Mursley Hawks 4-6 Greenleys Princes
Monday 27 March 2023
| Game | Result | Score | Match score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Johnson lost to Tom Davey (0-3) | 7-11, 17-19, 7-11 | 0-1 |
| 2 | Ian Spanswick lost to Gary Viner (2-3) | 11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 5-11 | 0-2 |
| 3 | David Bartlett beat Saravana Kumar (3-2) | 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2 | 1-2 |
| 4 | David Bartlett & Ian Spanswick lost to Tom Davey & Saravana Kumar (1-3) | 12-10, 8-11, 5-11, 8-11 | 1-3 |
| 5 | Ian Spanswick lost to Tom Davey (0-3) | 3-11, 8-11, 9-11 | 1-4 |
| 6 | Martin Johnson beat Saravana Kumar (3-2) | 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7 | 2-4 |
| 7 | David Bartlett beat Gary Viner (3-1) | 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5 | 3-4 |
| 8 | Ian Spanswick lost to Saravana Kumar (0-3) | 3-11, 8-11, 9-11 | 3-5 |
| 9 | David Bartlett lost to Tom Davey (0-3) | 7-11, 5-11, 3-11 | 3-6 |
| 10 | Martin Johnson beat Gary Viner (3-0) | 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 | 4-6 |
| Team | Legs won | Legs average (%) | Points won | Points average (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mursley Hawks | 15 | 39.47 | 333 | 46.64 |
| Greenleys Princes | 23 | 60.53 | 381 | 53.36 |
| Team | Player | Games played | Games won | Legs played | Legs won | Legs average (%) | Points played | Points won | Points average (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mursley Hawks | Martin Johnson | 3 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 54.55 | 228 | 114 | 50.00 |
| Mursley Hawks | Ian Spanswick | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 18.18 | 194 | 79 | 40.72 |
| Mursley Hawks | David Bartlett | 3 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 50.00 | 216 | 107 | 49.54 |
| Greenleys Princes | Tom Davey | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 100.00 | 173 | 107 | 61.85 |
| Greenleys Princes | Gary Viner | 3 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 33.33 | 220 | 107 | 48.64 |
| Greenleys Princes | Saravana Kumar | 3 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 53.85 | 245 | 124 | 50.61 |
| Match date | Monday, 27 March 2023 at 19:30 |
|---|---|
| Competition | League |
| Division | Division Two |
| Venue | Mursley Village Hall |
| Season | 2022-2023 |
| Legs played | 38 |
| Points played | 714 |
Published 15/05/2024 11:38 by Martin Johnson.
Match Report – Mursley Hawks vs Greenleys Princes (Division 2)
Mursley Hawks hosted Greenleys Princes in the final League match of the season. Fourth placed Hawks stood a very slim chance of edging up to third in the table, but there was much more at stake for Princes, as they started the match just three points behind leaders, Hasbeens, and five points ahead of third placed Lagondas, with those two teams playing each other. As such, Princes could guarantee a promotion spot with a 5-5 draw or better (as they had three more match wins than Lagondas), whilst a big win *might* just give them the Division 2 title, *if* they could score at least three points *more* than Hasbeens!
Hawks were without their form player, Mick O'Mahony, so their trio was David Bartlett, Martin Johnson and Ian Spanswick, whilst Princes sent along their top trio of Tom Davey, Saravana Kumar and Gary Viner.
Princes surged into an early lead, with Tom proving too steady for Martin, and winning in straight games, although Martin pushed him to 19-17 in the second. Gary followed up with a battling fifth game win over Ian, from 1-0 and 2-1 down, to take it in the decider. However, there was a surprise in the next set, as Saravana had a real battle on his hands against David, and after they'd shared four very close legs, it was David who got a flying start in leg five, from which he never looked back, to unexpectedly peg one back for Hawks. However, it was back to business for Princes as Tom and Saravana combined to beat David and Ian in the doubles, and then Tom picked up his second straight games win against Ian, to put Princes 4-1 up, and within a point of guaranteed promotion.
