PREMIER/DIV 1 ROUND-UP
PREMIER DIV WEEK 15 ROUND-UP
DASHING DAN BACK ON TRACK
Dan Smalley has suffered some shock defeats recently but the Sasaki skipper returned to top form this week against a full strength MK Bandits side. Dan took a hat-trick for the leaders which included the League’s most prestigious prize scalp of Matt Evans. Dakshin Subramanian & Kelvin Choong chipped in with vital wins over Michael Wilkins and Sasaki took the doubles in a 6-4 victory. A terrific pair of wins here for Bandits’ Jamie Hendy, who continues to enhance his growing reputation.
However, MK Spinners closed the gap at the top to 2 points after trouncing champions Greenleys Monarchs by 9-1. Gary Jones, despite a heavy cold, was back on song to register his first maximum of the season while Alan Cherry was as imperoius as ever. I was expecting to see a raft of Northamptonshire mega signings for Monarchs in the January window in order to save their season in a late bid to retain their title with a barrage of 10-0 whitewashes. But the only movement from them in the transfer market was a re-registration for Ian Dummett from Division 2 team Cardinals. Good player though Ian is, he beat Tim Cheek for Monarch’s sole win here, it looks like their remaining weeks will be spent trying to stay ahead of bottom placed club-mates Kings.
Guy Sparrow’s form is looking up for Kings with a strong double over MK Kingpins’ Mark Purcell and Dave Allison. Kings had Ian Brown making a rare appearance for them as a late replacement for an indisposed Henry Arthur. Henry has a great record against the Kingpins so it might have better than a 7-3 defeat had the Corby man been able to play. Julian Adams scored a maximum for the winners (beating Guy over 5 games) and Jordan Wood got Kings’other point with a win against Mark.
Player of the week is Dan Smalley.
DIVISION 1 WEEK 14 ROUND-UP
ROMAULD RULED OUT
The big game this week was between runaway leaders Greenleys Warriors and MK Pumas, who are chasing for the runners-up spot. Warriors lost the match 7-3 on a technicality after breaching the playing regulation which decrees that no player from a lower division may play ‘up’ against the same opposition more than once. This is the 2nd season the rule has been in place and is printed in upper case in the handbook. Romauld Baucherel was the ‘offending’ player and his 3 ‘on the table wins’ have been forfeited in Pumas’ favour. Skipper Richard Yip made a welcome return to the Warriors side with a seasonal debut but was outclassed by the Pumas trio so the only points the Warriors have for their night’s work were the 3 regular wins from Ricky Taiwo.
St.Christopher Van Hire went to the Open University last night and returned with 8 points from Primes which keeps them in a strong 2nd position. Biao Wang hit another hat-trick with Fabrice Spelta and Paul Haigh scoring braces. Patrick Wong continues to impress though with a fine brace himself for the home side, both 3-straight victories too.
I took a maximum for MK Topspin in a 7-3 win over MK Phoenix while Russell Penn and Phoenix’ Gerald Ridgway scored a brace a-piece. Topspin stay in 3rd place, one point ahead of Pumas.
In a mid table duel Woburn Sands Data saw off Greenleys Eagles 6-4. A usual hat-trick from James Molloy was well supported by a brace by Dave McGarragh, making up for a rare blank from Rob McPheat, who paired up with James for a crucial 5-game doubles win. Barry Bishop bagged a pair for Eagles.
Pete Tillotson and Minesh Pitamber scored maximums in MK Powers 8-2 victory over bottom side Chackmore Hasbeens. But perhaps their most cherished win came from Mark Moore when he beat Andy Whitehead 12-10 in the 5th. Mark is new to the League this season and is a little out of his depth in this division, but nevertheless has battled through 9 matches now with a terrific spirit to earn his very first MK win, which has to be memorable.
Player of the week is Patrick Wong.