New look side show promise

Apollo Canterbury’s North Foreland League season started with a 6-3 win over Rovers by their composite team. Newcomers Emily Couzens and Rob Jones, and substitute Mike Myles joined last year’s squad members Lee Funnel, Mike Brealy and Ian Andrews. The ladies, who were playing together for the first time, made an edgy start losing the first end 21-15 before turning things around to win 21-14, 21-9. Andrews and Myles lost 2-1 but Jones and Brealy triumphed 2-0 before Jones teamed-up with Myles to add another win. He then rounded off his evening with a 21-16, 21-14 victory partnering Couzens. Andrews and Brealy were beaten in three ends, while Couzens finished the evening by picking up her third game. Funnel won alongside Myles but was defeated when she partnered Andrews. The composite team lost the first five games against Christ Church University but showed great spirit to trim the score to 5-4 by the end. Andrews and Brealy started the ball rolling with a 21-18, 21-17 success and Andrews then partnered Funnel to a 21-17, 21-9 win. Myles and and Jones won the game of the night 21-23, 21-18, 21-18 before Brealy and Couzens took the last game of the night. The mixed team went down 7-2 at home against Ajax from Sandwich. They were 3-0 down before Diana Spinner and Michael Myles won 21-19, 21-14. Jim Wilkinson and Emily Couzens beat the Ajax No.1 pairing 21-16, 12-21, 21-16 to keep them in the hunt at 4-2 but the visitors proved too strong and ran out 7-2 winners. The men’s 1st team, boasting three new members, hosted Kings Road from Herne Bay and were beaten 6-3. The visitors started well taking the opening two matches before Rob Jones and Mike Myles took their first game in two ends but lost their next to make the score 3-1 to Kings Road. Apollo then hit back with Ray Allen and Mike Brealy cuttting the deficit to 3-2 before Maurice Johnson and Andrews came through a titanic game 19-21, 23-21, 23-21 . At this stage the outcome was in the balance but Kings Road seized the initiative in the final three games, winning them all to secure victory.