CRUSHING WIN LEAVES IBIS CLEAR AT THE TOP
Ibis have amassed a sixteen point cushion at the summit of the Division One table, after a crushing 7-3 victory over Burton A saw the Kendal side record their seventeenth success of the season. League number one player Steve Dixon was in excellent form once again for Ibis as he cruised to three victories without dropping a single set. James McGrath won two games for the table topping Kendal side, while team mate Trevor Nicholson beat Stephen Baxendale 12-10, 11-3, 11-2. Burton got on the score sheet when Julie Stitch defeated Nicholson 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, Alan Holt eclipsed Nicholson 11-9, 13-11, 14-12 and Stephen Baxendale secured a marvellous 11-7 victory in a tense fice set thriller against McGrath.
Glaxo A remain in second position following a heavy 9-1 triumph over Natland B. It was a routine night for Glaxo’s Callum and Keith Dymond as both players won all three games without losing a single set between them. Alan Turner won two matches, but lost to Roger Pimblett 11-9, 11-4, 11-7. The victory leaves Glaxo sixteen points behind Ibis but with two games in hand.
Natland A look to have secured a third place finish after back to back 9-1 and 7-3 victories against fourth placed rivals Glaxo B.
At the opposite end of the table, Dallam B’s survival hopes look all but over after losing 6-4 to second from bottom Natland C. Both sides needed heavy wins coming into the match to stand any chance of survival and neither side met that target. It was Dallam who took a slender 3-2 lead thanks to wins for James Parkinson against Louisa Bevan and Peter Taylor, adding to Thomas Parkinson’s straight sets success over Andrea Jorkisch. Natland improved in the second period and eventually won the match 6-4 when Jorkisch and Taylor paired up in the doubles to take victory in four sets. Dallam B are now fifteen points adrift at the foot of the table, while Natland C are eleven points from safety.
In Division Two Dallam D head the table and look favourites to become champions despite being held 5-5 by Crook B. Brian Tigg fired Crook off to a cracking start as he edged out Matt Neal 12-10 in a five set marathon. Crook continued to play well as Tigg won his second match of the night in four sets against Peter Duxbury, while team mate John Wood also contributed two points to Crook’s haul, as he beat Duxbury and Mick Jackson in four sets. Dallam fought valiantly and secured a draw thanks to two wins from Neal and Jackson.
Natland D look all but certain to clinch the second promotion place, as they swept aside Dallam C 8-2 to record their twelfth win of the season. Phil Hyman scored Dallam’s two points, triumphing against Andrew Hudson and Liam Hogan. This was as good as it got for Dallam though, as Hudson and Hogan recovered to win two matches apiece, while team mate Mick Taylor snatched the man of the match award as he earned three victories.
Kirkby Stephen A occupy third place, although promotion looks to be out of reach after a disappointing 5-5 draw with Burton C. Kirkby will now need to close the thirteen point gap between themselves and Natland D if they want any hope of promotion.
In Division Three, Crook C have a nineteen point cushion at the top of the table, followed closely by second placed Natland F and third placed Natland E.
