Week 13 of the Spalding and District League – sponsored by Vital Recruitment – saw an almost complete set of results plus a catch-up match to provide a positive shot in the arm to proceedings.
Division One leaders South Holland’s match against Bladerunners was unfortunately hit by absent players, but the prospects are good that Blades will be able to field full teams from next week and so catch up.
Meanwhile, Holland’s Richard Hammond won the single game played, keeping them clear at the top in the process.
Jokers put up a championship chasing performance in defeating Outsiders 5-0 to move into second ahead of Nets and Edges, who had a bye.
Phil Coote and Guntars Briedes had clean sweeps, though Briedes was forced into another five-ender for his first point.
Defenders picked up a first win of the season in defeating JDM. Jean White scored two while Martyn Green added another to take it 3-2, while John Chesworth won one singles and paired up with Phil Chandler for the doubles win.
Skidlids maintained their lead in Division Two with a 3-2 win over Hurricane Brothers. Richard Matthews took two of the singles while opponents George and Sam Wallis scored one each.
However, the middle doubles game decided it in the Skids favour.
Behind them, a real pile-up is developing with five teams separated by just three points.
Castle Sports hung on to second thanks to a 3-2 win over Casey’s Pingers.
Colin Vertigan’s double – and a doubles win – were enough for the win, while Mick Nurse and James Coote won one each for the losers.
A point back, MatDuf caught up with Can’t Move Won’t Move thanks to another 3-2 scoreline.
Garry Wilkinson took two for the Movers, but Jonathon Matthews and Stewart Duffill won one each. Again, the doubles made the difference.
MatDuf now hold third spot on number of wins after this result.
A point further behind are Young Guns, who defeated Bourne Nightmayors in yet another 3-2 result. Highlight of this match was a canny double by veteran Phil Knowles, who out thought both of the opposition’s young guns for a fine double.
Nevertheless, the pair took their other singles and the inevitable doubles for the win.
At the end of the evening, Young Guns had recovered enough from their earlier shocks to take two singles and a doubles off Mine’s a Pint in a rearranged match, but ran out of time to complete it.
Odd score out on the night was Mine’s a Pint against Team Equinox.
Jeremy Hitcham and Andrew Hay took four points fairly comfortably before newcomer Henry Sharman capitalised on recent promising play by coming from behind to register a first win in five ends.
