Champs cruise home to beat basement side
DIVISION 1
CHAMPIONS Sandstorm A easily maintained their 100% record after a maximum victory over bottom team Crosby B, where the margin of the win was emphasised by them only dropping just one game. Southport A had a busy week, which started very well with a great performance against hi-flyers Sandstorm C in a rearranged match.
However the match itself didn’t, as Sandstorm raced off into a 4-1 lead which included a fine brace from Jordan Pipet. Bernhard Frank then led the fightback, which was followed by further wins from Jonny Cummins and Danny Woods, afterwhich victories in both doubles secured the 4-6 win, and what a Turnaround.
Next up for them the following night they entertained Sandstorm B at The Amelan Hall, and Ray Hibbs was there to capture some of the action, and when the visitors went 1-3 up through wins from Phil Petts, Josiah Nix and Steve Collins, it looked like a repeat performance was needed, but this time the closest they got was at 3-4.
Both Phil and Josiah then completed their full quotas and the visitors ran out 4-6 winners.
Southport’s Bernhard Frank over the two matches did not lose a contest, so fair play to that man, tremendous stuff!. Sandstorm C also had two matches to deal with, but with a much changed side they fell just short at home to Crosby A, who themselves were without Charlie Williams.
It finished 4-6 to the Crosby outfit, who are now in second place, with a decent chance of that ‘Runners Up’ spot.
Our main feature this week was a double bill at Formby Village, top of which was the battle for survival at the bottom, where their A team entertained Rainford.
Great start from the hosts here as Jackson Cockbain (stepping up from their C team) overcame Jim Bolton in three straight before Barry Davis made it 2-0 with an epic win against Paul Melling, which went all the way, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11, 12-10.
Ray Elliott then got the visitors on the board with a surprising victory over Jackson, which kicked started the hosts back into life, with an incredible run of six wins on the bounce.
Two wins from Paul Gittins against Rob Midgeley and Ray was added to by another from
Barry and one from Ned Hassan (stepping up from their B team) against Jim.
Amongst those single wins, both doubles were also captured which made it an unassailable 8-1 Formby Village.
Last word though went to the visitors when captain Paul got the better of Ned in four games to make it 8-2 Formby Village. A great victory, but would that be enough to save them, for as it stands, the odds are truly against them.
DIVISION 2
CROSBY D made it 100% certain that they would win the title after they convincingly beat lowly Argyle D 9-1.
They lead the way with an unbeaten 143 points, as if it was ever in doubt, well, frankly No! Congratulations, and so well deserved. Sandstorm D confirmed their ‘Runners Up’ place with a 9-1 victory over bottom team Formby Village C, who really have had a tough season after they took up the challenge to be promoted in the first instance..
Argyle B and their C team continued their tussle for third place, but with both of them winning 7-3 against Southport B and Formby Village B respectively then the gap between them remained at five points, giving the C team a distinct advantage going into the final round of matches next week.
Crosby C ensured their survival at the expense of Argyle D after a close 4-6 loss at home to Sandstorm E, where Nikolaj Primuk with a near faultless full quota of wins was indeed the match winner.
DIVISION 3
IN the battle for the title Southport D looked to have done enough after a very close call away at Crosby G, also known as The Glowacki family and Hubert.
With six contests going to a fifth game (three wins each), and just one settled in three straight, then this could not have been closer.
Another tremendous performance from 10 year old Oliver had kept his side in it at 4-4, But then Pat Merry fought back to edge the Southport side ahead 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 4-11, 9-11 against Hubert, which left the experienced Alan Nolan to do exactly the same thing versus Rafal, 15-13, 12-10, 10-12, 3-11, 5-11, which made it 4-6 Southport. Now, that is close??
Second placed Argyle E had a good 7-3 home win over Crosby E, but still find themselves seven points behind the leaders, and with the sides meeting next week, they need a 9-1 win to turn it around, I just can’t see that happening.
In our second part to the Formby Double Bill, their D team hosted the ever improving Crosby F, and what a close affair materialised.
Formby’s second doubles combo of Marc Webb and Andy Abernethy got them quickly up and running with a four game win over the Molyneux brothers Mark and Harry. Oscar Wilson then squared it, overcoming Tim Colocott, only for the ‘evergreen’ Brian Crolley to restore his sides lead with a hard fought win over Mark before younger brother Harry levelled it up again with a fine four-game victory against Tim.
First doubles pairing of Brian and Tim continued the ‘tit for tat’ campaign versus Luke Pomeroy and Oscar, completing a three straight win to lead again at 3-2.
It was soon 3-3 with young Oscar obliging to keep the routine going after a close four game success versus Andy.
Young Harry then put his side in front for the first time after a sensational 17-15, 9-11, 11-4, 11-13, 7-11 victory against Marc, and of course we were all level again when Andy had a three straight win against
Mark M to make it 4-4. terrific match.
Crosby captain Luke Pomeroy then found himself having to play both the remaining contests, whether a miscalculation or planned, it certainly was a bit risky. and so it proved with Brian first easing to a three straight win and then Marc just about edging a tense four games, and the hosts had their ninth win of a pretty successful season. 6-4 Formby. Great entertainment.
Southport C looked to have slipped up at home a tad, in their quest for third place against a strong Sandstorm F side, who had both Norman Cutler and Jon Armitage in fine form, with both recording a full quota of wins.
Add to that a further win in the first doubles, where they brought in Nick Foss to partner Gordon Wood, then the 3-7 loss ‘looked on the cards’. All will be revealed next week when the Southport outfit travel to fourth place Crosby E for that third place showdown.
Finally, Argyle F and G fought out an exciting draw in their ‘derby’ encounter, where virtually every player contributed to their teams score, you can’t ask for any more than that.
All information can be found at southport.ttleagues.com