07/12/2019
Division 1
Hesketh A suffered another 24-0 defeat this time away to Kingfisher A. Alex Mackie and Adrian Greenwood had identical points differences to be joint POTM! Kingfisher safely in 3rd whilst Hesketh look certain for a return to Division 2.
A strong performance from Fleetwood A left Albany A struggling after the levels. At 11-1 down it was game over and although the mixed was much more competitive and finished 6-6, Albany just failed to reach the 8 games required for a bonus point. A closer look at the scores however, showed that most of the games were very close and included 3 settings - all won by Fleetwood! Cath Bagley, Tim Vickers and Andy Wisemen used their experience to win 7 games each whilst Albany's Sian Meakin and Natalie Appleyard won 3 each. Albany stay in mid table but Fleetwood move top albeit having played an extra game than their main rivals Poulton .
Division 2
Another Albany v Fleetwood match, this time involving the B teams. Albany fared much better than their A team when they decisively beat Fleetwood 17-7. This was mainly due to Albany ladies winning all 6 whilst the mens ended 3-3. In the mixed, Albany continued their good form by winning 8-4. Fleetwood just failed to win enough games to earn themselves a point despite winning 3 of the last 4 games. Fran Hellier was POTM for winning all her 8 games. Nick Metcalfe was top scorer for Fleetwood with 4. After a poor start to the season, Albany increase their winning streak to 4. Fleetwood 6 points off the top and now looking over their shoulder as they are only joint second with Project 12 and Albany but having played a game more.
League leaders Pilling B overcame a determined Lids A to record their 6th straight win.It was Lids who took the ladies 4-2 but Pilling's stronger men won 5-1 to go into the levels with a narrow 7-5 lead. In the mixed , Pilling came out on top 8-4 for a satisfying, but hard fought, 15-9 win. Steve Beniston was the only player on the night to win all 8 games and Steph Tsang of Lids won 5. Pilling well clear at the top of the table and the bonus point from this match means Lids sit comfortably in the table.
Division 3
Stanley A 18 v Stanley B 6 was an expected result but the B team fought well and only a collapse at the end prevented them from reaching the 8 games required for a much needed point. The B team actually won the ladies 4-2 whilst the A team men won all 6. After the first 2 mixed sets were split, the B were only 10-6 down. However the A team then showed their superiority by winning the final 8 games! Steve Canavan was POTM for winning all 8 and Claire Doherty won a commendable 4 games for the B. The A team, with a 100% record and averaging nearly 20 games per match, heading for an inevitable return to Division 2, with the B at the opposite end of the table but fighting hard to avoid the wooden spoon.
Levels
Warton A continue their 100% season after their 9th consecutive win - this time 12-4 against Stanley. After winning the first 10 games this looked like another impressive win, but in the last 6 games, Stanley managed to win 4 thanks to Lee and Jake Meakin which included a 21-19 and 22-20 final set. All of Warton's 4 players won 6 with Graham Cooper statistically the best player on the night.
There was a big match to end the week when the 2 bottom teams, Broughton and Warton C met for the first time. Plenty of close games followed with 3 settings and after the first 5 sets the teams were level at 5-5. Then crucially, Warton won the next 2 sets to win their first match of the season. The last 2 games went to Broughton but too late as the final score ended 9-7 to Warton. Broughton’s James Townson and Warton’s Harrison Uppard we’re joint best players on the night with 6 games. Warton still bottom but the 3 points means they close the gap on Broughton who at least earn a point.
