Report 5th October 2002

In division one, the Alma ‘A’ kicked off their season with a 4-2 home win over The Royal Oak (Nonnington), after a bye last week.  The Alma took a 2-0 lead with John Mitchell and Tim Bourner winning their singles legs.  The third single match, however, was taken by Alan Smith who defeated Chris Saville – this Chris Saville’s first winter league defeat after 25 consecutive wins, bringing to an end a remarkable sequence. Alan Smith & Richard Cousens took a close first doubles leg to level the match, before took the final two matches went the way of the home side convincingly to complete the victory.

 The week’s other completed fixture in the top division saw another superb away win for the Chantry Club, 4-2 at the Magnet ‘A’.  Mike Callanan had an excellent 6790-1970 win over Mick Nichol in the first leg, before Roger Standon and John Fullager both scored over 5000 to give the Canterbury side a 2-1 lead after the singles.  Lin and Mike Callanan took the first doubles leg to level the tie at 2-2; however it was a similar story to the previous match as Kevin Kay teamed up with first Roger Standon and then Mick Nichol to win the final two legs and the match.  The Chantry Club have dropped just three points from their first two games.

In division 2, the Greyhound ‘A’ continued their impressive start to the new season with a 5-1 home win over the Magnet ‘B’.  Dave Carliell bested Rob Robertson to take the lead, then Alan Farra notched up highest score of the week (6820) to win and Gareth Butcher completed a whitewash in the singles.  There was no let up in the first of the doubles as Christine and Alan Farra beat Tanya Philpott and Rob Robertson.  The was revenge for Tanya Philpott as she partnered Chris Gent to a close win over Christine Farra and Gareth Butcher.  The final leg went to the Greyhound for the 5-1 result which propelled them clear at the top of the table. 

The Fitzwalter Arms enjoyed home advantage in a 5-1 win against The Butchers Arms. Roger Oldfield, Nigel Scott and Steve Lake all won their singles legs.  Mark Graves teamed up with Roger Oldfield and Steve Lake to win the first two doubles, Steve and Mark scoring 5270 in their victory over Doug Vickers and Janet Kershaw.  Baz Winter and Ruth of the Butchers Arms took a consolation point in the final leg in a close game which went to the final ball.

The Plough & Harrow, Tilmanstone had a 4-2 win at home to the Alma ‘B’ in tightest match of the week, in which all six legs were close.  Dave Howarth gave the Alma advantage, before Ron Beer levelled with a win over Harry Pearson.  Bill Edwards re-established the lead for the away team to take the score to 2-1 to the Alma after the singles.  Brian Carpenter partnered Ron Beer and Ann Keen to take the first two doubles legs for a 3-2 lead to the Plough & Harrow before a remarkable deciding leg.  Anne Cope for Alma broke with 1130, Ann Keen replied with 2000, followed by 550 for Rick Cowdrey and another maximum 2000 for Ron Beer.  Again, Anne Cope recorded another excellent break, 1590 to pull the tie close.  Ron Beer however fell foul of the new maximum 2000 rule as he exceeded the 2000 total and he lost his final break, but fortunately for the Plough & Harrow the bar dropped and there was not time for the Alma to catch back at 4260-3560.

In the final match, the two Brickmakers met for a 4-2 win for the ‘A’ team.  Stuart Pearcy, Nick Corck and Paul Garlinge all won the singles for Brickmakers ‘A’, and Paul and Anne Garlinge won the first double leg for an unassailable 4-0 lead.  The Brickmakers ‘B’ restored pride with wins for Dave Carter and Simon H., and lastly Paul Dargan and Simon Jones in the doubles.