Published 05/12/2025 16:52 by Martin Johnson.
As the second half of the League schedule began, so the two Mursley teams once again joined battle, and with the Hawks having taken the opening match of the season 6-4, so 4th placed Swallows were hoping they could reverse the outcome against 6th placed Hawks, despite missing their in form player, Roger Shelton. Things were not looking good for this, as Mervyn Phillips went a game up and 9-5 up against Martin Johnson, but Martin took the next six points on the bouce and stayed on the attack, never looking back, to win in four tough games, to hand Mervyn a very rare loss. Mervyn resumed normal service in winning his other two singles in straight games, and also joined forces with Andy King in the doubles, to beat off the challenge of Martin and Peter Sear in a close five games. Meanwhile, following the opening singles win, Peter had taken a tight four game win against Andy King, whilst Swallows' reserve on the night, John Paul, playing for the first time after a long absence, did likewise against Richard Hare, to put Swallows 3-0 up. After the doubles, then Mervyn's win against Peter. this reduced the margin to 3-2, but Swallows pulled back ahead to 6-2, as both Peter beat Richard, John came from 2-1 down, to beat Andy in five games and Martin beat Richard. To complete the match, Mervyn beat John, whilst Martin completed his hatrick, although at one all and deuce in the third against Andy, it could have gone either way, but Martin took that crucial third game 14-12, and then the fourth game, to seal a 7-3 win for Swallows, which temporarily, at least, takes them to third spot.
