13/10/2019
Division 1
Poulton faced a difficult away game to Albany A, but fielding their full strength side they managed to come away with a 14-10 win. Poulton were 8-4 up after the levels and took the next 4 games to move into an unassailable lead 12-4. Albany then rallied to take 6 of the final 8 games to secure a point. Poulton had 3 players who won 6 but it was Nikki Wilford who had the best points difference. Oliver Hives replied with 5 for Albany.
The top 2 teams from the previous 4 seasons, and both unbeaten this season, met on Thursday. Fleetwood A went into the mixed with a healthy 8-4 advantage against a full strength Kingfisher A side thanks to their ladies winning 6-0. When Fleetwood won the next 3 games to increase their lead to 11-4, it was game over ...surely ? Kingfisher then showed their class by winning the next 7 games for a nailbiting 11-11 score and set up a final set showdown. However Senior Wiseman and Junior Andrew for Fleetwood stepped up to easily win both games 12 & 11 for an epic finale. Caroline Andrew won 6/7 games for the Champions and Jared Mathew won 7 for Kingfisher.
Equally dramatic was the weeks final match between Hesketh A and Pilling A. Hesketh had a 7-5 lead after the levels but in the mixed Pilling equalised the score to reach 11-11! In the final set Caroline Fleming and Michael Banks won the first game 21-19 to put Pilling in the lead for the first time in the match, however Katie Kinder and Andy Manson won the very last game by the same score to secure a draw. The match was so closely contested that 6 points separated the teams and only 5 games didn't reach 15 including 3 settings. A great game by both sides and played in a very good spirit.
Division 3
Ribby Hall A continue their winning streak after a convincing 16-8 away win to neighbours Kirkham Charter B. Their ladies won all 6 games to give them a narrow 7-5 lead after the levels. The mixed proved more decisive as they only dropped a further 3 games. Emma Nickson was the star player for winning 8 games whilst Dave Mackay and Ian Cartmell managed a creditable 5 games to help Kirkham get a bonus point.
Stanley A look set for a quick return to division 2 after beating Lids B 16-8 for their 3rd consecutive win which puts them joint top. The men won 6-0 to give them a 8-4 lead after the levels whilst the mixed also ended 8-4 in Stanley's favour. Lee Meakin was POTM for his 8 games and Lids got a bonus point thanks to Julie Bennet who played well to win her 5 games.
The ladies of Kingfisher C gave their team a healthy 8-4 lead after winning all 6 games against Stanley B. The mixed games alternated between the teams and ended 6-6 for a final score of 14-10 to Kingfisher. Colin Davison won 6 games for the losing team but Julie Sleighthorne was best player on the night for winning the maximum 8!
Levels
Home team Bloomfield never recovered from being 7-1 down against Warton B though they did manage to win 4 games in the second half of the match. Final score 11-5 to the visitors for whom Jenish Prajapati and Giles Uppard won 6. Phil Hough managed to win half his games for Bloomfield.
Joint winners of the Levels last season, Project 12 and Warton A met on Wednesday and a close match was expected. The first set went to Warton which was followed by 5 split sets before Warton won another pair of games to win the match, whilst the final set was also split. The result ended 10-6 and makes Warton A the favourites to retain their title. Project's Mark Pickles won 4 as he split all his games but the experience and his left hand advantage meant Jeremy Cara was POTM as he won 6 !
Stanley proved much too strong for Warton C as they romped home 15-1. Only a Warton win in the very last game prevented a whitewash. Robert Lee and Jake Meakin both with maximums.
