17 February, 2019 Daniel Clark
Ringswell A remain unbeaten and continue to lead Division 1 after a close 5-4 win over St Leonards A. Two wins from Nigel Osborne/Jess Hill and Tony Clark/Nikita Smethurst, plus a win from Barry Harriss/Freya Harris was enough from them to beat their Maynards rivals, although no pair could beat Zac Phillips/Sue Banks.
And just three days later, St Leonards again found themselves on the wrong side of a 5-4 loss, this time to Exeter A. Sam Lees/Julia Melling were unbeaten for Exeter, before the pair of Rob Flack/Hazel Wong beat Adrian Midmer/Nikki Anslow 21-17, 15-21, 21-15 in the deciding ninth rubber. But St Leonards A did pick up a 6-3 win over Ringswell B, with Phillips/Banks once again going unbeaten. The loss sees Ringswell B prop up the table with six defeats from six.
The table-topping clash between the unbeaten Ringswell A and Queens fell victim to the snow and has been rearranged for April – three days after the reverse fixture takes place.
Sidmouth A continue to hold a commanding lead at the top of Division 2A after a 6-3 win over Otter Vale A. John Carter/Grace Williams and Martyn Schmidt/Julie Frost didn’t drop a set between them, although all three Otter Vale pairs comfortably beat Rob Bolam/Theresa Bisson.
Otter Vale A also suffered defeat away to Chulmleigh who are now just two points behind Exeter B in the battle to stay up. Ben Hamill/Michelle Wylde were unbeaten for Chulmleigh, but the pairs of Brian Deem/Heather Rake and Daniel Clark/Anne Drury each won two matches for Otter Vale who battled weather warnings and an injury crisis that led to Kate Williamson being called in for her first ever match only hours beforehand.
St Leonards B are second in the division after a 7-2 win over Exeter B, with Sam Maltby/Cherry Law going unbeaten. They are 15 points behind Sidmouth A, but have a game in hand.
Otter Vale B remain the leaders in Division 2B as due to a quirk in the schedule, no fixtures have been played for almost a month. Honiton against Otter Vale C, the only match due to have been played, fell victim to the weather.