DALLAM SIDES TOP DIVISION 2 TABLE
Dallam B and C have a whopping 21-point cushion at the summit of the Division 2 table in the Kendal and District League, following big wins this week for the leading two sides.
Dallam B earned their tenth victory from eleven matches, after sweeping aside bottom side Grayrigg A 8-2. Tom and James Parkinson handed Dallam a perfect 2-0 lead, as they recorded straight sets victories against Doug Baxter and Ben Dixon respectively. Jon Cooper hauled the Division 2 strugglers onto the score sheet, with an impressive 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 success against Tom Jackson. Things failed to materialise for Grayrigg however, as Tom Parkinson’s three victories, including a nail-biting 11-9 triumph in the final set against Cooper, put Dallam in the driving seat at 5-1. A glimmer of hope emerged for Grayrigg, when Cooper edged out an unfortunate James Parkinson 11-6 in a dramatic fifth set, after Parkinson had stormed back from a 2-0 sets deficit. Dallam confirmed the 8-2 victory when Tom Jackson and James Parkinson earned two wins apiece, in addition to an 11-8 success in the fourth set of the doubles.
Second placed Dallam C boosted their promotion hopes by comprehensively beating third placed Burton D 7-3. Burton stormed to a shock 2-1 advantage, after Daniel Herd and Bryan Rhodes scraped beyond Norman Philbey and Phil Hyman 11-8 and 11-6 respectively, in two five set thrillers. Tom Carling steadied the Dallam ship and steered the Milnthorpe side to victory, with three wins, while team mates Philbey and Hyman recovered to earn their side two wins apiece. Burton D are now 21 points behind the leading Dallam sides.
Kirkby Stephen A have maintained a solid mid-table position, despite a 6-4 defeat by Burton D. Dave White impressed for Kirkby with three victories, adding to Gerry Baines and Mike Sunderland’s solitary triumphs apiece against Shelley Rhodes.
Kirkby Stephen B have climbed up to sixth place, following a dominant 8-2 success against Crook C. Kirkby had Eric Robinson and Gerry Baines to thank for their fourth victory of the campaign, while Crook’s points came courtesy of Tony Cousins’ narrow 11-6 victory in the deciding set against Chris Horn and a win in the doubles. Crook lie in seventh, a mere eight points above the relegation zone.
In Division 3, Dent B hold second place, after a narrow 18-17 success against Crook D, meaning the gap between themselves and leaders Dallam E is a massive 49 points.
Meanwhile, Natland D’s promotion hopes look a little out of reach, as they could only muster up a 20-15 triumph against their struggling E team. Richard San Jose performed heroics by winning three matches, adding to Glen Allen’s 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 victory over Fiona Thompson. Natland D’s Rob Clarke and Tim Marris also performed magnificently with a brace of wins each. The result leaves Natland E in third, 56-points from a promotion place, while Natland D lie one place above the relegation zone in ninth.
