Results

Division 1– It was a shock result when House Martyns challenged seven times division 1 and current champions, Wiveliscombe. The [mostly] junior home team played hard from the outset and developed a slim lead as the match progressed. Joe Burt was player of the match for the only maximum scored on the night. Scott Milton continued to outplay his opponents with his flat hitting and extreme angled shots, and only missed his maximum in the 5^thset of his opening game. 3 more valuable points were also added by Jack Lancaster. There was less success in the doubles, but the 3 points scored gave House Martyns a grand total of 23 points. Wiveliscombe were never comfortable as they played against such determined opposition. Paul Nutkins was the top scorer, but he too just missed his maximum, with 8 points. David Woodland was suffering from a heavy cold, but his 5 points were not to be sneezed at, and with Dennis Buckingham adding a further 3. The final two games of the evening were both doubles, and Wiveliscombe were trailing in the match by 6 points. They finally managed to get into their stride to win both games without conceding a set. These last 6 doubles points meant Wiveliscombe salvaged the match with 23 points and a draw on the evening. Whilst this enabled Wiveliscombe to rise one place in the league table it now puts more pressure on them if they are to retain their championship aspirations.

Division 2– It was all systems go for Space Invaders as they launched themselves into battle against Drifters. Matt Lawrence was on fire as he rocketed to his maximum, and the player of the match award. Jim Stiles was also fired up, and only just missed his maximum with 8 points. Margo Baker boosted the team score by a further 6 points. It was also full throttle in the doubles with maximum points meaning Space Invaders ended their mission with 32 points, enabling them to overtake Drifters in the division 2 title race. It was a steady performance for Drifters, with Liz Fletcher as the stand-out player with 6 points. Andrew Miles put his pimples to good use, scoring 5, and Mike Pretty also adding a further 4 points. Trevor Stockdale was the doubles specialist but could only help the team glean 3 doubles points. Drifters ended the match with 18 points but still drifted one place lower in the league table.

Allsorts challenged Hawks for the second week running as they played their return match. In the singles Sifa Vea, Roy Pointer and Mike Lawrie all succumbed to Hawks’ Mark Scyner, so they each scored 6 points. In the doubles Barbara Parker was the specialist and steered the team to an unopposed maximum doubles score. The final score for Allsorts was 27 points, giving them the lead in the division 2 league table. All the points scored by Hawks came from player of the match, Mark Scyner with the only maximum of the night. Although these 9 points represented Hawks’ final tally it doesn’t truly reflect the playing ability of the other team members – Alfie and Nathaniel Southam. Having personally observed this match, with its number of close games, it will only be a matter of time, perseverance and experience that will see these two young men consistently adding points to 

Division 1

 Division 2 

 Division 2