DaveR
02-11-2008, 01:02 PM
http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/mick_stead1.jpg
Stead claims second win in three seasons for Tykes
Yorkshire Veterans regained the County Championship Premier division yesterday at Ashford as this seasons competition came to a conclusion.
The White Rose county began the weekend at the top of the table, level on 6 points with reigning champions Leicestershire and Kent, but with a superior sets advantage, with all three counties two points ahead of a dangerous looking Sussex.
Kent were rocked before the weekend with the withdrawal of top man Joe Kennedy through injury and fell to Susssex 6-4 in their opening encounter and it was this round of fixtures that saw Yorkshire move to the top of the pile on their own, as a hard fought 6-4 victory brought them another two points which could not be repeated by Leicestershire, who were comfortably beaten by Surrey 7-3, who were strengthened by the inclusion of Marcia Ma.
The highlight of the “war of the roses” clash was a crucial victory by Yorkshires’ Mick Stead, who came from 5-1 down in the deciding game to beat Keith Williams who is currently ranked No 5 in the country and although this victory occurred in the second set of the match it proved crucial in the outcome of the match and the whole division.
Yorkshire, Sussex and Leicestershire all scored victories on Saturday afternoon with Yorkshire once again recording a hard fought 6-4 victory against Kent, with Stead once more performing with distinction with two victories.
The Yorkshire against Sussex match first thing Sunday morning was always going to be a vital match and so it proved and started in spectacular fashion with Stead beating current English ranked No 2 Richie Venner in five thrilling sets, to give Venner his only defeat of the campaign.
Once again the Yorkshire squad of Keith Rodger, Stead, Richard Lightowler, Tim Dyson and Helen Shields all picked up sets as another hard fought 6-4 victory was achieved. With Sussex now out of the picture, a 7-3 victory by Leicestershire over Kent saw Yorkshire requiring just three sets against Leicestershire in the final match up to be sure of the title.
The first set of the final match saw Rodgers score a four game victory over Dave Gannon, followed by a very nervy four game win by Lightowler over Keith Fellows to put Yorkshire tantalisingly one set from the title and they did not have very long to wait. In the third set Stead completed a splendid weekend with a three game victory over English ranked No 8 Chris Rogers as the celebrations began for Yorkshire.
Reigning champions Leicestershire were not going to roll over despite being deposed of their crown and perhaps wanted to set down a marker for next season but won the remainder of the sets with the exception of a win from player of the weekend, Stead, over Fellows as they ran out 6-4 victors to surrender their title on sets advantage.
Barry Snowdon
Stead claims second win in three seasons for Tykes
Yorkshire Veterans regained the County Championship Premier division yesterday at Ashford as this seasons competition came to a conclusion.
The White Rose county began the weekend at the top of the table, level on 6 points with reigning champions Leicestershire and Kent, but with a superior sets advantage, with all three counties two points ahead of a dangerous looking Sussex.
Kent were rocked before the weekend with the withdrawal of top man Joe Kennedy through injury and fell to Susssex 6-4 in their opening encounter and it was this round of fixtures that saw Yorkshire move to the top of the pile on their own, as a hard fought 6-4 victory brought them another two points which could not be repeated by Leicestershire, who were comfortably beaten by Surrey 7-3, who were strengthened by the inclusion of Marcia Ma.
The highlight of the “war of the roses” clash was a crucial victory by Yorkshires’ Mick Stead, who came from 5-1 down in the deciding game to beat Keith Williams who is currently ranked No 5 in the country and although this victory occurred in the second set of the match it proved crucial in the outcome of the match and the whole division.
Yorkshire, Sussex and Leicestershire all scored victories on Saturday afternoon with Yorkshire once again recording a hard fought 6-4 victory against Kent, with Stead once more performing with distinction with two victories.
The Yorkshire against Sussex match first thing Sunday morning was always going to be a vital match and so it proved and started in spectacular fashion with Stead beating current English ranked No 2 Richie Venner in five thrilling sets, to give Venner his only defeat of the campaign.
Once again the Yorkshire squad of Keith Rodger, Stead, Richard Lightowler, Tim Dyson and Helen Shields all picked up sets as another hard fought 6-4 victory was achieved. With Sussex now out of the picture, a 7-3 victory by Leicestershire over Kent saw Yorkshire requiring just three sets against Leicestershire in the final match up to be sure of the title.
The first set of the final match saw Rodgers score a four game victory over Dave Gannon, followed by a very nervy four game win by Lightowler over Keith Fellows to put Yorkshire tantalisingly one set from the title and they did not have very long to wait. In the third set Stead completed a splendid weekend with a three game victory over English ranked No 8 Chris Rogers as the celebrations began for Yorkshire.
Reigning champions Leicestershire were not going to roll over despite being deposed of their crown and perhaps wanted to set down a marker for next season but won the remainder of the sets with the exception of a win from player of the weekend, Stead, over Fellows as they ran out 6-4 victors to surrender their title on sets advantage.
Barry Snowdon