Competition has become more intense as only a few weeks remain before the end of the winter league. Not long for teams to make their final bids for the top spot....

Division 1 – Shooting Stars travelled to Minehead A for what turned out to be a game of two halves. The home team scored freely during the first half with the visitors hardly opening their account. Player of the match Joe Camp and Toby Kerslake both scored maximums for Minehead. A further 6 doubles points took their team total to 27 points. Once Shooting Stars started to score then all three players – Martin Shoots, Robin Arkell and Geoff Williams – scored 3 singles points apiece. More success was achieved when 5 doubles points made the score more respectable, ending with a total of 14 points.

By pure coincidence Gnomads’ match with Stogumber was again a game of two halves. This time it was Gnomads who took the initiative and almost closed out the first half of the match enabling them to clinch a decisive win. Martin Rant scored the only maximum of the evening to be awarded player of the match. Mel Horner scored an excellent 8 points and Nigel Foster 5. Doubles were also dominated by the home team giving Gnomads a 30 point total. Visitors Stogumber never really got going. Martyn Summerell put up the most resistance with 6 points and he was supported by Marcus Short with 4 points. Mervyn Hillier is still struggling for form following his return to the sport from retirement, but 2 valuable points were scored. Stogumber continued to struggle in the doubles with only 3 points scored, returning home with 15 points for the evening’s efforts.

Division 2 – Bampton witnessed a close encounter of the 3^rd kind when Roy’s Boys were visited by Space Invaders. This match was quite unique as it was an all-or-nothing affair, with the points shared almost equally. Not one game went beyond three sets. Player of the match was Barry Hooper, with both Barry and Roy Hooper scoring maximums in the singles. The doubles were a disappointment for the team as they gained only 3 points. Final score for the ‘Boys’ was 21 points. Space invaders singles play never really took off, with Jim Stiles, Matt Lawrence and Margo Baker each scoring 3 singles points. Their 6 doubles points did however rocket their score to 15 points although this was insufficient to avoid them being runners up on the night. 

Mad Batters benefited from their home venue when they attained a grand slam against visiting Drifters. Player of the match Hamish Cuthbertson plus Jamie and Matthew Short all scored singles maximums, a feat that was repeated in the doubles for a full 36 points. There was obviously tremendous excitement throughout this quite noisy match. Drifters provided some tough resistance to prove it was not a one-sided match. Liz Fletcher led the way with 6 singles points with support from Andrew Miles with 2 and Mike Pretty with 1 point.  The talents of Trevor Stockdale were employed as the doubles specialist for the evening although the result was a modest 1 point. Final score for the Drifters was a creditable 10 points against the team that was on form and currently tops the second division.

Space Invaders played their second match of the week when they landed at hosts House Martyns. The junior team were in fine form and almost had a grand slam on the evening. Joe Burt was player of the match as both he and Ellie Baker scored maximums. Jack Lancaster scored an excellent 8 points before the team gained maximum points in the doubles to take their score to 35 points. Space Invaders, being a more mature side, had perhaps not recovered from their expedition to Bampton earlier in the week. Matt Lawrence top scored with 4 points and managed the team’s only singles victory of the evening. Margo Baker scored 2, and a further 2 doubles points gave Space invaders a tally of 8 points and leaving the team hovering at the foot of the table.

TABLES:

Division 1

Division 2

CUP - There are two cup matches to report:

Tony’s Troopers hosted Basement Dwellers. Despite considerable handicaps it was Basement Dwellers that came out the victors. With gains of 47 for Mike Vickery and 31 points apiece from Paul Rees and Vince Court it gave a significant margin of victory for Dwellers by 365 points against 256 for the ‘Troopers’.

Stogumber entertained Minehead A and it was quite a close affair with both teams playing their second match of the week. Martyn Summerell made a gain of 42 for the home side and team mates David Bryant and Marcus Short helped Stogumber’s total score to a winning 307 points. Minehead were determined to fight for every point and gains of 27 for Toby Kerslake and 4 for Terry Cadman enabled Minehead to achieve a score of 291 points for the evening.