Leighton Buzzard Spitfires 3-7 Mursley Hawks
League
Division Two
Friday 24 March 2023
Lee Draper played on loan from Leighton Buzzard Galaxy in Division Seven.
| Date | Friday 24 March 2023 |
|---|---|
| Start time | 19:30 |
| Competition | League |
| Division | Division Two |
| Venue | Wing Village Hall |
| Season | 2022-2023 |
| Games played | 42 |
| Points played | 760 |
Published 09/03/2025 20:05 by Martin Johnson.
Match Report – Leighton Buzzard Spitfires v Mursley Hawks (Division 2)
Leighton Buzzard Spitfires hosted Mursley Hawks in their last but one League match of the season. Spitfires, in equal sixth spot at start of play, were looking for points to avoid the second relegation spot, whilst fourth placed Hawks stood a very slim chance of edging up the table, if they could conjure up a big finish to the season.
The Spitfires trio for this match was Graham Silversides, Andy King and Lee Draper, whilst the Hawks trio was Martin Johnson, Mick O’Mahony and Ian Spanswick.
The opening set saw Martin race into a 2-0 lead against Graham, but Graham found some good serves and attacks, to level and move ahead, just hanging on in the decider, to take it at 11-9. However, it was Hawks who forged ahead, as Mick beat Andy over four close legs, Ian beat Lee, also in four legs, and then Mick and Ian combined well to take the doubles against Graham and Andy. Next up, Martin found himself 2-1 down to Andy after three legs, but a purple patch saw him take 17 points on the trot, including an 11-0 leg, and he went on to win in the fifth, to move Hawks 4-1 ahead. Graham grabbed his second singles win, beating Ian 3-1 after dropping the opening leg, but again it was Hawks who extended their lead, as Mick beat Lee in a tight four gamer, and then the closest set of the night saw a ding dong battle between Andy and Ian, with Ian sneaking through at 13-11 in the fifth, for his second singles win of the night, to add to the doubles success. For the second time on the night, Martin went 2-0 up, this time against Lee, only to lose out in five, as Lee served and hit his way back, including the second 11-0 leg of the night! However, Mick finished things off with a win for Hawks in four legs in the final set, as he blunted Graham's attack, to leave Hawks as the winners by a 7-3 margin. It also marked 20 consecutive singles wins for Mick, as he consolidated his third place in the individual averages.
The result moves Hawks up to within six points of Lagondas, who are in third spot, and although Lagondas have to play the leaders, Hasbeens, Hawks have to play second placed Princes, in their own final match. Meanwhile, Spitfires have moved up to sixth spot on their own, three points ahead of Wooden Tops, but three points behind Shockwave. However, with Wooden Tops due to play the bottom team, Blades, in the final week, they likely still have work to do to stay out of the bottom two, when they play Shockwave.
Player of the Match: Ian Spanswick.
Leighton Buzzard Spitfires hosted Mursley Hawks in their last but one League match of the season. Spitfires, in equal sixth spot at start of play, were looking for points to avoid the second relegation spot, whilst fourth placed Hawks stood a very slim chance of edging up the table, if they could conjure up a big finish to the season.
The Spitfires trio for this match was Graham Silversides, Andy King and Lee Draper, whilst the Hawks trio was Martin Johnson, Mick O’Mahony and Ian Spanswick.
The opening set saw Martin race into a 2-0 lead against Graham, but Graham found some good serves and attacks, to level and move ahead, just hanging on in the decider, to take it at 11-9. However, it was Hawks who forged ahead, as Mick beat Andy over four close legs, Ian beat Lee, also in four legs, and then Mick and Ian combined well to take the doubles against Graham and Andy. Next up, Martin found himself 2-1 down to Andy after three legs, but a purple patch saw him take 17 points on the trot, including an 11-0 leg, and he went on to win in the fifth, to move Hawks 4-1 ahead. Graham grabbed his second singles win, beating Ian 3-1 after dropping the opening leg, but again it was Hawks who extended their lead, as Mick beat Lee in a tight four gamer, and then the closest set of the night saw a ding dong battle between Andy and Ian, with Ian sneaking through at 13-11 in the fifth, for his second singles win of the night, to add to the doubles success. For the second time on the night, Martin went 2-0 up, this time against Lee, only to lose out in five, as Lee served and hit his way back, including the second 11-0 leg of the night! However, Mick finished things off with a win for Hawks in four legs in the final set, as he blunted Graham's attack, to leave Hawks as the winners by a 7-3 margin. It also marked 20 consecutive singles wins for Mick, as he consolidated his third place in the individual averages.
The result moves Hawks up to within six points of Lagondas, who are in third spot, and although Lagondas have to play the leaders, Hasbeens, Hawks have to play second placed Princes, in their own final match. Meanwhile, Spitfires have moved up to sixth spot on their own, three points ahead of Wooden Tops, but three points behind Shockwave. However, with Wooden Tops due to play the bottom team, Blades, in the final week, they likely still have work to do to stay out of the bottom two, when they play Shockwave.
Player of the Match: Ian Spanswick.