It was an 11.20 pm finish at Alderminster when Shottery B entertained Colebridge Bulldogs. The opening contest saw the visiting Mike Evetts secure the first two sets against Tim Fell, before a spirited recovery enabled the hosts' captain to force a decider where he was unable to take advantage of two game points. The unlucky Fell suffered a similar fate when taking on Dean Hicks as, after levelling another two set deficit, he again lost out in the fifth. However, in a marathon with Chris Welsh, which saw both players defending valiantly, Fell finally earned his deserved reward. Shottery's Gareth Hepworth was the Player of the Match after posting a treble but, in partnership with Tony Remes, he narrowly lost the doubles to Evetts and Hicks who each recorded braces for Bulldogs, with Welsh producing their other point. (somewhat ambiguous this paragraph , as Bulldogs triumphed 6-4 at Shottery B, two each for Evetts and Hicks , plus a point in the doubles win , and , crucially , a sixth point for Chris Welsh in his win over Tony Remes -Editor. )
Simultaneously, on the adjacent table, it was also 6-4 to the visiting team as Snitterfield overcame Blazing Paddles. John Price made a welcome return to the villagers’ line-up and celebrated with a treble, although in the doubles, he and Don McAdam were defeated over the full distance by Nello Mauri and Chris Dickens. Alison Stewart added two wins each over five sets for Snitterfield, but lost in the same manner to Dickens, and McAdam registered their crucial sixth point. Dickens notched a brace for Paddles with Mauri also getting on the card.
JLM Hussars maintained their perfect start by winning 7-3 at Henley B. Kevin Taylor chalked up his third treble of the campaign, but had to overturn early disadvantages against all three opponents before clinching final set wins. He and Jonny Lyons were also taken to the wire in the doubles, with Lyons going to another successful decider against Robert McCluskey. Lyons finished on a brace for Hussars and Chris Dyson added their seventh score. Andy Rowland contributed two victories for Henley and, in the only five set encounter to go their way, McCluskey overcame Dyson.
Evetts was in league action for a second time in the week as his regular Colebridge Pasties team played host to a new look Tanworth Taipans who gave debuts to Jason Rainey and Gareth Don. Evetts was undefeated, despite being made to work hard by both newcomers, but Pasties’ best performance was delivered by John Taylor who notched a treble, without conceding a set, as well as securing the doubles with Evetts. Richard Grover added Pasties’ eighth success after recovering from a two set deficit to beat Rainey 12-10 in the decider. However Grover wasn’t so fortunate against Tim Lawrence, as he again levelled after loss of the opening two ends only to be defeated 11-9 in the fifth. Don earned Taipans’ other point as they finished on the wrong side of an 8-2 scoreline.
Ashorne were also 8-2 victors at Veterans where Mark Bridgeman and Steve Bolton produced maximums with Steve Handsley adding a further victory, although he was unable to get the better of David Higgins or Brian Marston.
