Published 04/05/2024 20:05 by Michael Howard; edited 2 times, last on 04/05/2024 20:05 by Michael Howard.

This result has implications at both ends of the table, improving the chances for the Leighton Buzzard team of avoiding relegation and denting the hopes of the Newport Pagnell team's promotion chances. The home side were hit by overnight illness affecting Sue Lewis, and with Chris Horn and Glen Davison committed elsewhere, the Lagondas pair of Tony Ardis and Mike Howard called on Jim Brogan, who was also playing in a division 3 match on the adjacent table. The Spitfires trio of Graham Silversides, Andy King and Filip Simek took full advantage and raced into a welcome, even if unexpected 5-0 lead. The opening set provided a 4-leg win for Graham over Mike. The next one involved Tony and Filip, as Jim was still involved in a 5-leg division 3 battle. Filip controlled the set totally, winning in 3 legs with Tony unable to play with his usual flueny. Jim then played Andy, but had difficulty coping with Andy's pimpled backhand rubber, while stil producing some moments of Brogan artistry. The doubles provided perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, as the previously untried Spitfires pairing of Andy/Filip caused the first loss of the season for the Lagondas' Tony/Mike combination in 4 legs.Jim then played Graham but, despite winning the first leg 11-9 and producing soem amazing service returns, Jim could not maintain this and Graham took the next 3 legs, to give the Spitfires an uninterrupted lead at the halfway stage of the evening. The home side's fightback then began, with Mike managing to stifle Filip's attack over 3 legs. Tony then played Andy and won in 4 close legs. Andy won the first 11-9 and Tony the second by 11-7 before taking the 3rd at deuce. It looked as though Andy would take the set to a final leg, but after trailing 6-10, Tony spomehow gained 6 points in a row to take the leg 12-10 and win the set. With Jim still occupied elsewhere in another 5 set marathon, Tony then beat Graham in another close 4-leg set, the 3rd leg providing an even greater recovery, from 4-10 to win in deuce.. At 3-5, Lagondas had hopes of securing a draw, but Jim could not stop Filip's attack over 3 legs, which gave teh away side the win. Mike finished off the evening with a 4 -leg win over Andy in what was the cagiest set of the night. The win means that Spitfires are now equal in 5th place with OU Shockwave, who will be their opponents in their final match of the season. Lagondas are now in 3rd, a point behind both Greenleys Princes and Chackmore Hasbeens, those teams providing their opponents in the final matches of the season. If could all go down to the wire with 3 teams vying for promotion and 3 teams hoping to avoid a relegation place! Give a thought to Jim Brogan and his amaxing stamina and appetite for table tennis. althoughhe could not repeat his division 2 heroics of a fortnight ago, he still battled in his normal division 3 match, losing his first 2 sets 12-10 in the final leg but winning his final set-at 11pm!

Players of the match: Graham, Andy and Filip for the Spitfires.