Division 2 Roundup - Week 12

Published 07/12/2023 at 20:36:02 by Martin Johnson; edited 2 times, last on 08/12/2023 at 23:29:49 by Martin Johnson.

Hawks Hit Heights and Powers Progress

Week 12 features only three matches, with the proposed meeting of leaders, Leighton Buzzard Spitfires, against basement team, Milton Keynes Pioneers, postponed until 3rd January.

With the leaders not playing, second-placed Mursley Hawks grabbed the chance to go top, by beating sixth-placed Greenleys Valiants 9-1, in a match where unfortunately Valiants did not have a full team.  Regulars Peter Carr and Slava Volokha turned up to play against David Bartlett, Ian Spanswick and Martin Johnson, with a reserve to make up the numbers.  However, when the reserve turned out to be Muhammad Hamza, Valiants fell foul of the League Rule, whereby a substitute may only play against a particular team once, and Muhammad had alreadyy played Hawks - the previous week!!  The match went ahead officially as three versus two, although Muhammad kindly stayed and played his sets to complete the evening.  Peter actually started off putting Valiants ahead 1-0 on the night by beating Martin Johnson, but Valiants made no further inroads, as David & Ian each won both their sets, and Martin won a very close final set against Slava, at 11-9 in the fifth leg, with Slava having also lost out in five to David.  Earlier, David and Martin combined to take the doubles aaginst Peter and Slava, to maintain Hawks' record of 100% in doubles, and for Hawks to finish 9-1 winners.  For the record, although not able to be counted, Muhammad did win one of his unofficial sets, defeating Ian, but losing out to David & Martin, with one of the legs against David going all the way up to 21-19 !  The win has taken Hawks top of the table (given Spitfires' postponement), whilst Valiants stay in sixth.

Third-placed, Woburn Sands Mosquitoes returned to winning ways, taking their match against seventh-placed Greenleys Sultans of Spin by a 6-4 margin.  After a not so good week, last week, Rob McPheat bounced back to form, winning all three of his singles, although he was taken close in the decider by both Daniel Carter (11-8) and Ricky Jackson (11-9).  Daniel and Ricky did win a five gamer, though, coming through 11-8 in the fitth against Andy Jenkins and Glenn Barcham in the doubles.  There were two further close five games victories for Sultans of Spin, as Robert Anderson edged through 12-10 in the decider against Andy, and Daniel was pushed to 11-7 in another decider against Glenn.  With four of the other five sets also going to four legs, it was closely contested throughout, with over 800 points played on the night.  Ricky, Daniel and Robert each won one singles for Sultans of Spin, whilst the other singles wins for Mosquitoes came from Glenn (2) and Andy (1).  Mosquitoes have stayed third, and extended their lead over fourth place, slightly, whilst Sultans of Spin stay seventh, but have closed to within a point of the team above them.

The final match of this week featured fourth versus fifth, as Newport Pagnell Lagondas played Milton Keynes Powers.  It was Powers who picked up a third consecutive win, and closed to within a point of Lagondas, as they emerged as 6-4 winners.  Powers' new recruit, Andy Pearson, proved the difference, taking a straight games treble in singles, though lost out in the doubles with Peter Tillotson against Tony Ardis and Glen Davison.  Powers took the two closest sets, with Peter edging out Glen 11-9 in a decider, whilst Keith Carrington came through in five against Chris Horn, to give Powers an early lead on the night, and despite a partial fightback from Lagondas, with Chris winning twice and Tony once, to add to the doubles for their team, Powers always maintained their lead, to run out as the victors.

Next week is the penultimate week before the Christmas break, and once again there are only three matches to take place, with the clash of the top two teams, Spitfires and Hawks, already postponed until 4th January.  The three matches that are on see Valiants host Mosquitoes, Lagondas visit Pioneers and finally Sultans of Spin entertain Powers.

Player of the Week : David Bartlett.