Hurst win top-table clash

Hurst A 3 Plough 2:The keenly awaited top-two clash proved suitably tight before hosts Hurst got across the line to extend their lead to three points. Jenny Edwards put them on their way by beating Richard Todd and it was looking particularly good when The Farmer put a 5k past Chase Newman. But it was destined for a decider as Plough fought back through a sturdy 8k from Dave Knight that saw off Peter Edwards and then Jan Bithell accounting for Pete Hall. Rob Hall started well for Plough in the decider but then Rob Hall compiled a 6k break to win it for Hurst.

HH USC 4 Horns Lodge 1: There were surprisingly low scores on the Club table but it was still a good result for the hosts, especially after stand-in skipper Mick Kirwan crashed to defeat in the opening game against John Bryant. It was then one-way traffic as Ron Wales beat Fenella S-F, Huw Lincoln edged out Peter Shaw in a tight one, Andy Guy defeated Dave Tiffin and Terry Gasson beat Kevin Stevens.

Eight Bells 2 Brewers Bravos 3: This was a good result for Brewers almost on the eve of Adam and Nikki’s union as two Bravos. There was a competitive start as Spud Spurrier took out The Old Fella and things got better as Lynne M-R accounted for Tony Driver to put the visitors 2-0 up. Dilly steadied the good ship Bells with a win over Paul M-R and a solid 5k from Derek Taylor was too much for the peg-toppling Nikki Hinkins. That meant it was down to a captains’ decider and that went to Bravo with a 5k past Ros Appleby.

Laughing Fish 3 Hurst B 2: More woe for Hurst B as they tiptoe around the drop zone. They started well enough as a great 8k from Steve King saw off Andy Brooks but then a massive 14k by Aitch levelled it at the expense of Dazza. John Lear put the visitors back in front with a good effort against Ron Sheridan but Fish finished strongly as Jim Ashford beat Chris Kirkham and then Ray Carpenter defeated The Giff.

Watermill 2 Greyhound 3: Greyhound still sit comfortably in third place in the Premier after this ding-dong battle at Worlds End. Hound were never behind, with Geoff Fairs starting well against Paul Blackburn. But an impressive 9k from Kim Stenning levelled it against Trevor Rees before the visitors restored their lead as Neil Burchell put in a good effort against The Fyling Dutchman. Gavin Boyd took the match to a decider as he beat Paul Goodwin in a close leg and it was Peter Burchell who settled it in the visitors’ favour as he beat Lynn Storr.

St Francis 4 Watermill Phoenix 1: An email from TSO sparked a rare rush of excitement but tongue-in-cheek news that Manly Harveys had hit 27k on the Club table proved unfounded. It was a more modest effort that gave him the second leg against Malc Fuller after team-mate Bob Ellis had scraped a close opening leg against Jan Hinkins. Adie White has been allowed back into the Phoenix side and it was he who averted the whitewash in some style against Peter Geal. But normal service then resumed as Roger Wallbank won another tight game, this time against Debbie White, and TSO’s 5k proved too much for Nigel Bransby.

Premier Division: Hurst A P14, W12, F50, A20, Pts62; Plough 14-10-49-21-59; Greyhound 14-8-41-29-49; Hurst B 14-6-30-39.5-36.5; Horns Lodge 14-7-29-41-36; Brewers Bravos 14-3-25-45-28.

Division 1: Eight Bells 14-9-41-29-64; Laughing Fish 14-8-35.5-34.5- 52.5; HH USC 14-7-34-36-50.5; St Francis 14-6-33-37-46.5; Watermill 14-6-31-39-43.5; Watermill Phoenix 14-2-21-49-29.