17/11/2019
Division 1
Kingfisher B hosted Fleetwood A and managed to split 1 ladies and win a men’s set, through Paul McSweeney and Gordon Jackson, to go into the mixed at 3-9 down. Despite splitting the opening 2 sets Kingfisher were unable to win the 8 games required for a bonus point as the mixed also ended 3-9. Caroline Andrew, Cath Bagley and Kris Gulati each won 7 for Fleetwood and Kingfisher’s Sarah Woodhouse split 1 ladies and both mixed for her 3 games.
Bottom team Hesketh A lost to league leaders Poulton by 17-7. After winning 1 ladies and 3 mens, Hesketh went into the mixed 8-4 down, however Poulton then won the next 4 games to effectively seal the win. A split set was followed by Poulton, unfortunately, having to concede a pair of games to reduce their lead to 13-7. In the final 4 games Hesketh were unable to win the 1 game which would have given them a much needed bonus point. Hesketh’s Andy Manson won half of his games but Nikki Wilford won all 8 to be POTM....again!
Division 2
Project 12 are now 5 games unbeaten (4 wins 1 draw) after a satisfying 19-5 win over Kirkham Charter A. Kirkham started well and were able to win 4 close ladies games and a men’s to be only 5-7 down after the levels. In the mixed however, despite some close scores, Project won all 12 games. Kirkham were unlucky as 3 mixed games went to setting with Project winning them all! Jon Jackson won all his games to be POTM. Kirkham’s Emma Gilfoyle won all her 4 ladies and came close in 2 mixed games.
Lids A are now 4 matches without a win after a 14-10 home defeat to rivals Albany B. It was Albany’s ladies who proved to be the match winners as they won 5 games whilst Lids won 4 mens. In the next 4 mixed sets, Lids won 5 to take the score to 10 all, however Albany took the last 2 sets for a good away win. Karen Pye and Kat Oakes won 6 games for the winners but, unusually the POTM was on the losing team as Will Booth won 7 games.
Levels
Stanley were coasting after winning the first 6 games but then Bloomfield won 7 of the next 8 to tie the score at 7 games each and take the match into a final set decider. Stanley’s Jake Meakin and Rob Lee narrowly won the first game to 19 and then won the second game more comfortably to 12 to give their team a narrow 9-7 win. The match was so close that 5 of the 16 games went to setting with Bloomfield winning 4! Jake and Bloomfield’s Richard Pascucci both won 6. Stanley remain in mid table and Bloomfield’s progress continues as their bonus point moves them further away from the bottom 2.
Mark Pickles was statistically the best player as Project 12 beat Broughton 16-0. Project chasing the top 2 whilst Broughton are still waiting for their first points of the season.
The biggest match of the season so far pitted last season’s Champions Warton A
against Fleetwood with both teams having 100% records this season and sitting joint top of the table ! At the half way stage the match score was 4-4 with both teams winning a set whilst 2 sets were split. In the 5th set Warton won both games to nudge ahead, however the match was again tied 6-6 after Fleetwood won the 6th set. Warton responded by winning the next set to lead 8-6. In the final set, Fleetwood’s Ant Cross and Josh Garbett won the first game to 16, but Warton’s Graham Cooper and Jenish Prajapati were not to be denied as they won the second game to 15! Graham and Josh both won 6 games on the night. Warton still with a 100% record whilst Fleetwood at least grab a bonus point to be 2 points adrift.
