Benjamin after a long hard fought battle, overcame Dave Hocking. Neither of them though could get to grips with Roly Sharp, although both of their games against him were close and could have swung the Mayflower way. Surprisingly Hocking had little trouble with Martin, while Shortland after a third set upset sorted Benjamin out in the fourth. These two them combined to put the icing on the cake winning the doubles and with three walkovers, seal an 8-2 victory.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Penmaen 10, Lodgers A 0; Lodgers B 9, Wrangle 1; Lodgers F 4, Shodfriars B 6; Wrangle 1, Lodgers G 9; Graves Park C 7, Graves Park A 3.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Stickney B 5, Lodgers D 5; Graves Park B 4, Mayflower C 6; Mayflower B 10, Graves Park D 0; Mayflower C 10, Stickney B 0; Mayflower D 2, Shodfriars C 8.

Report for week ending Friday November 4:

Top section yields surprise results

In the Yates and Greenhough Division One, Lodgers A turned in a great display, beating early leaders Graves Park C 6-4. This result plunged Park back to third place in the table. If that wasn’t bad enough for the team, it was a nightmare evening on an individual front for Mick East, who up to this point of the season was unbeaten. Here, he lost two games. Mick’s previous defeats were last season where he also lost two in one night, for his only two losses — ironically, also against a Lodgers team.

Although starting off with good win over Trev Blackbourn, the early signs were there, Mick needing four sets to see off his resilient opponent. Lodgers who have had an indifferent start to the season, called Graham Lacey back in the side and he quickly levelled the score, and after a tight first end against James Quinton, Graham won the next two with some ease. Martin Walters put the Park ahead with a narrow 12-10, 14-12, 11-9 over Ian Stones but in what was billed as the match of the night saw East suffer the first of his defeats, No 3 ranked Graham Lacey beating him in a tight five setter. The Park surged ahead again, Walters making short work of Blackbourn but Stones who was in top form, put Lodgers on level terms with a 14-12, 11-4, 13-11 win over Quinton. Lacey completed his hat-trick beating Walters and in the shock of the night a combative Stones caused probably the upset of the season, beating East 12-10, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8. Quinton gave the Park some hope of salvaging a draw, beating Blackbourn but star man Stones and Lacey wrapped up victory, beating Quinton and Walters in straight legs in the doubles moving Lodgers above the Park in the league table.

Lodgers B, despite being on the wrong end of a 4-6 scoreline against Graves Park A, moved up to fourth place in the table, overtaking Shodfriars B who this week had no match. The Park got away to a good start opening up a 2-0 lead Rob Smith after a first set hiccup beating Tim Day, while Phil Brooks after opening up a two set lead over Vic Clements allowed Vic to claw his way back into the game by taking the next two, before putting the question beyond doubt in the fifth. Pete Evans put Lodgers on the board beating Nick Langley but the Park nosed ahead, Brooks again holding a 2-0 lead over Day, only to fritter away the next two but in the final set, Phil exploded into action dismissing Day 11-2. Lodgers fought on and in a complete turn around took the next three games to hold a 4-3 lead, Evans getting the better of Smith, and then completing his hat-trick with a comfortable win over Langley. However Langley, who hadn’t had the happiest of evenings, redeemed himself with a good win over Day to get his name on the board, while Smith in a tight five ender regained Park’s lead, narrowly beating Clements 11-7, 7-11, 5-11, 12-10, 13-11. With the doubles deciding the result Smith and Brooks combined for the Park to win a tense doubles to guide their team to a 6-4 victory.

Shodfriars A’s run of defeats continued, this being their third in a row, going down 4-6 to Stickney A, who need the points almost as much as Shoddy’s do. Shoddy’s drew first blood, Jake the Pegg beating Paul Hartnett but Shoddy’s stormed back, Geoff Bourne beating Neil Smith in five, while Steve Blanchard did well to overcome Maurice Buck. Stickney edged further ahead, Hartnett, as he so often does, coming from behind to beat Snaith but Shoddy’s fought back , Jake the Pegg beating a plucky Blanchard. Bourne made short work of Buck but Shoddy’s again hit back, Snaith keeping them in the frame with a straight-forward win over Blanchard. Stickney finally broke the Shoddy spirit in the last two games, Hartnett struggling a little to beat Buck while Bourne completed his hat-trick beating Pegg to make sure of victory. With the result in the bag, Shoddy’s were in no mood to roll over, Pegg and Snaith storming to an 11-5, 5-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 victory giving the score an air of respectability.

Mayflower C despite losing last week to their two-player B team, they showed they are still going to be force to be reckoned with in the A D Dickinson Division Two, beating their young D team 8-2. Peter Hamlett playing his first match of the season, and Paul Gilbert both proved to be too strong for the youthful D team but Mick Dodes has a disastrous night. Although beating Krishna Ramana fairly easily, he failed miserably against Sasha Martin, just losing the vital fifth end 11-13. The last singles of the night saw him come up against Rachael Searles, Mick rarely being in the game and at 2-0 down, he looked to be set for defeat. However he rallied to win the next two very convincingly but he blundered in the vital fifth going down 6-11. All credit to Rachael and Sasha though, but rarely will Mick play this poorly as he is surely one of the more polished players in this division. The doubles was a fairly one sided effort, Hamlett and Gilbert dismissing Searles and Martin in straight ends, guiding their team to a comfortable victory.

Stickney B whose two games so far this season had only seen them accumulate only a single point, saw that total vastly increase when they met William Lovell, who once again (twice in four matches), could only field two players. Having said that, Tom Phoenix and Tom Huskisson turned in solid performances. Both of them took Tony Sharpe to five, Tony’s experience showing in the vital fifth. The two Toms also put up good showings against Tim Sampson but although taking an end each, they faded thereafter. It wasn’t all bad though for the Lovell team though, Phoenix and Huskisson getting their team a couple of valuable points, both of them beating the unlucky Cliff Davey, Cliff just going down 11-13 in the fourth to Phoenix but being well beaten 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, by the young Hiskisson.

Nomads who started off the season in dreadful fashion, has seen an upturn in form winning last week and this week beating a useful Shodfriars C 6-4. Tris Clow and Walt Bridges were the Nomads torchbearers picking up two each. Walt despite losing his first game of the night to John Shortland, bounced back to narrowly beat Dave Hocking in a tight five ender and Paul Maxwell in three straight, the game with Paul hinging on the last two points in all three ends. Tris Clow picked up his first two with good wins over Maxwell and Shortland, but came unstuck against Hocking, narrowly losing in three straight. Dean Clow didn’t have the best of evenings, beating Hocking in his first game of the night but as it wore on he seemed to fade, losing 4-11, 11-6, 15-13, 2-11, 11-13 against Maxwell, (good win this) and in five close sets to Shortland. With the doubles deciding the result Nomads decided on a fresh approach, Bridges combining with Tris Clow, (usually the two Clows play together), the Nomads pair apart from the first end easily overcoming Hocking and Maxwell guiding their team victory.

Yates and Greenhough Division One: Lodgers A 6 Craven Park C 4; Graves Park A 6 Lodgers B 4; Shodfriars A 4 A Stickney A 6.

A D Dickinson Division Two: Shodfriars C 4 Nomads 6; Mayflower D 2 Mayflower C 8; William Lovell 3 Stickney B 7.