12/05/2022
GAZETTE TROPHY
Lightning B +310 lost to Hesketh Fleetwood A by 40 points.
Defending cup holders and favourites HF had to overcome a tough handicap but from the very first games were always ahead of their target. Their ladies only conceded 26 points but the mens games were closer as Lightning won 48 points. So at the half way stage, HF had pulled back 172 points. Despite Karen and Nathan winning 26 points in set 3, HF won the mixed by an even more impressive 178 points meaning that HF had won the match by 350 points! Nathan was Lightning's best player as he won 70 points. Caroline conceded only 31 points from 8 games - less than 4 points per game !
Lightning Ladies Kathryn Oakes, Karen Pye, Lisa Alecock.
Lightning Men Amit Mistry, Rob Cockerill, Nathan Bunting.
HF Ladies Caroline Andrew, Cath Bagley, Elizabeth Andrew.
HF Men Tim Vickers,James Lester, Andy Wiseman.
BRIDGEWOOD TROPHY
LIds +50 beat Kirkham Charter B by 32 points
A close game was anticipated between two evenly matched teams and so it proved to be, as this exciting match was only decided in the final few games. In the ladies Kirkham gained 8 points and a further 14 points in the mens to claw back 22 points and be just 28 points behind. In the first mixed, the points were even but in the second, Melissa and Jamie gained another 13 points to put Kirkham only 15 points behind. The reply from Lids was instant, as Julie and Mark won set 3 by 13 points to restore their 28 points advantage. In set 4 the points were even to leave the match in the balance with the final 2 sets on court. In the first 2 games of each set, Kirkham could only pull back 5 points and so were still 23 points behind. Lids held their nerve in the final 2 games which they actually won 21-15 and 21-18 to give them victory by 32 points. Commiserations to Kirkham but huge congratulations to Lids who end the season on a high and payback for losing the previous final! Melissa and Jaime had the best points on the night but Ling and Jasper maintained their composure to be the best players for the winners !
Kirkham Ladies Carol Howarth, Emma Nickson, Melissa Jones.
Kirkham Men Ian Chase, Jaime Sedgwick, Harvey Slater.
Lids Ladies Ling Fang, Helena Lempur, Julie Bennett.
Lids Men Jasper Vijaykumar,James Norman, Mark Green.
Please note that photos of all the teams will be on Blackpool Facebook whilst I will try to get the winners photos to be put in the Gazzette for next week. .
Special thanks to Ant Cross for all his work to ensure the cup competition went ahead.
Brian Oakes
