Milton Keynes Hit 'n' Hope 2-8 Mursley Swallows

Published 03/03/2025 18:27 by Martin Johnson.

Milton Keynes Hit n Hope hosted Mursley Swallows, and on paper it would have expected to be a home win, with the teams lying =2nd and 8th, respectively, after the first 4 weeks. So, when Andy Frearson edged a nail-biting fifth leg 11-9 versus Martin Johnson, in the opening encounter, it might have seemed that Hit n Hope would be on their way to another win?  However, that was probably the high point for the home team, and without either Marco Hahn or Ivor Howard playing, it was Swallows who moved ahead, as first Roger Shelton beat Mike Ainsworth, then Swallows own reserve David Bartlett (in for absent Peter Sear) beat an out of sorts Tony Coomber. Roger and Martin then won three close games against Andy & Mike in the doubles, to put the visitors 3-1 up. The next three sets all went the full distance and all three went very close in the fifth, but with Swallows taking all three (though quite how Mike lost from 2 legs up and 8-2 ahead against Martin, I'm not sure, myself), as Martin edged past Mike, David past Andy and Roger past Tony! Mike finally hit back for Hit n Hope, with a three games win over David, but Martin beat Tony, before Roger completed his maximum against Andy, to give Swallows their first victory of the season, by an unlikely 8-2 margin, and possibly dented Hit n Hopes promotion aspirations. That should cheer up Swallows captain, Peter Sear, when he returns from holiday, but it is also again showing how close the division is proving to be, this season.