Division 1 Roundup - Week 9
Sasaki Sink Sharks to Return to the Top
With nine weeks of the League season now gone, the positions are starting to settle down, although there was a still a slight change at the top, plus there were some small changes in mid-table!
Milton Keynes Sasaki regained the top spot that they temporarily lost to MK Phoenix, when their rivals match was played early, by scoring a fine 8-2 win over sixth-placed Milton Keynes Sharks. Michael Wilkins again lead the way for Sasaki, taking his tally to nine singles wins in a row, and only dropping one singles leg on his way to his third maximum of the season. He was ably supported by Minesh Pitamber and William Kit Liang, who each won two singles, whilst William also teamed up with Michael in the doubles, to defeat the Sharks pairing of Rupert Greyling and Derick Rodrigues in four games. For Sharks, Derick managed to beat William over four close games, whilst Rupert just got the better of Minesh over five games. Abhay Tijare was also leading Minesh 2-1 at one point in their set, before Minesh hit back to win it in five. The result moves Sasaki back six points ahead of their nearest competitor, whilst Sharks drop back down to sixth spot, now three points behind fifth position.
Milton Keynes Pumas visited Leighton Buzzard Spitfires, and came away with a hard-fought 6-4 win. Individual honours went to Andy Smith, who won all his three singles, although he was pushed to a decider by Barry Hammond, in the end he won game five convincingly. Barry had earlier just got the better of Adam Snowdon in another game five encounter, just edging over the line at 11-9 in the fifth. Adam and his mum, Julie, combined well to take the doubles against Graham Silversides and Andy King, plus Adam collected a singles win against Graham, whilst for Spitfires, Andy King beat Adam and Julie in singles, and Barry won in four against Julie, to leave the match poised at 5-4 to Pumas with Julie playing Graham in the final set. It looked like Spitfires might grab the draw, with Graham 2-1 up, but Julie hit back to take it in five games. Pumas move up to fifth position from sixth, three points ahead of Sharks, whilst Spitfires remain in seventh spot.
The final match this week saw fourth-placed Chackmore Hasbeens visiting bottom team, Mursley Hawks, and Hasbeens duly came away with a 6-4 win, but had to fight hard to just gain the victory. Mick O'Mahony returned for Hawks after three weeks out, and managed to beat Andy Whitehead in four games in his opener, but with Bub Burman and Sam Willett winning their opening sets against Martin Johnson and David Bartlett, respectively, then the reliable doubles pairing of Bub/Andy (now 8 out of 9) inflicting a rare doubles defeat on Mick/Martin, it left the score at 3-1 to Hasbeens, and a big Hasbeens win looked on the cards. However, Hawks then managed to get the better of two five gamers, as Mick found some backhand form to edge past Bub, and then Martin hit his way to a topsy-turvy five game win over Sam, to even up the scores at 3-3. Mick duly completed his treble against Sam, but with Andy and Bub both winning against David, it stood at 5-4 to Hasbeens, with just Andy to play Martin. Another epic five gamer ensued, with Andy eventually just clinching it at 11-9 in the decider, to give Hasbeens the narrow win. The result moves Hasbeens up to equal third spot, level on points with Avengers, whilst Hawks remain some twelve points adrift at the foot of the table.
Next weeks sees the leaders, Sasaki, take on equal third-placed Avengers, on Tuesday, whilst Wednesday sees three matches, as second-placed Phoenix host seventh-placed Spitfires, equal third-placed Hasbeens entertain Sharks, and bottom team, Hawks, visit Pumas who are fifth.
Meanwhile, good luck to all those taking part in the November League Tournament on Sunday, featuring the Mick Miles Memorial Trophy (Handicap Singles), Pot Luck Doubles and the Nick Wharton Trophy (Singles event for Division 2-7 players), as well as a Hard Bat Singles event, if time allows. Any last minute entries need to go to Mike Howard.
Player of the Week : Mick O'Mahony.