Division 1 Roundup - Week 6
Tight at the Top (Again)?
Six weeks into the season, and just one week to go until the first round of fixtures is completed, and things are getting tighter at the top of Division 1. The sixth week of fixtures has been completed, and the top three teams are now only separated by three points, and the top six teams are within eleven points of each other. There was one draw this week, whilst the biggest scoreline of the season (so far) remains at 8-2, although a couple of teams came close to a bigger win, with an 8-2 scoreline matched twice more.
Leighton Buzzard Avengers were one of those 8-2 winners, defeating Mursley Hawks, to remain in second spot and closing the gap on the Division 1 leaders, Sasaki, to just two points. There were maximums here for both Fabrice Spelta and Dave Broome for Avengers, who remain the only unbeaten side in the Division, with an extra singles win added by Steve Jordan in a tight win over Ian Spanswick, and only 13-11 in the fifth and 12-10 in the fourth reverses against David Bartlett and Martin Johnson, preventing the whitewash. Fabrice went through the night without dropping a leg in either singles or his doubles with Dave, against David & Martin, whilst Dave was just pushed to four games the once, by Ian. For Hawks, it made it five losses on the bounce, as they still seek their first match win at this level.
Milton Keynes Phoenix were in great form, and their 8-2 win over clubmates, Milton Keynes Pumas, sees them leapfrog above Pumas into third spot, still one point behind Avengers in second. Alan Bolding was in fine form for Phoenix, scoring a maximum, although he was pushed to 14-12 in the fourth by Andy Smith, whilst Alan also partnered Mervyn Phillips to the doubles against Adam Snowdon and Julie Snowdon, thus leaving Pumas still without a doubles win so far this season. Phoenix were motoring along at 8-0 at one point, plus Ivor Howard was 2-0 up against Andy, but a superb fightback saw Andy take that in five, to get Pumas on the scoresheet, and restrict Ivor to two singles wins. Julie then doubled Pumas score in the final set of the night, with an excellent win over top of the Averages, Mervyn, ending his run of twelve wins, although Mervyn does just stay equal top of the Individual Averages. Pumas drop to fourth place, as a result, now five points behind Phoenix.
Leaders, Milton Keynes Sasaki, also won, defeating Chackmore Hasbeens 6-4, in a close fought match where no-one won all their singles. There were two singles wins apiece for Michael Wilkins, Willian Kit Liang and Minesh Pitamber, for Sasaki, but the doubles pairing of Michael and William lost out to the Hasbeens doubles experts, Bub Burman and Andy Whitehead. Bub also defeated both Michael and William in singles, whilst Sam Willett edged a close singles against Minesh at 11-8 in the fifth, to complete the scoring. With second and third placed teams scoring big wins, SasakiâÂÂs lead at the top is down to just two points ahead of Avengers, and three points ahead of Phoenix. Hasbeens are down in fifth spot, but now just a point behind Pumas, who are fourth.
The final match of the week was Leighton Buzzard Spitfires, in seventh, taking on sixth placed Milton Keynes Sharks, and this ended in a 5-5 draw, meaning Spitfires are still seeking that elusive first Division 1 win, whilst Sharks maintain their six point gap ahead of Spitfires. Graham Silversides got Spitfires off to a great start, with a straight games win over Rupert Greyling, Derick Rodrigues levelled for Sharks by similarly beating Andy King, before two five game sets took the score to 2-2 - Filip Simek edging Abhay Tijare at 11-8 in the decider, and then Sharks pairing of Derick/Rupert getting the better of Graham/Filip. There was never more than a set in it as the evening progressed, although with Spitfires 5-4 up and Graham 2-0 up against Derick, it looked like Spitfires might snatch the win, but Derick fought back to win in five and thus score a maximum. Rupert picked up the other singles for Sharks, whilst Andy and Graham each won twice in singles, to complete the scoring.
Next week is the last round of matches in the first third of the season, with top team, Sasaki, taking on fourth placed Pumas, whilst it is fifth versus second as Chackmore host Avengers. In the other two matches, sixth placed Sharks entertain third placed Phoenix, and finally the basement battle sees bottom team Hawks at home to seventh placed Spitfires.
Player of the Week : Fabrice Spelta.