The Charity Cup has not been included as part of this season's league programme due to time restraints but an alternative competition has been arranged. Lyn Storr has taken her side from the Windmill to the Royal Oak and its hello again to Val Gritton.
Both divisional champions from last season suffered first night nerves with defeats. Zeds were at home to promoted Sportsman, who had a few familiar faces missing in the opener. Super G started well with a win for the hosts and this was followed by an impressive 7560 for Barry Timson to put them 2-0 up. Ros, in gritty captain mode, got one back for the visitors and Sir Trevor took the fourth to level the match. New signing Dave Ingram won a tough deciding leg to give Sportsman their first Premiership win.
Hurst B put in good home performance against the nearly new boys from USC. Ian G waded in with an opening big hit (5540) and Steve King made it 2-0. Chris Kirkham took the third and the match, followed by the best score of the evening from Dazza (7380). Former Droops player Sparky, now with USC, hit big with 5870 to take the visitors' first point.
Russell Jennings - the rose amongst the er.. other flowers - was the only winner in the Royal Oak's visit to Plough. The ladies couldn't follow his lead and the following four legs all went the way of the hosts with wins for Des Gasson, Mark Webber (5060), Keith Potter and Geoff Parsons.
Kleiners had a none-too convincing win at home to White Horse. Brian Coleman put the Horse in front and Trevor Howes, the former Kleiner, made it 2-0. The reliable Mr Taylor took a decisive third to start the comeback and Shaky Coles followed suit with a very close win in the next. Pete Edwards then did the skipper bit and grabbed the closing leg and the win bonus.
A home win for Greyhound thanks to three scores over 4K. Matt Geal put Saints into the lead, and then he had to watch as the hosts took the next three legs and the match with wins by Neil and Peter Burchell, and Geoff Fairs. A big hit (5080) for Ray Fogwill won a useful last point for the visitors.
Droops joined battle with Bravos on the joint home table at the Brewers. Mama Hall fought off the attentions of her stubborn opponent to put Droops 1-0 up and The Farmer took a comfortable second leg. Paul M-R scrapped well and claimed a good point for Bravos before a returning Sheriff won the next game and with it the match. The best was yet to come, however, when PTG hit a great 7220 to thoroughly merit an important second point.
Laughing Fish were at home to last season's Division 1 winners, Hurst A, and Henry Brooks showed us all how it should be done with a magnificent score of 16900, the highest score in the league that I can remember. Nigel Senior hit 7270 to even things up but Fish went ahead again as Ray Carpenter took the next with a late flourish. Kev Hall came good with 8340 to make it all square but Les Whiteman proved to be a little too good in the last to get his side's first win in their new league.
The Watermill sides faced each other at their World's End venue. The Flying Dutchman hit his best with 3410 to take the first leg and his side's only point. Big Norm got the second for the A Team to level the tie and this was followed by wins from Kim Stenning, John Staplehurst and Chris Nikolaj.