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TABLE TENNIS

 

All the up-to-date news from Boston Table Tennis League scene

 

November 2006

Click here for: Results round-up 2006-2007 season

 

News for week ending Sunday November 26

 

Most of the past week’s action in the Boston and District Table Tennis League took place in the A D Dickinson Division Two with teams in Division One seemingly having a week off.

 

With league leaders Graves Park B playing later in the week, the other Park teams took centre stage. Graves Park Nomads moved into second place with a comprehensive 9-1 win over Stickney B who were without their dynamo, Cliff Davey. Nomads took the first two games fairly easily, Tris Clow and Dean Clow brushing aside Tony Sharpe and Tim Sampson. And although Tony Hall took Harry Paul to five very close ends, it was Harry who ran out a 15-17, 14-12, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7 winner. Dean Clow extended Nomads’ lead with a four-set win over Tony Sharpe, while Tris Clow turned in a sparkling performance to beat Tony Hall in three straight, and although Sampson pulled one back beating Paul, it was only a consolation win. Undeterred Nomads marched on, Dean Clow beating Tony Hall in yet another four-setter, while Paul — despite losing the second 3-11 to Sharpe — swept past him in the next two. Tris Clow wound up the singles, easily beating Sampson and then combined with brother Dean to win the doubles at a canter, beating Sampson and Hall 11-5,11-4, 11-7 to guide their team to a 9-1 victory.

 

Two solid performances inside a week saw Graves Park F move up three places in the table beating Shodfriars C 7-3 and the young Penmaen side 6-4. Shoddy’s took an early lead in the their match with the Park, John Shortland comfortably beating Alan Davy, while Dave Hocking narrowly saw off Fred Calvert. Barry Frankish stepped in and stopped the rot,  beating Paul Maxwell 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 and Davy — putting his first game defeat behind him — levelled the scores by beating Hocking in four. Frankish gave the Park the lead beating Shortland fairly convincingly and the Park were buzzing. Calvert overcame stiff opposition from Maxwell, while Frankish convincingly completed his hat-trick, beating Hocking 11-7, 11-6, 11-3. Shoddy’s kept in the hunt, Maxwell beating Davy in a tight five-setter. But it was all to no avail, Calvert making sure of victory by beating Shortland in three sets. To put the icing on the cake, Calvert and man of the match Frankish, eased home in the doubles beating a dogged Hocking and Maxwell 11-2, 11-8, 11-3 for a sound 7-3 victory.

 

A few nights later, the F team were on the road again, travelling to play the young Penmaen team. Sasha Martin was again on top form winning his singles, making short work of Fred Calvert and Alan Davy (although the latter did run Sasha close in the third). But he had his work cut out to overcome the challenge of Barry Frankish. Despite Sasha winning the first and the third, Barry kept the game alive, winning the second and the fourth set, the game going to the final set which finally went the Penmaen way, Sasha just winning 13-11. Rachael Searles chipped in with one by beating Davy, and although turning in a plucky performance against Calvert (losing in four sets) she was never in the hunt against Frankish. All the Park lads beat young Reuben Reed and with Frankish and Calvert beating Searles, the result was reliant upon the doubles. The combination of Frankish and Calvert proved too strong for the Penmaen pair of Martin and Searles in the first end, running out 11-8 winners, but the Penmaen pair rallied in the second just losing 11-13 to their more experienced opponents. The third saw the Penmaen pair completely swamped, Calvert and Frankish running out 11-2 winners to guide their team to a 6-4 victory.

 

After their 3-7 defeat by Park F, Shodfriars C picked up some much-needed points by beating Lodgers E 6-4. This has lifted them to mid table. However, this could only be temporary, as Shoddy’s have played more than all the teams below them, a mere seven points separating themselves from the three teams directly below them. 


