PREMIER / DIV 1 ROUND-UP WEEK 18

Published 12/03/2022 at 16:32:47 by David Wackrill.

PREMIER
TOP DOGS RULE THE ROOST

 
Predictable wins all round this week for the heavyweights in this Division. Leaders MK Topspin saw off club-mates Sasaki 8-2 despite a spirited showing from Michael Wilkins who picked up a brace, beating Jecu Aurelain and Tim Cheek for his side’s only successes.  Otherwise it was nearly all plain sailing for the champions elect with Alan Cherry taking his usual maximum.  Great to see Tim back in the Spinners fold after a months absence through injury.  He got lucky though to escape losing in 4 games to William Kit Liang before recovering to win the only set that went to a 5th.  An off night for Nicolas Wong.
 
Second placed Greenleys Monarchs beat their own stable-mates Kings 6-4 in the club’s very own ‘royal derby’.  Tomek Nowakowski was in top form for this one with a fine hat-trick against the usual Kings’ trio of Nick Howard, Guy Sparrow and Jordan Moss with only a single game lost all night, and that was at deuce.  A blank for Dave Beddall was compensated by a crucial doubles win and two 5-game wins by Martin Hall, the first against Jordan and the second, in the final set, against Nick.  Despite the loss Kings stay 3rd for now.
 
4th placed Greenleys Warriors saw off relegation candidates MK Pumas 7-3 despite Pumas latest recruit Hakan Karaagac showing his class with a stunning hat-trick that never even needed a deciding game.  But that was the extent of the Pumas scoring with Warriors’ Ricky Taiwo, Darren Ward and Adebola Odetayo comfortably securing the remaining sets.  Andy Smith and Chris Belton were the other men on duty for the Pumas.
 
Player of the week : Hakan Karaagac


 
DIVISION 1
SARAH BRINGS HOME THE BACON

 
Leighton Buzzard Avengers suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as victors MK Topspin recorded a whitewash to edge another 3 sets closer to club-mate leaders Phoenix in the title race this week.  A strong performance though from Graham Silversides, playing up from Division 2, in taking two opponents to a deciding game, the only ones of the match.  First off, Graham missed out 11-9 in the 5th to Tanmay Tijare and later went down 12-10 in the 5th to Mervyn Kelly.  In between, he led Russell Penn 9-1 in the 4th (when 2-1 down in games) before Russell launched a remarkable comeback to win 12-10. A great result for Topspin. Richard Hardy and Christinel Hulpan were the other Avengers.
 
As indicated it was a 7-3 success for Phoenix against opponents Open University Primes with the ‘postman who always delivers’ Alan Bolding extending his current run of wins to 31 as Phoenix made it 6 straight wins since their last defeat, which was inflicted by Topspin. Mervyn Phillips also took a hat-trick for Phoenix but Terry Lau was again winless.  Ning He played for Primes alongside Patrick and Charity Wong. No sets went to a decider.
 
Match of the week has to be the mid table clash between MK Powers and Greenleys Glory with the opening 4 sets all going to a decider.  Powers grabbed 3 of those and then another 5-gamer later on to tip the balance of the match their way in a 6-4 scoreline. Powers’ Sarah Hudson was in the thick of the action, losing to Jacob Midson 11-9 in the 5th before gaining some revenge in the doubles with Jiten Pitamber against the Division’s top pair Jacob and Scott Dixon.  Her next singles ended in a 4 game win over Christine Scaysbrook and her last was a match winning 14-12 in the 5th win over Scott.  Powers other successes came from Jiten (2) and Keith Carrington (1).  Jacob hit his usual maximum for Glory with Scott providing their other win.
 
Finally, the bottom two met with basement team Chackmore Hasbeens upsetting MK Hit ‘n’ Hope 7-3.  The opening encounter between the team’s star men set the pattern for the night when Bub Burman just got the better of Ivor Howard 13-11 in the decider. This inspired Andy Whitehead to inflict a straight games win over Paul Tompkins and then Chris Whitehead to overcome Andy Frearson in another close 5-gamer.  Hit ‘n’ Hope recovered a little to take 3 of the next 5 but the Chackmore side finished strongly.  A hat-trick here for Bub, a brace for Andy and a single for Chris with the Bub/Andy doubles combo back to winning ways after a mysteriously barren patch.  Ivor hit a brace for the Hopers and Paul one.  Coincidently, all 3 matches between these sides have ended in a 7-3 scoreline this season.
 
Player of the week : Sarah Hudson