Report 28th September 2002

With defending champions Alma having a bye in the first week of the new season, The Chantry took full advantage with an excellent 5-1 win over newly promoted Greyhound B.  Kevin Kay, Steve Brockman & Roger Standon won all three singles legs before Craig Carlson & Derek Latham notched up the home side’s first ever point in division 1, a hard fought 6670-4010 win over Brian Turner & Kevin Kay.  The crucial fifth leg went to the final ball as Roger Standon & Brian Turner squeezed a vital 4410-4220 win over Derek Latham & Daniel Jackson, before Chantry wrapped up the final leg for the victory.

 Elsewhere in division one, the Plough & Harrow (Bridge) enjoyed the spoils of a close match at the Royal Oak, Nonnington.  Alan Smith got the home side off to the perfect start with a 6080-4130 win over Ian Dennett, but the other two singles legs went to the away players with narrow scorelines, Keith Symes & Paddy Mayer winning.  Stuart Richardson & Richard Cousens squared the match with doubles victory over Baz Symes & Ian Dennett, before the Plough took the final two doubles legs for a 4-2 win. 

The final match in the top division finished all square at 3-3 between the Lion, Ash and the Magnet A.  John Higgens won the first singles leg for the away team before Paul Smart and Neville Potts won both singles legs for the Lion.  Nev Potts’s 8160 was the highest individual score of the week.  Lion took a 3-1 lead after the first doubles match, before the Magnet mounted a superb comeback with Mike Callanan & John Higgens winning the next point, and Lin & Mike Callanan squaring the match with a 4120-3360 victory of Nev Potts & the luckless Wack Sampson.

In division 2, the Alma B took the early initiative with a 5-1 win over the league’s newest team, The Butchers Arms.  Bill Edwards, Anne Cope & Rick Cowdrey completed a whitewash in the singles, & Dave Howarth teamed up with Rick Cowdrey and Harry Pearson to take the first two double legs for a 5-0 lead.  Danny Wyman & Baz Winter paired up for a consolation point in the final leg.

Early season favourites for promotion, the Greyhound A, had the best of starts with a 4-2 in a potentially tricky fixture against the Plough & Harrow Tilmanstone.  Ken Keen gave the home team the lead by winning the battle of the veterans tie against Kent over-50’s champion Dave Carliell.  From there the Greyhound took the lead with individual wins for Gareth Butcher and Alan Farra.  Farra’s 7710 against Ann Keen was the top individual score in division two.  The Greyhound A also took the first two doubles legs, including a score of 8340 for Alan Farra & Gareth Butcher.  The final leg went to the home team, Ken & Ann Keen teaming up.

Magnet B beat The Brickmakers B 4-2, Rob Robertson’s 4460-2800 win over Simon Jones providing the main highlight.  The Brickmaker B’s points came from a singles win for Paul Dargan, and a doubles victory for Paul Dargan & Simon Jones.  Doubles wins for Steve Philpott & Chris Gent, and Tanya Philpott & Rob Robertson gave the Magnet B the vital points.

The final match finished as a 3-3 draw between The Brickmakers A and The Fitzwalter Arms.  The match seemed to be heading in the direction of the Brickmakers as Craig Lancaster (4570), debutant Stuart Pearcy (4490) and Paul Garlinge (3210) enjoying excellent wins for the home side.  The Fitzwalter Arms however staged the comeback of the week, taking all three doubles legs courtesy of Roger Oldfield, who played all three doubles, partnering Steve Lake, then Nigel Graves, and Mark Scott.