Colin Bell, (how can he possibly have lost three so early in the season) was again in tremendous form for Lodgers. He won his singles, confidently beating Paul Maxwell and Dave Hocking but was taken to four by John Shortland. Pete Bell and Tom Bell failed to pick up a game and although Pete took a set out of Dave Hocking, the result was never in doubt. Young Tom Bell was a little unlucky not to get something out of Shortland, Tom getting better as the game wore on,  running Shortland 11-13 in the vital third end. The doubles was perhaps the closest game of the evening, Colin and Pete Bell winning the first end 11-5. This stung the Shoddy’s pair into action winning a leg that will be long remembered by them 11-1, but the Bell brothers shrugged it off, winning the next two 11-7, 11-7 giving Shoddy’s a 6-4 victory.

 

Penmaen B, having only two players available, took on what was thought to be their toughest match of the season when coming up against the all-conquering Graves Park B and slumping to a 1-9 defeat. Sasha Martin gave Mike Freeston a scare in the first game of the night by coming from 2-0 down to level the scores. But in the final set, Mike drew on his vast experience nick it 11-5. Rachael Searles gave Mick Maltby a close game, just losing the second leg 12-14 but lost touch in the third going down 4-11. Penmaen’s one bright spot came from Martin taking on Dave Graham and at the end of the third Martin looked to be heading for certain defeat. However he picked himself to nick the fourth 12-10 and raised his game for the deciding fifth, winning 11-8 giving Penmaen their solitary victory.

 

The all-Park battle saw fourth placed Graves Park E take on third placed Graves Park F, both teams needing victory to keep in touch with the two Park teams directly above them. A game not without some controversy started off well, the E team taking an early lead when Paul Gilbert beat Alan Davy. Meanwhile Mick Dodes saw off Kit Calvert who, despite a valiant fightback, went down 6-11 in the fourth. Barry Frankish pulled one back for the F, comfortably beating young Emma Watson but the E drew further ahead, Dodes effortlessly disposing of Davy. Game five possibly swung the result in the E team’s favour. Frankish, after losing the first leg 8-11 to Gilbert, declined to play the remainder of the games as he did not enjoy the Gilbert style of play (just tap it back with no pace) and chose to award the game to the E team. Perhaps someone with all Barry’s experience could have been able to overcome this tactic, which after all is Paul’s natural game, and very much like a host of other players in this division? However, the F team kept in the picture, Kit Calvert beating Emma Watson quite comfortably but then they suffered a further blow when Dodes beat an out of sorts Frankish 11-8, 11-7, 3-11, 11-6. Davy kept the E team in with a fighting chance of sharing the points by beating the young Watson. But Gilbert put the issue beyond doubt with a non-too-convincing 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 win over Calvert. The doubles proved to be one of the closest games of the evening, Dodes and Gilbert losing two of the first three ends but kept battling away to win the fourth and fifth fairly comfortably, giving the E a 7-3 victory to lift them to second place in the table.

 

News for week ending Sunday November 19

 

It was something of a quiet time on the Boston and District Table Tennis League front this week with three matches being postponed, one in Division One, while Division Two was hit with two matches being called off.

 