Saravana returned to the table, but found himself in a second epic battle, this time against Martin. Saravana managed to edge ahead, first at 1-0 up, then at 2-1 up, but couldn't seem to pull clear, and Martin battled back to take leg four, and then found a couple of big hits towards the end of the decider, to grab it 11-7 - and only the second time all season that Saravana has lost more than once in a night. David then picked up a second win on the night, defeating Gary over four legs, to further delay any Princes celebrations, as he reduced the Princes advantage to 4-3. However, fittingly, Saravana finally clinched a win, over Ian, in the next set, to both ensure his team's promotion, but also just hold on to second place in the Player Averages over the season. Tom completed a fine night, winning his third singles, again in straight games, against David, to improve the score to 6-3, and even suggest thoughts of maybe taking the title - IF Hasbeens had an unlikely 'off' night. The three wins on the night for Tom made it five in a row, and also ensured he'd finish in fourth place in the Player Averages. Last up, and Martin collected a second win, beating Gary over three tight games, to make the final score Hawks 4 - 6 Princes, and also eventual seventh place in the Player Averages for Martin. With the match over, cue some gentle celebrations for Princes, as the win ensured at least runners-up spot, whilst Hawks finished fourth, in what has been a very competitive division, all season, with some very close matches throughout.
For the record, Hasbeens duly completed a 6-4 win against Lagondas, so sealing the title by three points, which is probably the biggest lead at the top there's been all season! Congratulations to Hasbeens on winning the division, and to Princes on finishing runners-up.
Player of the Match : Tom Davey.
Mursley Hawks hosted Greenleys Princes in the final League match of the season. Fourth placed Hawks stood a very slim chance of edging up to third in the table, but there was much more at stake for Princes, as they started the match just three points behind leaders, Hasbeens, and five points ahead of third placed Lagondas, with those two teams playing each other. As such, Princes could guarantee a promotion spot with a 5-5 draw or better (as they had three more match wins than Lagondas), whilst a big win *might* just give them the Division 2 title, *if* they could score at least three points *more* than Hasbeens!
Hawks were without their form player, Mick O'Mahony, so their trio was David Bartlett, Martin Johnson and Ian Spanswick, whilst Princes sent along their top trio of Tom Davey, Saravana Kumar and Gary Viner.
Princes surged into an early lead, with Tom proving too steady for Martin, and winning in straight games, although Martin pushed him to 19-17 in the second. Gary followed up with a battling fifth game win over Ian, from 1-0 and 2-1 down, to take it in the decider. However, there was a surprise in the next set, as Saravana had a real battle on his hands against David, and after they'd shared four very close legs, it was David who got a flying start in leg five, from which he never looked back, to unexpectedly peg one back for Hawks. However, it was back to business for Princes as Tom and Saravana combined to beat David and Ian in the doubles, and then Tom picked up his second straight games win against Ian, to put Princes 4-1 up, and within a point of guaranteed promotion.
Saravana returned to the table, but found himself in a second epic battle, this time against Martin. Saravana managed to edge ahead, first at 1-0 up, then at 2-1 up, but couldn't seem to pull clear, and Martin battled back to take leg four, and then found a couple of big hits towards the end of the decider, to grab it 11-7 - and only the second time all season that Saravana has lost more than once in a night. David then picked up a second win on the night, defeating Gary over four legs, to further delay any Princes celebrations, as he reduced the Princes advantage to 4-3. However, fittingly, Saravana finally clinched a win, over Ian, in the next set, to both ensure his team's promotion, but also just hold on to second place in the Player Averages over the season. Tom completed a fine night, winning his third singles, again in straight games, against David, to improve the score to 6-3, and even suggest thoughts of maybe taking the title - IF Hasbeens had an unlikely 'off' night. The three wins on the night for Tom made it five in a row, and also ensured he'd finish in fourth place in the Player Averages. Last up, and Martin collected a second win, beating Gary over three tight games, to make the final score Hawks 4 - 6 Princes, and also eventual seventh place in the Player Averages for Martin. With the match over, cue some gentle celebrations for Princes, as the win ensured at least runners-up spot, whilst Hawks finished fourth, in what has been a very competitive division, all season, with some very close matches throughout.
For the record, Hasbeens duly completed a 6-4 win against Lagondas, so sealing the title by three points, which is probably the biggest lead at the top there's been all season! Congratulations to Hasbeens on winning the division, and to Princes on finishing runners-up.
Player of the Match : Tom Davey.