Division 2 Roundup - Week 6

Published 26/10/2023 at 18:52:18 by Martin Johnson; edited 1 times, last on 26/10/2023 at 19:58:16 by Martin Johnson.

MK Team Power to First Win

Milton Keynes Powers turned around a poor start to the season, which saw them down in last place after five weeks, to storm to the biggest win of this week, 8-2, against Greenleys Sultans of Spin, thus moving them up two places in the Division and condemning their opponents to be the new bottom team, after six weeks.  The opening two sets both featured close finishes in a deciding game, with Ricky Jackson edging Paul Tompkins 11-8 in the fifth to give Sultans of Spin an early lead, but Peter Tillotson then took the decider against Robert Anderson 11-9 in the final game, to even things up.  However, from there the Powers trio of Paul, Peter and Keith Carrington surged through to an 8-2 win, with only Ricky snatching a second 11-8 in the fifth win, over Keith, to double the Greenleys team's tally.  Peter thus won all his three singles, also adding the doubles with Paul against Robert and Ricky, assisted by two wins each from Paul and Keith, whilst both Robert and Tony Edwardson were unable to collect a win for the Greenleys team.

Also moving up were Woburn Sands Mosquitoes, who edged from third to second place, and within four points of the leaders, with a 7-3 defeat of Greenleys Valiants, to continue their unbeaten record this season.  There was a maximum here by James Molloy, which included a doubles win with Andy Jenkins against Lewis Copp and Slava Volokha, with Andy also winning two singles, plus there was one further Mosquitoes win coming from Glenn Barcham.  There was an impressive substitute appearance for Valiants by Division 4's Chris Shamuyarira, playing up two Divisions, who managed to win two singles, whilst Lewis won once, but twice losing out in fifth games, firstly in the doubles, and then against James.  As a result, Valiants fall back slightly, from equal fourth to fifth position.

The top of the table clash featured second placed Mursley Hawks against leaders, Leighton Buzzard Spitfires, with both defending unbeaten records.  Both records remained intact by the end of the night, as the two teams drew 5-5, a fourth draw in six matches for Hawks.  There was a fourth maximum in as many appearances here by Mick O'Mahony for Hawks, including the doubles with David Bartlett, as Hawks kept up their 100% doubles record, with the other Hawks win being a tight 11-9 in the decider win for David against Syed Ali.  Two wins each for Filip Simek and Graham Silversides, plus a final set win for Syed against Ian Spanswick completed the scoring, as Spitfires rescued the result from 5-3 down at one stage.  Spitfires now have a four point lead over Mosquitoes at the top, with Hawks edged down to third place, a point back from second.

The final match of the week was a hard fought 6-4 win by equal fourth placed Newport Pagnell Lagondas against equal sixth placed Milton Keynes Pioneers.  Despite being on the losing side, it was Kareem Omar for Pioneers who took the individual honours, with wins in all his singles games, although Lagondas took the doubles as Michael Howard and Tony Ardis combined to defeat Kareem and Andy Frearson.  Tony and Chris Horn each grabbed two singles wins for Lagondas, with their final win being Michael against Terry Lau.  For Pioneers, Andy won one singles to complete the scoring.  Lagondas have thus moved to fourth position, with Pioneers back in seventh.

Next week sees yet another top two clash, as unbeaten Spitfires take on unbeaten Mosquitoes, whilst third placed Hawks, also unbeaten, take on seventh placed Pioneers.  The other two matches pit Valiants in fifth against Powers in sixth, and fourth placed Lagondas against eighth placed Sultans of Spin, in the round that will complete the first third of the League season.

Player of the Week : Peter Tillotson.