writes Peter Florence :
Snitterfield took full advantage of their rivals’ result by opening up a four point gap with a convincing win over JLM Troopers. John Price, Don McAdam and Alison Stewart were on form to take the honours without conceding a set.
Troopers’ stable-mates JLM Cavaliers enjoyed contrasting fortunes by imposing the whitewash upon Henley A to move into second place, with Dave Bevington, Steve Cull and Joe Cull all untroubled. However Joe was made to work hard by Dave Hatcher and Peter Quince before finishing strongly to win the final two sets against both players thereby claiming the only games to go the full distance.
Mike Credland was in action for a second time when he was called up by Colebridge Bulldogs. They recorded the league’s third clean sweep of the week as he and team-mates Chris Welsh and Mahroof Hussain easily overcame Veterans.
Henley B were 7-3 winners in a hard-fought battle with Blazing Paddles. Martin Clayton recorded a treble after narrowly claiming the decider against Chris Dickens 12-10. Andy Rowland and Robert McCluskey added braces for the villagers, with Rowland also successfully going the full distance against the unlucky Dickens. However neither player could get the better of Paddles’ captain Nello Mauri who subsequently partnered Dickens in the doubles to secure their team’s third point.
It also finished 7-3 at Ashorne where visitors Tanworth Taipans claimed the honours following an unbeaten display by Jason Rainey. Mick Welsh added two wins after overturning a two set deficit to defeat Roger Pye in the decider. Welsh also looked on course to get the better of Mark Bridgeman in the same manner, only for the Ashorne player to come good in the final end. Tim Lawrence earned Taipans other score, while Bridgeman finished with a brace for the hosts for whom Roger Pye also got on the card after defeating Lawrence over five sets.