CROOK CATAPULT TO FOURTH
Two good results for Crook A have seen them rise to fourth in the Kendal and District League Division 1 table.
Crook opened the week with a sensational 9-1 demolition of Natland C, who now find themselves perilously placed two points above the relegation zone. Crook’s trio of Phil Swift, Mike Taylor and John Howarth were hardly troubled in a routine night, with Louisa Bevan’s 11-7, 3-11, 11-8, 11-8 success over Swift being Natland’s solitary taste of victory. Crook earned their third win of the season and their second triumph of the week, when they eclipsed Dallam A 10-0. Crook rode their luck at times, as Dallam lost out in three crucial fifth set encounters. Firstly, Swift edged out an unlucky Paul Gosling 13-11, Howarth scraped past Craig James 11-5 and Taylor crept past John Fitzgerald 11-5 all in the crucial deciding set. Dallam’s bitter misfortune did not count for anything, as Crook went on to win the other encounters, which sees them up to fourth in the table. Dallam A meanwhile are rooted to the foot of the table, six points from safety.
Natland C fought back from defeat against Crook to earned their first win of the season, 7-3 against lowly Dallam B. Louisa Bevan helped Natland race into an early 4-1 advantage, courtesy of her victories against Tom Parkinson and Tom Carling. Richard San Jose chipped in with victories against Parkinson and a nail-biting 11-9 fifth set triumph against George Pearson. Dallam clung onto some hope when Carling masterminded victories against Pete Taylor and a gut wrenching 13-11 success in the fifth set against San Jose. Natland clinched a memorable 7-3 victory late on when Taylor beat Parkinson in five exhausting sets and Bevan completed three wins with a straight sets victory over Pearson.
Natland D have momentarily shot into top spot in Division 2, after crushing Dallam C 9-1. Norman Philbey was unfortunate not to get Dallam on the scoresheet sooner, as he lost out 11-8 and 11-5 in fifth set thrillers against Mick Taylor and Richard San Jose respectively. The Milnthorpe side finally got on the scoresheet when young Sam Horrocks defeated San Jose 11-3 in four entertaining sets. Natland completed the rout when Taylor and Liam Hogan bagged all three wins.
Natland E sit at the summit of Division 3 despite a 22-14 derby defeat at the hand of their F team. George Pickthall collected the man of the match award for his three victories and was ably supported by Glen Allen’s two wins against John Quinne and Tim Marris. The E team’s points came courtesy of Rinaldo Colombi’s two wins against Allen and Ed Pickthall, adding to Marris’s straight sets success also against Ed Pickthall. The win leaves the F team in second place, eighteen points behind the leaders.
