KIRKBY REACH DIVISION TWO SUMMIT

Kirkby Stephen A have stormed into a nine point lead at the summit of Division Two, after claiming their seventh consecutive win of the season with a 9-1 demolition of Dallam D.
Coming into the match, Dallam were chasing a promotion place, although things started badly for the Milnthorpe side as they slumped to an early 3-0 deficit. Sam Horrocks stopped the rot for Dallam when he dispatched Francesca Currie 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9. Kirkby’s Peter George and Dave White displayed magnificent form throughout the match by winning three games apiece, while Currie put the earlier disappointment behind her to defeat Jack Horrocks and Thomas Parkinson in four sets. The Eden Valley side completed the 9-1 success when Currie and White teamed up in the doubles to beat Matt and James Neal.
Crook B slipped to second in the table following a shock 5-5 draw with Burton C. Bryan and Shelley Rhodes helped Burton forge a commanding 4-1 advantage thanks to victories against Tony Cousins. Cousins was particularly unfortunate to lose out to Shelley Rhodes in a match where the Crook player lost 11-5 in a brutal five setter. Bob Bagot fought tenaciously for Crook, scooping the man of the match award with his three victories and salvaging a draw in the process.
Dallam C and Natland D fought out a gritty 5-5 draw in an exhausting mid-table encounter. Dallam’s Mike Jackson performed heroics, winning each of his matches three straight. Team mates Peter Duxbury and Matt Neal chipped into the Dallam account with victories against Liam Hogan and Rinaldo Colombi respectively. Natland had Richard San Jose to thank for salvaging a hard-fought draw courtesy of his wins against Neal and Duxbury. The result leaves Dallam in fifth and Natland in sixth place, with both teams level on points.
In Division 3, Burton E continue to head the table, but only by a slender seven point margin. This week they earned their eighth win of the campaign with a 21-16 triumph against Grayrigg B. Aidan Branch masterminded Burton’s latest success with three victories and was well supported by team mate Dave Salmon who won two games against Margaret Dixon and Patrick O’Reilly. Grayrigg’s Kevin Hunter tried tirelessly to prevent a Grayrigg defeat with successes against Salmon and Brian Gourlay, although this could not prevent his side from slipping to their fourth defeat of the season.
Crook C are looking dangerous in second place, seven points behind Burton E with an all-important game in hand. This week Crook beat Dallam E 23-15 to put themselves in serious contention for title honours.