The Christmas break is over, and we've just passed the seasonal mid-point.
IBM A have won all their matches in Division 1,
so other teams are going to have to field their best talent if they are to have any chance of pulling the computer folk back.
Five Tees C have been wreaking havoc in Division 2 and currently lead the pack, having just emerged from the obscurity of Division 3
this season, though
Swanmore A aren't so very far behind.
Hursley are the leaders in Division 3,
largely thanks to
Barry Dobson , who has played more games than anyone else in the Division, and won them all.
Division 1
IBM A 18191.ibmavskingsb.1.html Kings B
IBM A were without two of their main points-scorers this season,
but still managed a convincing win, with 3 individual wins for
Julian Walton .
Division 2
South Wonston B 18191.southwonstonbvssouthwonstona.1.html South Wonston A
South Wonston's two teams are both placed in mid-table, so a close match could be expected.
Adam Lee proved to be the strongest player on the night, with 3 wins for
South Wonston A.
Five Tees C 18191.fiveteescvskingsc.1.html Kings C
Five Tees C continued on their merry way at the top of Division 2, having lost only once this season,
which happened in their very first match. They achieved this apparently massive win even though
6 legs went the full 5-set distance - only the second time that's happened in the 94 League matches played so far.
Len Field and
Sorin Lakatos each won their 3 Singles.
Swanmore A 18191.swanmoreavsmedsteadb.1.html Medstead B
An unexpectedly emphatic win for
Swanmore A, following a 5-5 draw earlier in the season.
Attentive readers may recall that
Geoff Pavey lost all 3 Singles in five sets in his last match,
but this time he started with another 5-setter, nailed it decisively in the 5th,
and that set the tone for the entire team. Three wins each for Geoff,
Antony Moore and
Dave Diment .
Winnall 18191.winnallvsibmb.1.html IBM B
Winnall haven't been making much impact this season, but this time they denied one of the Division's
leaders several more points than might have been expected.
Russell Durham was the major problem for
IBM B, winning the Doubles and 3 Singles,
including an exciting 5-setter against
Hitender Razora in the final leg of the evening.
Russell is a 5-set specialist, having won 5 out of 6 this season, matched only by
Hannah Wills of
Five Tees D.
Division 3
IBM C 18191.ibmcvsfiveteesd.1.html Five Tees D
Five Tees D's Old Master,
Graham Lynch , imposed himself on this match with 3 straight-set wins.
Graham's method is simple: attack from the off and don't make errors. That's
how he currently has the highest 'points for'/'against' average of anyone in the League.
Kings E 18191.kingsevshursley.1.html Hursley
It looks as if several teams have a New Year's Resolution not to throw matches away with casual play.
How else to explain the fact that the 3 lengthiest matches of the Season have all been played in this first playing week of the new year?
This was one of those matches. 3 wins for
Barry Dobson .
Owslebury 18191.owsleburyvskingsd.1.html Kings D
Owslebury have consistently improved on last season's performances. This time
Jill Wilson ,
with 3 wins, was the only Kings player able to seriously impede their progress.