Of the games that did take place, the big one was undoubtedly in the Yates and Greenhough Division One, Shodfriars B taking on last season runners-up and seven times champions, Lodgers G.  However it would seem the Lodgers’ “aura” no longer surrounds them, the G team slumping to their second defeat of the season, which only two years ago would have been unthinkable.  Sure there has been changes, notably Ian Royle and Gary Hill leaving, but Mark Hulme has been signed as a replacement and as the season progresses so will he. Shodfriars, (the team of the moment), opened the scoring, Alan Ashberry defeating Andy Kirk but Mark Hulme quickly levelled beating Roger Hooton in three. Kelvin Clements made short work of Scott Sykes, rocking his way to victory, and with Andy Kirk adding his name to the list with a four-set victory over Roger Hooton, Lodgers looked to be in the unstoppable mode. However, the reliable Ashberry steadied the ship by beating Clements in three (how many years it is since Kelvin did not appear in the top ten?) Sykes levelled the score beating Hulme in a game that was all-out attack from both players. But Clements kept Lodgers in the hunt with an easy 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 over Hooton.  Sykes again put Shoddys on level terms with a narrow win over Kirk, while Ashberry gave Shoddys the lead, completing his hat-trick, just beating the unlucky Hulme 11-9, 11-8, 12-10. Hulme and Kirk picked up one apiece for Lodgers, both playing exceptionally well and on another night might have gone home with more than one apiece. With both teams needing the doubles, Ashberry and Hooton showed that they are a now a pairs force to be reckoned with, beating the attacking Kirk and Hulme. Despite losing the first end 2-11 and then going down 5-11 in the third, the Shoddys duo kept going, clawing their way back into the match winning the fourth 12-10 and then running away with the fifth to earn them an excellent 6-4 victory. Lodgers’ record at the moment shows that they have drawn one and lost two. This already equals the total amount of games that they dropped throughout the whole of last season.

 

Wrangle despite their belated start continue to catch up with their matches but so far they have yet to record a victory.

In their match against Shodfriars A things appeared to be going in the right direction, Dave Coulson making short work of Maurice Buck, while Dennis Pattrick blasted through Neil Snaith. However, Jake the Pegg was in superb form, pulling one back, beating Sam Cooper in three and with Maurice gaining a wonderful victory over Pattrick, it was all-square. Jake increased the Shoddy lead, brushing aside Coulson, while Snaith got his name on the board adding to the lead beating Cooper in three straight. Jake completed his hat-trick with a comfortable victory over Pattrick and Shoddys were nearly home and dry and despite a brief flurry from Cooper, beating Buck in a tight four setter it was all to no avail. Snaith wrapped up the singles with a hard fought four set win over Coulson and then combined with Jake to narrowly take the doubles 11-5, 13-11,12-10 for a solid 7-3 victory.

 
The A D Dickinson Division Two saw a top versus bottom clash, Lodgers D with some apprehension taking on second placed Graves Park E. The Park found David Kime in tremendous form, winning his singles beating No 8 ranked Paul Gilbert and No.10 ranked Mick Dodes in close four-setters, David losing the third end each time but winning the fourth with some ease. Graham Bonsor, who so far has had a good season, had no answer to either Gilbert or Dodes but got his name on the board with a straight ends win over Emma Watson. Nev Leggate, making a welcome return from injury, found the going tough and despite giving Gilbert a run for his money he was demolished by Dodes. However, Nev didn’t go home empty-handed, but he went right to the wire, needing five sets to see off Emma Watson just beating her 14-12 in the fifth after losing two of the first three sets. The all-important doubles saw the Park field the strong pair of Dodes and Gilbert. And although losing the first end 9-11 to Bonsor and Kime, they came good to win the next three 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 for an equal share of the points. Overall, though this was a better result for Lodgers than it was for the Park team.

 

Graves Park B extended their lead at the top with a 9-1 victory over Shodfriars C and are now have a massive lead of 12 points over second placed Graves Park E. The Park started off brightly, Mike Freeston keeping Dave Hocking quiet, while Mick Maltby — after a first set scare against John Shortland — just scraped home 14-12 before winning the next two comfortably enough. Dave Graham made short work of Paul Maxwell. And with Maltby easing home against Hocking, the Park were on a roll. Shoddys, though, pulled one back, Freeston failing to get to grips with Maxwell, allowing Paul to win in four ends. What had thus far been a stroll in the park for the Park, suddenly became a bit of a marathon, Graham having to work hard to keep Shortland at bay, the game going to five ends. Maltby managed to hold on to his unbeaten record but it was close, Mick being taken to four by an impressive Maxwell. Graham then ran into an invigorated Hocking, who promptly won the first end 11-8 but Dave turned it round to win the next three quite comfortably. The last singles of the night was yet another tight one, Freeston being put under pressure by Shortland and although losing the first end 8-11 Mike turned it round to win the next two 11-2, 11-5. The fourth end was a bit closer but in a tense finish Mike just nicked it 13-11. The doubles were fairly straightforward, the Freeston-Maltby partnership flourishing to win in three straight legs, giving the Park a commanding win.  

