writes Peter Florence
With the teams split into two divisions for the remainder of the season Colebridge Pasties gave a clear declaration of intent with a comprehensive 9-1 win over their top-flight stable-mates Colebridge Bulldogs. Twelve year old Nathaniel Saunders displayed his growing maturity with an accomplished treble before partnering Mike Evetts to add the doubles. Evetts also recorded a maximum although, in the only contest to require a decider, he was made to work hard by Mahroof Hussain who would have considered himself unfortunate to lose out having scored four points more than his opponent over the course of their five sets. Mike Credland earned two wins for Pasties, but lost out to Dean Hicks who thereby prevented the whitewash.
In another local derby JLM Cavaliers narrowly overcame JLM Hussars. Steve Cull notched a treble in straight sets while his son Joe added a brace, including a five set victory over Kevin Taylor, with Dave Bevington earning their crucial sixth point. Chris Dyson, Stef Mytton and Taylor each got on the card for Hussars, and the latter pair also put aside an 11-1 defeat in the first end to claim the doubles 11-9 in the fifth.
Clive Irwin recorded a clean sweep, including the doubles in partnership with Alison Stewart, as Snitterfield were also 6-4 winners when they entertained Shottery B. Stewart and John Price each added a victory but were unlucky not to add to their hauls after being involved in the only contests to go the full distance. Shottery B’s Steve Smith put aside defeat in the opener to overcome Stewart, while Gareth Hepworth overturned a two set deficit against Price to clinch the decider 13-11. Smith and Hepworth each went home with braces for Shottery B.
In Division Two Richard Grover was untroubled as Henley B defeated JLM Troopers 7-3. Martin Clayton gained two successes with Tony Seymour getting on the card, while George Clarke earned two of Troopers’ scores and Piotr Penczkowski their third.
Henley A also opened with a victory when they entertained Ashorne. Nigel Payne produced a maximum, Peter Quince a brace and Geoff Shephard their sixth win. Mark Bridgeman notched two of the visitors’ points while Roger Pye secured another and the two players combined to claim the doubles.
Honours were even between Blazing Paddles and Tanworth Taipans. Nello Mauri and Chris Dickens acquired braces for Paddles before securing the the all-important concluding doubles 13-11 in the fifth set. However neither was able to overcome Jason Rainey who posted a treble, which included victory against Mauri in the fixture’s only other encounter to go down to the wire, with Mick Welsh and Tim Lawrence each adding a point for Taipans.
