Division 1 round-up - Weeks 1-3
MK Phoenix seem well in charge of the division at this early stage on 25 points, having dropped only 5 points to date. They started with an 8-2 win against MK Sharks, with Ioan Constantin winning all 3, while Oliver Young lost in 5 very close games to Sarah Hudson, who also beat Gerald Ridgway. In week 2, Oliver and Ioan scored maximums against MK Pumas in another 8-2 win, with new player Liviu Ille-Malouache losing to Andy Smith and, by 14-16 in the final game, to Adam Snowdon. The following week produced a better win, by 9-1, against Greenleys Crusaders, with Gerald losing to Micky Shun Hang Lung but beating Ian Grainger and Chris Shamuyarira, with Oliver and Alan Bolding scoring a maximum.
Chackmore Hasbeens are unbeaten on 16 points. They started with a draw against Greenleys Crusaders, Andy Whitehead winning 2, with Bub Burman scoring once and Barry Hammond scoring his first win for the Hasbeens. The reliable Andy/Bub doubles combination secured the draw. In week 2 came a 6-4 win against Leighton Buzzard Avengers, with Bub beating Nathan Fry, Andy King and Richard Hardy and Andy W losing to Andy K but beating the other two players, while Sam Willett lost all 3. The following week saw the team draw against MK Topspin, with Bub beating Mal Hussain and Mervyn Kelly, but losing to Michael Benson in the last set. Barry and Andy also beat Mervyn and again the usual doubles pairing kept the Hasbeens unbeaten.
MK Topspin are also unbeaten and second equal, on 16 points. They started with a 6-4 win against MK Pumas, with Michael Benson and Mal Hussain scoring maximums against Andy Smith, Julie Snowdon and Adam Snowdon, while Mervyn Kelly was without a win. Michael also scored a maximum in the next match, against Greenleys Crusaders, which ended in a draw, with Mervyn beating Chris Shamuyarira and Mal unable to secure a win. Mal, Mervyn and Michael played in a draw in the third match against Chackmore Hasbeens. Michael continued his winning streak with another maximum, against Bub Burman, Andy Whitehead and Barry Hammond. Mal also beat Andy and Barry, while Mervyn went without a win.
MK Sharks are fourth on 14 points, despite losing their opening two matches. The first match ended in a 2-8 loss to MK Phoenix, with Sarah Hudson beating Gerald Ridgway in straight games before a marathon 5-game set against Oliver Young, winning 13-11, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10. Rupert Greyling and Abhay Tijare were the other Sharks players. Week 2 was a 4-6 loss to Greenleys Princes, with Abhay, Andy Pearson and Derick Rodrigues all beating Richard Bailey and Andy beating Ricky Jackson and all 3 losing to Iain Lindsay. The team’s first win was a strong 8-2 performance against LB Avengers. Andy and Derick Rodrigues each beat Cristi Hulpan, Andy King and Richard Hardy, supported by Sarah who beat Cristi.
Leighton Buzzard Avengers are equal fourth, on 14 points. They started with an 8-2 win against Greenleys Crusaders, who played with 2 subs in Orrin Edwards and Jose Blecua. Avengers included their own sub, Graham Silversides, and both he and Richard Hardy beat both Orrin and Jose, but lost to Ricky Jackson, while Cristi Hulpan beat all 3 visitors. Their second match was a 4-6 loss to Chackmore Hasbeens. Andy King and Richard Hardy beat both Andy Whitehead and Sam Willett, losing to Bub Burman, while Nathan Fry beat Sam. The team suffered a 2-8 reverse in week 3, against MK Sharks, with Andy King and Richard Hardy each beating Sarah Hudson, while Cristi lost all 3.
Greenleys Princes have 13 points, following a loss, win and a draw. They opened with a 2-8 loss to LB Avengers, fielding 2 subs in Orrin Edwards and Jose Blecua. Ricky Jackson lost to Cristi Hulpan, but beat Richard Hardy and the Avengers’ sub Graham Silversides. Week 2 produced a 6-4 win against MK Sharks, with Iain Lindsay achieving a maximum and Ricky beating Abhay Tijare and Derick Rodrigues. Richard Bailey was the third player. In week 3, the team drew with MK Pumas. Ricky lost to Andy Smith but beat Neil Riddy and Adam Snowdon, with Iain beating Andy and Neil and Anand Keshav also beating Adam.
Greenleys Crusaders on 11 points are looking for their first win. They started with a draw against Chackmore Hasbeens, Akira Bennatraj winning all 3, while Ian Grainger scored good wins against Bub Burman and Barry Hammond, with sub Orrin Edwards losing all 3. A second draw was the result the following week, against MK Topspin, when Yevhenil Bohrieiev and Sanav Sethi both beat Mal Hussain and Mervyn Kelly and Chris Shamuyarira also beating Mal. Week 3 brought the team down to earth with a 1-9 loss to MK Phoenix, with Micky Shun Hang Lung beating Gerald Ridgway, but neither Ian nor Chris were able to score.
MK Pumas also have 11 points. The opening match was a 4-6 loss to MK Topspin, in which Andy Smith, Julie Snowdon and Adam Snowdon each beat Mervyn Kelly but lost to Mal Hussain and Michael Benson. The team suffered a heavier loss the following week, by 2-8, to MK Phoenix. Andy, Julie and Adam each lost to Ioan Constantin and Oliver Young, while Andy and Adam beat Liviu Ille-Malouache. In week 3, the team drew with Greenleys Princes. Andy Smith beat Ricky Jackson and Anand Keshav, losing to Iain Lindsay. Adam beat Iain and Neil beat Anand.
With only 5 points separating 2nd in the division from 8th, this could be a very close division