 

News for week ending Sunday November 12

 

With four of the top five teams involved there were one or two moves (some up, some down) in the Yates and Greenhough Division One this week. 

 

Wrangle, in an attempt to catch up with their fixtures, entertained fifth placed Shodfriars B. The latter opened the scoring, Alan Ashberry putting them on the board with a straight legs win over Sam Cooper. Dave Coulson quickly cancelled that out by beating Scott Sykes in three legs. Dave edged the first 13-11, but the next two were never in doubt. Shoddy’s bounced back to take the lead, Roger Hooton turning in a no-nonsense display to beat Dennis Pattrick 11-5, 11-6, 11-4. Possibly the shock of the night was the defeat of Alan Ashberry when he slumped to his second defeat of the season, being beaten by an on-form Coulson, the latter scraping three of the five sets 11-9. It was a false dawn for Wrangle, however. As Shoddy’s pushed forward, the powerful Hooton comfortably beat Cooper. Sykes did a similar job on Pattrick and all eyes were on the two unbeaten players, Hooton and Coulson locking horns. In the end it s was a bit of an anti-climax, Hooton making light of Coulson’s famed backhand flicks, beating him 11-5, 11-8, 11-6. With the game all but over, Ashberry and Sykes both won their remaining singles fairly easily and then these two combined to win the doubles in much the same vein beating Cooper and Pattrick 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 guiding Shoddy’s to third place in the table with an 8-2 win.

 

Stickney A picked up their first win of the season when they entertained Wrangle with a solid 8-2 victory. Wrangle found Geoff Bourne in tremendous form. Geoff had some kind of “home advantage” with two of his games going all the way. He held off a concerted attack by Dennis Pattrick to win 14-12 in the fifth, while in an epic match with Frank Burbidge which swung both ways, Geoff edged home 20-18 in the fifth set to record the longest match in the league this season. Paul Hartnett chipped in with two legs when beating Coulson and Pattrick fairly comfortably. But despite taking an end out of Burbidge, there was nothing he could do to stop Frank winning 11-8, 11-4, 4-11, 13-11. Young Andrew Benjamin also picked up two for his first wins of the season when beating the experienced Burbidge and Pattrick, all of them being close. However he (Andrew) was no match for Dave Coulson, Dave brushing him aside 11-8, 11-6, 11-7. Bourne completed an excellent night by combining with Hartnett to easily win the first leg of the doubles 11-1. The second and third legs were a different matter, the Wrangle pairing of Coulson and Burbidge being unlucky going down 11-13, 10-12 .

 

Graves Park C moved up to second place with an 8-2 victory over their A team. The latter A travelled in the opposite direction. Only one win in five means the A are not showing their full potential and they look to be in danger of falling into the relegation zone, having played more matches with not many more points than that of fellow strugglers. For the C team, Mick East was in fine form by winning his three matches. He was perhaps a little lucky to beat Rob Smith 11-7 in the fifth end. And despite a second set blip against big Phil Brooks, he came through unscathed. Martin Walters gave him excellent support also picking up his singles, needing four legs to see off Langley and Brooks, and although beating Smith in straight sets it could hardly have been closer, Martin nicking it 12-10, 11-9, 12-10. James Quinton could only manage one leg when beating the unlucky Brooks in four. But he lost in tight contests to both Smith and Langley. The doubles saw the untried pair of Brooks and Langley turn out for the A team and despite coming from behind twice, they went down 5-11 in the vital fifth.

