PREMIER/DIV 1 ROUND-UP WEEK 12
Published 06/12/2019 at 11:15:31 by David Wackrill.
PREMIER DIVISION MIGHTY MATT BEATEN AT LAST
This could prove to be a decisive fortnight in both the title and relegation races. The fixture computer has pitted teams against each other in consecutive weeks and both the top and bottom pairs (at week 11) have back to back matches against each other. Not that we learned much in the first week as the scores between the sides were as close as they could be.
Greenleys Kings increased their narrow margin at the top by 2 points when beating stable-mates Monarchs 6-4. After cruising into a 4-0 lead with their trio of Nick Howard, Matt Haynes and Guy Sparrow seemingly firing on all cylinders, the Kingsmen were shocked when their star turn went down in 4 games to Scottish hard batted ace Ian Johnston to end his own record run of 39 wins. This gave Monarchs a foothold in the match, but the damage had been done early doors and Kings held on for victory in a great match. Ian also beat Guy with Tomek Nowakowski beating both Nick and Guy for Monarchs other sets. Martin Hall completed their line-up.
Meanwhile, a 2-player (for the third time this season) MK Powers side fought out a draw with my MK Topspin team to maintain the status quo at the bottom. Pete Tillotson and Clare Styles both lost to me but beat Russell Penn and Mervyn Kelly, and also triumphed in the crucial doubles. All 3 sets Russell played in went to 5 games, as did my set with Pete, who led at change of ends in the decider after saving match points in the 4th game.
Cazuca Valentin got his best return since the opening week of the season with 2 wins in Greenleys Warriors 7-3 victory against MK Kingpins. Ricky Taiwo also chipping in with a brace to support a hat-trick by Tony Gorman The reliable Dave Allison grabbed a pair for Kingpins, who also won the doubles leaving Mark Purcell and Peter Bannister winless on the night. Dave and Tony are old foes, having first played against each other in the 1982/83 season in Division 1.
A routine 10-0 win this week for 3rd place MK Spinners against strugglers MK Phoenix, who have now lost 6 in a row. Only Mevyn Phillips put up some resistance in taking Tim Cheek to a 4th game and Neil Massa to 5. Alan Cherry enjoyed a comfortable maximum with Gerald Ridgway (only 43 points won in the match) and Ioan Constantin well beaten.
Player of the week is Ian Johnston.
DIVISION 1
VAN HIRE CLOSING IN ON TOP SPOT
Favourites MK Pumas seem to have imploded after losing to a 2-man side last week, as they followed that shock defeat with another one this time round. Their unlikely conquerors were mid table Woburn Sands Data, who put in a solid performance with all 3 of their team taking a brace each in a match where 4 sets were determined at 12-10 in the 5th. Congratulations go to James Molloy, Darren Ward and Rob McPheat for pulling off the surprise of the season so far. Chris Belton hasn’t had the greatest of starts to his current campaign but he picked up 2 wins here to add to Andy Smith’s sole victory over Darren. Pumas lost the doubles and Keith Carrington completed their line-up.
St. Christopher Van Hire missed out on the chance to go top by a single set after beating bottom club Newport Pagnell Vantage 8-2. Vantage usually put up a good fight, whoever they play, and this was no exception with half the sets going the distance. Biao Wang took a maximum for Van Hire with Jez Willcox and Paul Haigh a pair a-piece, as did Tony Ardis for Vantage. Michael Howard and Sue Lewis remained winless. Perhaps next week’s repeat of the same fixtures will see a changing of the guard?
The last Greenleys derby between Glory and Eagles ended all square as did this one. Joe Lindsay has been on fire all year and claimed yet another hat-trick here but, with the Eagles fielding a 2-man team for the second week, the only support came from a single Geoff Callaway win, over Danny Sedgwick, plus the doubles. That left 2-a-piece for Glory boys Ian Brown and Jacob Midson. Set of the night was Ian’s 5-game triumph over Geoff, which he needed 5 match points to accomplish.
Finally, Open University Primes entertained Chackmore Hasbeens in the Thursday match. James Zeng put in a mega performance here with a fine maximum over Bub Burman, Andy Whitehead and Sam Willett in Primes 7-3 win. Andy Tan and Martin Lok grabbed 2 each to complete the scoring, Andy with the prize scalp of Bub at 12-10 in the 5th. But the Bub/Andy W. Combo were as hard to beat as ever in doubles play, reeling off their 9th success of the season in straight games.
Player of the week is James Zeng.