29th September By Steve Kerns
Barnet look to be the side to beat, although they could only draw with Pavilion on the Saturday afternoon. In Eli Baraty (who played in their 8-0 whitewash of Ellenborough) and Dob Tokov (eight wins out of eight) they have two of the Division’s outstanding players, neither who would be disgraced in Division One. Barnet may have felt that they could have beaten Pavilion as they led 4-2. However, David Steel turned in an excellent performance to beat Jade Blasse 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8 and Steve Steel ensured that the Sussex side picked up a point by beating Brian Gale 11-9, 11-3, 13-11. With Baraty at no. one Barnet were just too strong for Ellenborough and all four Barnet players – Baraty, Tokov, Blasse and Robert Barrasso played their part as they overwhelmed their London rivals. Ellenborough’s Dave Langham will nevertheless be disappointed not to have won at least one match, missing out 11-7, 6-11, 2-11, 11-8, 12-14 against Jade Blasse and 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11, 10-12 against Robert Barrasso. To their credit Ellenborough came back well from such a crushing defeat and won their remaining three matches to be level in second place with Inspire Bognor Regis. Their highlight was a 5-3 victory over the fancied Metropolitan Police side that had impressed in their first match by beating Inspire Bognor Regis 5-3. Although the hard-hitting Ian Ferguson showed a clean pair of heels to both Chris Marlow and Steve Kerns, his team-mates were unable to capitalise. Dave Langham was an excellent winner over Sasha Grokhotov and he sealed the Ellenborough side’s victory by beating Winston Wong 11-3, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10 in the last game. Chris Marlow played his part by beating Grokhotov 11-9 in the fifth end, a vital win which gave Ellenborough a 4-2 lead. Ellenborough made a slow start against Byng Hall II with Jurate Brazaityte beating Chris Marlow 5-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-5, 11-8 in the opening game. Steve Kerns then found 14 year-old Jasmine Ould to be a far more resilient opponent than he could have expected and despite leading by two games to nil and 7-1 it was Jasmine who came back to win 7-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-6. It was Kerns who felt rather “ould” as he was left to contemplate this defeat! However, Ellenborough did come through to win fairly comfortably in the end (6-2) with Paul Martindill and Dave Langham both staying undefeated. Byng Hall II did well to draw with BATTS Team Peniel III having trailed 4-2. Jared Patel, a 11-8, 8-11, 2-11, 15-13, 11-9 winner over Rob Worrall beat Jurate Brazaityte 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 to give BATTS a 3-2 lead and Daniel Groome made the score 4-2 by beating Daniel Herlin 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 20-18. BATTS were in the driving seat but they were unable to add to their wins. Rob Worrall made no mistake in beating Luke Walsh 3-0, whilst Jasmine Ould put her 0-3 defeat against Luke Walsh firmly to the back of her mind as she earned her side a draw by beating Natasha Walsh 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8 in a tense deciding encounter.
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