 

Leaders Penmaen A travelled to visit second placed Lodgers B, the 9-1 result probably not being the true reflection of the game. With Brian Hill not playing, Penmaen drafted in Jimmy Brewster, who brushed the Lodgers lads aside in straight legs, Jimmy not being really pushed, although Vic Clements did run him close in the second set before going down 10-12. Andy Gilbert found Pete Evans a bit of a handful, the games going the full distance, while Clements also ran him close and was perhaps unlucky not to take the second end. Brett Heppenstall had little trouble with Clements and despite a blunder in the third against Tim Day, he won the fourth with some panache. He met his match against Pete Evans, though. Brett took the first and the third legs to lead 2-1 but Pete fought back to convincingly win the last two 11-5, 11-4, saving Lodgers from the ignominy of a whitewash.

 

In A D Dickinson Division Two action, two of the bottom three met when Lodgers E took on Stickney B and a 5-5 draw seemed a fitting result. Colin Bell, despite turning in a somewhat lack-lustre performance, won his singles but was taken to four legs by both Cliff Davey and Tim Sampson. Pete Bell chipped in with one beating Tony Sharpe who was playing his first match of the season. And although taking both Davey to five and Sampson to four, he (Pete) lost the last two sets in both games. Young Thomas Bell drew a blank but he must be quite pleased, taking the experienced Davey to four. It shouldn’t be too long before he is picking up a few points. 

 

Graves Park B moved from fifth to first in less than 48 hours, beating fellow Park teams on successive nights. First up came Graves Park Nomads, the B team winning 7-3 and the following night beating a full strength Park D 9-1. These two wins puts them eight points ahead of their nearest rivals. And although it is still early days, they must be firm title favourites.

 

Against Park Nomads it was the B team who opened the scoring by winning the first two, Mike Freeston and Mick Maltby having straight-forward victories over Walt Bridges and Tris Clow respectively. However, Nomads’ Dean Clow was in inspired form and reduced the arrears with a great win over Dave Graham. Nevertheless, the Park machine kept ticking over, Maltby getting his second of the night with a three-set win over Bridges. Dean Clow cut the deficit to one, with a four-set win over Freeston. Graham got his name on the board when beating Tris Clow, before Maltby and Dean Clow (the two unbeaten players) met. This was a close encounter with the game swinging to and fro. Maltby just edged it 11-9 in the fifth. Graham put the result beyond doubt with a confident win over Bridges who had had a quiet night, while Freeston wrapped up the singles with a solid three-set win over Tris Clow. There was a bit of a sting in the tail, though, Dean Clow gaining some consolation for his singles defeat by Malbty when combining with brother Tris to beat the Park pairing of Maltby and Graham (is this the Park’s Achilles heel?) 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 thus giving the score an air of respectability.

 

Some 24 hours later against Graves Park D, the B team were in top form, Dave Walther giving Mike Freeston a fight but failing miserably against Mick Maltby and Dave Graham. Paul Matschull gave all three Park players a bit of a battle but each time he faded in the critical set. John Beaumont, back after injury, performed reasonably well when taking both Maltby and Graham to four sets and despite going down in three straight to Freeston, it could have gone either way.  At 9-0 up, things were looking good for a clean sweep but the Park’s doubles jinx struck again, Freeston and Graham turning in a less than sparkling performance to go down to Matschull and Walters 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7, who just avoided the whitewash.

 

Penmaen B, anxious to gain a win, saw their best chance this week when they met up with two players Lodgers D. However they (Penmaen) found David Kime and Graham Bonsor (what a revelation he has been so far this season) in great form, David winning his singles and Graham chipping in with two, losing the last singles of the night to Sasha Martin. The doubles saw Graham gain some revenge for his singles defeats when teaming up with star of the night Kime to beat Martin and Andrei Clark 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 for a narrow 6-4 victory.

 

News for week ending Sunday November 5

 

There were some surprising results in the Boston and District Table Tennis League this week, none more so than in Yates and Greenhough Division One where Lodgers B defeated their A team counterparts 8-2.

