New statistical records!
At the start of the season I posted a news item linked to the various statistics shown on the home page of the league website, in which I mentioned various records for the different categories.
Week 5’s Division 3 match on 14th October between Mursley Strikers and Leighton Buzzard Flashmans created two new league records for the last 10 years of matches as shown on the league website.
The match was very close throughout, with 6 sets going to a final game and only one set being decided in 3 games. A total of 45 games were played, equalling this season’s record number, of which 21 were decided 11-9 or deuce. Unsurprisingly, such a close match resulted in a 5-5 draw, with no player scoring a maximum.
The overall points played was 901, a new record, beating the previous highest total of 893 by 8 points. Additionally, Peter Dixon of Flashmans played a new individual record in a match of 322 points, eclipsing the 320 points by Dan Apanna in the Premier Division in the 2015-16 season. Each of Peter’s singles went to a final game and involved over 100 points, with Peter winning two of those by 18-16 and 14-12.
During the match, Todd Agnew of Strikers played the very substantial total of 297 points, although this is ‘only’ just outside the top 50 in the list of points played over the last 10 years. There have been two other individual scores over 300 so far this season.
Todd and Peter also played 78 points in the doubles so both should have had a good night’s sleep after such an effort in the match.
Curiously, Flashmans were also involved in another statistically interesting match in Week 2, against Greenleys Knights. This was another 5-5 result, involving a mere 40 games and 754 points. However, it could be considered a rare ‘perfect draw’, with both teams winning 20 games and 377 points.