29th September By Steve Kerns
Division One (South) – Urban Progress I are the early leaders but they won’t be getting too excited just yet. Yes, they played very well, but their opponents were the four bottom-placed sides. However, it was definitely a job well done and the 8-0 drubbing of Cippenham I is testimony to that. Martin Adams doesn’t often lose two singles, but he did on this occasion finding himself outgunned by William Maybanks (12-10, 6-11, 7-11, 9-11) and Costas Papantoniou (11-9, 2-11, 6-11, 11-13). Laszlo Varga and Tibor Kadar were also undefeated. Urban Progress I gave another strong showing against BATTS Team Peniel, with William Maybanks taking the Player of the Match Award, courtesy of his 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 win over Sean Gibson. Sean was the Essex side’s only winner as he edged out Costas Papantoniou 15-13, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11. An undefeated Woolwell I (two wins and two draws) follow next and they produced some of the more eye-catching results, both in victory and defeat. Their 4-4 draw with Brighton included four fifth game wins with Richard Marshall having to pull out all the stops to beat Evan Sharp 11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 15-13, whilst Darren Reed was at similar pains to get the better of Dov Katz 9-11, 11-4, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9. Zak Zilesnick looked very comfortable in the no. four position for Brighton and he powered his way past Kevin Buddell (11-7, 11-9, 11-3) and Mike Short (11-5, 11-9, 11-6). Woolwell did well to beat York Gardens I 6-2 and this time it was Kevin Buddell who hit the heights. For starters he beat Dave Bangerter (11-7, 11-9, 11-8) and for the main course he saw off Wing-Yung Chan 5-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9. The results also went against the Ranking List when Woolwell drew with DHS Greenhouse Progress II. Egle Adomelyte scored a sensational five game victory over Darren Reed (9-11, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8), but in her second singles she missed out 7-11, 11-7 11-5, 5-11 9-11 against an inspired Kevin Buddell. Richard Marsahll also suffered his only defeat of the weekend in this match, missing out 11-9 in the fifth end against an equally inspired James Sprackling. DHS’s Koji Hirota who only lost twice in Division two last Season will be hard to beat at no. four and he won twice, beating Buddell (3-0) and Mike Short (3-1). Promoted BATTS Team Peniel I found the going much tougher, but they excelled to beat Brighton I 5-3. Sean Gibson was a decisive winner against Jack Boult and Dov Katz, whilst Fred Dove also impressed with a 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 victory over Dov Katz (a game to confuse even the most experienced Umpire?). However, it was the form of Meihan Liu which really impressed and she gave a terrific display by getting the better of Zak Zilesnick (11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8) and Jack Boult (6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8. 12-10).
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