 

The A side, however, were minus Graham Lacey and without him there to add a bit of steel to the team, they appear to lose all confidence and could become relegation candidates. Tim Day set the ball rolling by beating Trev Blackbourn in three sets, while Vic Clements added to the score with a somewhat shaky five-set win over Pete Truepenny. Pete Evans made it 3-0 with a narrow win over Stones, while Clements, now full of confidence, easily beat Blackbourn. Stones pulled one back for the A, comfortably beating Day. But this welcome respite was short-lived, Evans thumping Truepenny 11-8, 11-5, 11-2. The Clements/Stones encounter was probably the best game of the night, the match swinging both ways, Vic taking the first 11-9 but Ian hitting back in the next two 11-7, 11-4. Undeterred by this, Vic dug in and pulled out two 11-7 victories to keep the B in the driving seat. Evans, after losing the first set 8-11 to Blackbourn, wrapped up his singles in style by dismissing his opponent 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 while Day clocked up his second of the night by beating Truepenny in straight legs. Despite losing 1-8, the doubles were keenly fought, the A’s Blackbourn and Stones finding themselves 1-2 down, knuckled down to the task in hand, winning the fourth and then running away with the final leg giving them some small reward from a disappointing night.

 

Lodgers, still on a high after their win over their A team, turned in a dispiriting performance when they visited Graves Park A, who after three outings were still searching for their first win. It was the Park who started off well, Rob Smith easily beating Vic Clements while Phil Brooks at times struggling, laboured to a win over Tim Day. Langley and Clements were involved in a long drawn out game, both players resorting to “pushing” and scores such as 17-15 and 16-14 only go to illustrate this. Having said this, the Park were in great form, Smith beating the Pete Evans, while Langley added to their total. After a poor first end, Evans got Lodgers on the board with an 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 win over Brooks. But any sort of revival was dismissed, as Smith completed his hat-trick with a solid win over Day. Langley completed his gruelling night with a five-set win over Evans. Brooks concluded the singles with a delightful win over Clements and then combined with Smith to wrap up the proceedings, beating Day and Evans 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 for a 9-1 rout. Nevertheless even with the above result, Lodgers still hold on to second place in the table, higher than their G team and that doesn't happen too many times a season.

 

Lodgers G had what could at best be described as mixed fortunes, beating Graves Park A 7-3 but having a catastrophe against Penmaen A losing 0-10. Lodgers started off well against the Park, winning the first four and it wasn’t until game five that the Park got into the match, Rob Smith beating Mark Hulme in four. Kelvin Clements went on to win his three for the first time this season but it was Andy Kirk who proved to be a revelation, beating Phil Brooks and Nick Langley quite convincingly and although going to five with Rob Smith the final set was decisive. With Park 7-1 down things were looking bleak but Brooks made the score look a little more respectable beating Hulme in an exciting and tight four setter. Even then it wasn’t over, Brooks teaming up with Smith to beat Clements and Kirk 3-11, 11-7 9-11, 5-11 in the doubles.

 

Disaster struck four night later when Lodgers tackled a very strong Penmaen team. Brian Hill made no mistakes this week, winning his games in three straight sets. Jimmy Brewster, in for the injured Andy Gilbert, gave him excellent support also winning his singles but he was taken to four sets by Kelvin Clements, losing the first set 6-11 and just winning the third and fourth by the narrow margin of two points. Brett Heppenstall had little trouble with Andy Kirk or Mark Hulme and in a cracking five-set match with Clements. He came through to win the last two 11-9, 11-8. Lodgers were desperate for a point but were denied even this, Heppenstall and Hill combining in the doubles to beat Clements and Kirk 11-1, 11-2 11-5 to complete a 10-0 whitewash.

