Division 2 Roundup - Week 7
Published 04/11/2023 at 09:33:52 by Martin Johnson; edited 1 times, last on 04/11/2023 at 15:07:20 by Martin Johnson.
Spitfires Firing on all CylindersThe League season has now reached its one third point, so each team has played each other team once. This week again saw a set of close matches, as befits the equal closest Division (with Division 5), based on points difference between the top / bottom teams. There was one 5-5 draw, and three 6-4 results.
Top of the table Leighton Buzzard Spitfires were again playing a top two clash, this week against Woburn Sands Mosquitoes, who had moved up to second place last week, as both teams defended an unbeaten record. It was Spitfires who emerged the winners, 6-4, with individual honours going the way of Barry Hammond, who now remains the only unbeaten Division 2 player, as he won his three singles. Spitfires moved 2-0 up as Graham Silversides beat Glenn Barcham and Barry inflicted a rare defeat on James Molloy, before Mosquitoes hit back with two close in the fifth wins, firstly for Andy Jenkins against Andy King at 12-10 in the fifth, then in the doubles as James / Andy J edged out Barry / Graham at 11-8 in the fifth. Spitfires regained their advantage though, winning four of the remaining sets, with James taking the other two wins for Mosquitoes. The win puts Spitfires five points clear at the top of the table, with Mosquitoes dropping back to third place after their first loss, now six points back from the leaders.
Third placed Mursley Hawks remain the only other unbeaten team, after they ran out 6-4 winners versus seventh placed Milton Keynes Pioneers. Once again it was Mick O’Mahony who lead the way for Hawks, with a fifth consecutive maximum, teaming up with David Bartlett in the doubles to beat Kareem Omar / John Simms in five games, one of six sets to go the distance, as Hawks remain one of only two teams in the League still with an unbeaten doubles record (with Chackmore Hasbeens in D1). David also notched up two singles wins for Hawks, narrowly defeating both Andy Frearson and Kareem in tight five gamers, but also just losing to John in five, thus completing the maximum possible 20 games on the night. Ian Spanswick also had two five game sets, but lost out in both to John & Andy, also losing out in straight games to Kareem. Hawks thus leap frog back above Mosquitoes into second place by a point, whilst Pioneers stay seventh.
The one draw this week featured Greenleys Sultans of Spin in 8th against Newport Pagnell Lagondas in 4th, with Ricky Jackson again on form in winning his three singles for the Greenleys team. Chris Horn collected two wins for Lagondas, whilst Tony Ardis and Glen Davison claimed one win each, plus a share of the doubles against Robert Anderson and Daniel Carter, who also picked up a singles win each, in a match where no-one lost all three. Only one set went the distance, and was very close in the fifth, with Chris just edging it 12-10 in the decider against Daniel.
The final match saw fifth placed Greenleys Valiants lose out 6-4 to sixth placed Milton Keynes Powers, to move Powers just ahead of Valiants by a point. Four players each won two singles, but no-one was able to secure all three. Valiants’ Lewis Copp went the nearest, just losing out in five very tight games to Paul Tompkins, who took it 13-11 in the decider. Peter Tillotson chimed in with a brace of wins for Powers, reserve Jim Robinson took one win against Slava Volokha, whilst James Carter also won twice for Valiants. The vital doubles win for Powers, by Peter / Paul against James / Slava gave Powers enough to seal the win.
Next week sees the fixtures back to the same as the opening week, with second and third facing each other, as Hawks take on Mosquitoes, whilst leaders Spitfires take on Powers. Valiants host Lagondas, and Sultans of Spin visit Pioneers.
Player of the Week : Barry Hammond.