Report 6th April 2003

 

Results:-
Group A: Magnet A 1 Chantry 5. Lion 6 Brickmakers A 0. Alma B 3
Royal Oak 3. P& H Tilmanstone 1 Market Inn A 5.
Group B: Butchers Arms 0 Alma A 6.
P&H Bridge 6 Magnet B 0. Brickmakers B 1 Fitzwalter Arms 5.

Group standings:-
Group A: 1, Lion (P 10, Pts 70), 2, Chantry (10, 62), 3,
Royal Oak (10, 47), 4, Market Inn A (10, 42), 5, Magnet A (10, 34), 6, P&H Tilmanstone (10, 21),

7, Alma B (9, 20), 8, Brickmakers A (9, 16).
Group B: 1, Alma A (P 8, Pts 51), 2,
P&H Bridge (8, 50), 3, Fitzwalter Arms (8, 37), 4, Market Inn B (8, 33.5), 5, Magnet B (9, 27), 6, Brickmakers B (8, 20.5),

7, Butchers Arms (9, 13).

In Group A, the Chantry powered to an away win 5-1 at the Magnet A, a result which leaves the Magnet adrift in fifth place.  The singles finished 2-1 to the Chantry, with away points for Mick Nichol (5100) and John Fullager (4590), and a home win for Mike Callanan.  All three doubles went to the Chantry, including a close 3080-2800 win for Kevin Kay & Mick Nichol against Mike & Lin Callanan.

With four games still remaining, the Lion already look to have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Spring Cup after another 6-0 win, this time at home to the Brickmakers A.  Tim Hayes cracked a 9060 break en route to his win, followed by further success for Wack Sampson and Neville Potts.  The doubles followed a similar pattern, and now the Lion will be casting furtive glances in the direction of third and fourth spots in Group B.

The Royal Oak are gradually edging their way into a stronger position, this time after a 3-3 draw against the Alma Gills.  After Alan Smith took the first leg, things looked less straight forward for the Oak side as the Alma fought back with wins for Dave Howarth and Bill Edwards in the singles, and then Howarth & Edwards in the first doubles.  The Royal Oak managed to the salvage the draw as they took to solid doubles legs at the end.

The Market Inn A lies in fourth place after an impressive 5-1 win at the Plough & Harrow, Tilmanstone.  Although Ann Keen gave the Plough the lead, the Market Inn rattled off the points through wins for Dave Carliell and Alan Farra in the singles, and then all three doubles.


In Group B, there is clear water between the top two and the rest.  The Alma A visited the Butchers Arms and came away 6-0 winners, but the first leg was close as Ted Batchelor beat Doug Vickers 2100-1790.  Further singles successes for Chris Saville and John Mitchell were followed by all three doubles victories.  The second pairs was notable for a Saville Oxford, in which the white dropped down the hundred and the red lipped the 50 and fell down the 200 for 500 points in a single shot.

The Plough & Harrow from Bridge continued their winning ways after trouncing the Magnet B 6-0.  Singles wins for Ian Dennett (3680), Paddy Maher (8290) and Keith Symes (8140) were maintained in the doubles, which included a score of 7980 for Baz Symes & Keith Symes. 

The final match saw a 5-1 win for the Fitzwalter Arms away to the Brickmakers B, a result that lifts the Fitz into third place.  Simon Jones singles win was the only success for the home side, but it could have been different as Nigel Scott just edged Simon Hart 1970-1710.  Steve Lake took the final singles, before a nail-biting first doubles as Scott & Mark Graves narrowly defeated the two Simons 2620-2490.  The final two doubles fell to the Fitz team on an enjoyable night for all.