 

Two of the draw specialists Shodfriars A and Stickney A met the result being no surprise (yes you've guessed it), a 5-5 draw. Jake the Pegg though was in brilliant form for Shoddy's, winning his three games fairly convincingly, Geoff Bourne being the only Stickney player to push him close. Neil Snaith and Maurice Buck chipped in with one apiece, both of them beating young Andrew Benjamin who was making his Stickney debut. But despite Snaith pushing Bourne close, and Buck taking a set out of Paul Hartnett it was all to no avail. With both teams requiring the doubles, Bourne and Hartnett gained some consolation for their singles defeats, coming from two sets down to win 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 earning their team an equal share of the points.

 

Graves Park C who, through no fault of their own, have played less than the other teams kept the ball rolling with an 7-3 win at Lodgers A. Lodgers were again without the influential Graham Lacey, and always looked vunerable. Mick East was in tremendous form for the Park, winning his singles in straight legs and never looking to be in trouble. James Quinton and Martin Walters chipped in with two each, both of them beating Trev Blackbourn and Pete Truepenny. However, some of the games weren't that clear cut, Blackbourn getting close to both Quinton and Walters, while Truepenny could easily have nicked the game off Walters, losing the fifth end 9-11. Ian Stones picked up two for Lodgers and combined wit Blackbourn to contest the doubles. After losing the first two legs 13-15, 8-11, they kept in the hunt scraping the third 13-11 but they then cut loose to win the next two 11-6, 11-8 making the final score 3-7 which against Park C is not a poor result.

 

In the A D Dickinson Division Two, Lodgers D are playing under the handicap of having only two players, Nev Leggate being out with a leg injury. This is causing problems but it is understood that steps are being taken to rectify the matter. Graves Park D are also experiencing the same problems, both John Beaumont and James Smith out with injuries so when the two teams met recently, both teams had two players.David Kime got Lodgers off to a good start beating Dave Walters but Paul Matschull, after a struggle in the first, put the Park on level terms with what turned out to be a comfortable win over Graham Bonsor. Matschull addded the scalp of Kime to his belt, while Walters got his name on the board with a fluent win over Kime. The doubles was perhaps the closest match of the evening, Kime and Bonsor combining well, winning the douibles in five making the final score 3-2 in the Park’s favour.

 

Against Shodfriars C, Lodgers could again only field two players. But both Kime and Bonsor were in peak form, both winning their singles. However, many of the games were close and on another night could easily have swung the other way. Dave Hocking was perhaps the unluckiest player, leading both Bonsor and Kime by two sets to one he let the laast two sets slip. Lodgers luck held in the doubles, Kime and Bonsor crowning a successful evening guiding the team to a 7-3 win with only two players.


Lodgers E continue to struggle, going down 1-9 to Graves Park B who are rapidly rising up the table. Although Lodgers started off well, Colin Bell getting the drop over Mike Freeston, the Park machine rolled on. Both Mick Maltby and Dave Graham beat Colin Bell over five hard fought legs. Colin gave them a testing time. The Park lads swept aside Thomas and Pete Bell. And although Pete took a set out of Graham, the result was never in doubt. The doubles was straightforward, the old doubles partnership of Freeston and Maltby defeating Colin and Pete Bell 11-1, 11-8, 11-9.

 

Graves Park D, still struggling with only two players, met up with their F counterparts. Dave Walters was on top form winning his singles comfortably, beating the previously unbeaten Barry Frankish 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. Paul Matschull won his first two beating Alan Davy and Kit Calvert and the D were 5-0 up. But there was sting in the tail. Frankish, putting his earlier defeat behind him, whipped Matschull 11-3, 11-9, 11-7. The doubles were now all important as, with the three walkovers, the F could earn a draw. The F pairing of Davy and Frankish started well and easily won the first end. But the D scraped home in the second 11-9. The F gained the ascendancy in the next and then won the fourth end 11-6 to earn their team a well-deserved draw. 


Would all players who enter competitions please note: The closing date has now passed but the league will continue to accept entries for the next two weeks. Anyone who would like to enter should ring Rob Smith on (01205) 722890 for more information.