Champs Exeter A almost floored by their B team
01 November, 2013 Andy Rowe
Division 1 champions Exeter A escaped with a lucky 5-4 win over clubmates Exeter B. The A team were missing 2 regulars but the established players of Sam Lees and Sam Owens (3) and Gareth Pearse and Geoff Littler (2) ensured there was to be no major upset. The B team pair of Rob Flack and Ross Coomber bagged a brace of wins.The return of Dan Harris to the Exeter A side inspired his team to an emphatic 9-0 win over a weakened Queens A.
In Division 2 St Leonards A had a comfortable win in their in- house derby – beating their B team 8-1. The A pairings of Guy Sweetman/Adrian Midmer and Mark Newson/Andy Rowe were unbeaten. Ian Jameson and Anthony Towl rescued a point for the B team – reward for pushing the opposing pairs to 3 games in each rubber.
Ringswell A got their season off to a flyer with a battling 6-3 win over St Leonards A. It was a superb team performance with the Ringswell pairs of Nigel Osbourne/a hobbling Steve Rice, Callum Owens/Ian Walsh and Paul Owens/Guy Rollinson all winning 2 rubbers. However the stand-out player was the Saints Ben Wijay who secured all the points for his team (with a little help from his partner Tim Wardale)
Ringswell A tinkered with their pairings for their match against Queens B and it paid off with a fine 8-1 win. Father and Son pair Paul and Callum Owens led the way with 3 wins, matched by Ian Walsh and Nigel Osbourne. Nathan Scase and Matt Burnett salvaged a point for Queens B
St Leonards A picked up their 2nd win in beating Exeter C 7-2, thanks to unbeaten performances from Ben Wijay/Guy Sweetman and Andy Rowe/Mark Newson.
A new look University team impressed with a 7-2 win over St Leonards C. Students Cameron Levy and Darren Walsh were unbeaten, with fellow teammates Steven Ford/Alex Banks and Jack Dyer/Mike East pitched in with 2 wins apiece. The Saints 2 points came courtesy of the Ian Jameson/Anthony Towl combo.
In Division 3A Cranford B are the early leaders after 3 wins. An 8-1 win against Honiton was followed with a hard fought 5-4 win over Ringswell B. Cranfords veteran Barry Smethurst teamed up with Paul Samme and came away with 3 wins. Tim Ellis and Jack Langlois picked up 2 wins for the seasiders, whilst Ben Boyland and Mike Clarke (2) were the pick of the Ringswell pairs.
Cranford B also beat St Leonards C by the 5-4 scoreline. The match was evenly poised at 4-4, but Patrick Williams and Barry Smethurst picked up their one and only, but crucial win, of the match to ensure the spoils of victory went to Cranford. Cranford’s Mark Anderson and Paul Samme (3) laid the foundations for the win.
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