DaveR
03-16-2008, 01:26 AM
By Steve Kerns
If the fourth round of results proves anything to go by there is every likelihood that the County Championships Senior Premier Division will not be decided until round seven is completed. Two points now cover the top five sides.
Leaders Sussex suffered the most, losing 6-4 to bottom placed Berkshire. Sussex raced into a 2-0 lead but Berkshire reinforced by the inclusion of Melanie Farquhar and Richard Andrews hit back in determined fashion and they won the last two games to seal the match. Melanie Farquhar beat Rosemary Rainton 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6 to give Berkshire a 5-4 lead and Richard Andrews, a 0-3 loser in his first singles to surprise Sussex selection Andrej Lasota became his side’s hero as he beat Adrian Moore 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9. Ritchie Venner was Sussex’s most successful player, beating both David Barr and Martin Adams. Defeat saw Sussex drop from first to fifth place.
Devon moved into top place after beating Gloucestershire convincingly 8-2. Craig Bryant, Chris Brown and Marketa Myskova were all undefeated and Sally Smith came close to repeating the feat. She just missed out against Choi Sze Toi after a furious fifth set. Chris Brown completed an excellent Devon performance by getting the better of Brian McRandall 10-12, 13-11, 14-12, 11-9.
Middlesex moved into second place by beating Leicestershire 7-3. Karen Smith beat both Lindsay Armstrong and Sarah Horsnell to ensure that Leicestershire were in with a chance but the only other game they managed to pick up came courtesy of Chris Rogers getting the better of Neil Charles 3-1. Tommy Cutler and Darek Zurowski were both undefeated for Middlesex.
Essex moved into third place after drawing 5-5 with Derbyshire. As with last year this fixture saw the Mother and Daughter clashes between the Vickers and the Wangs, and this time the Vickers Family came out on top 3-1. Jane Vickers beat Sarra Wang 3-1 but missed out 2-3 against Sarra’s Mum – Lucy. Vytas Rybakas and John Holland were both undefeated for Essex, with both players coming through tough examinations against Shaun Marples.
By contrast the Junior Premier Division looks as if there will be two teams at the most fighting it out for honours, the same two sides as last year – Hampshire and Lincolnshire who both have a maximum eight points. However, with Lincolnshire only managing to beat Essex 6-4 Hampshire must surely be resounding favourites. Lincolnshire trailed Essex 4-2 so to win 6-4 was a fine achievement. Dominique Jones led their fight-back and her last gasp 12-10 in the fifth set win over Hannah Pitt kept their hopes alive. It gathered further pace when Stewart Mudie picked up his second win, a fine 3-1 victory over Emran Hussain. Inform Emily Bates made no mistake against Holly Stubbings and Paul Johnson sealed what was an excellent victory by getting the better of Luca Mariano 3-1.
Champions elect Hampshire didn’t have it all their own way but they beat Devonshire 7-3. Devon’s Richard Marshall beat both Garth Kinlocke and David McBeath and Chris Smith came through a real test by getting the better of Ruihao Zhang 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10. However, on this showing it will be a major surprise if David McBeath, Garth Kinlocke, Ruihao Zhang, Hannah Hicks, Anabelle Morle and Becky House are not crowned as Champions.
Sussex will be very pleased with their morning’s work, as they beat an admittedly understrength Derbyshire 6-4. Emma Vickers who was playing in both Competitions predictably won two of Derbyshire’s games whilst Stephen Eckford impressed for Sussex. Stephen beat Mark Naylor (8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9) and he sealed the Sussex victory by getting the better of Tom Booth 11-3, 11-4, 11-8 in the last game.
Yorkshire’s 7-3 victory over Hertfordshire went to form with Mary Fuller and Edward Fambely remaining undefeated for Yorkshire. Hertfordshire’s Guy Ben-Aroya caught the eye by beating Damien Piper over five ends.
Courtesy ETTA
If the fourth round of results proves anything to go by there is every likelihood that the County Championships Senior Premier Division will not be decided until round seven is completed. Two points now cover the top five sides.
Leaders Sussex suffered the most, losing 6-4 to bottom placed Berkshire. Sussex raced into a 2-0 lead but Berkshire reinforced by the inclusion of Melanie Farquhar and Richard Andrews hit back in determined fashion and they won the last two games to seal the match. Melanie Farquhar beat Rosemary Rainton 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6 to give Berkshire a 5-4 lead and Richard Andrews, a 0-3 loser in his first singles to surprise Sussex selection Andrej Lasota became his side’s hero as he beat Adrian Moore 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9. Ritchie Venner was Sussex’s most successful player, beating both David Barr and Martin Adams. Defeat saw Sussex drop from first to fifth place.
Devon moved into top place after beating Gloucestershire convincingly 8-2. Craig Bryant, Chris Brown and Marketa Myskova were all undefeated and Sally Smith came close to repeating the feat. She just missed out against Choi Sze Toi after a furious fifth set. Chris Brown completed an excellent Devon performance by getting the better of Brian McRandall 10-12, 13-11, 14-12, 11-9.
Middlesex moved into second place by beating Leicestershire 7-3. Karen Smith beat both Lindsay Armstrong and Sarah Horsnell to ensure that Leicestershire were in with a chance but the only other game they managed to pick up came courtesy of Chris Rogers getting the better of Neil Charles 3-1. Tommy Cutler and Darek Zurowski were both undefeated for Middlesex.
Essex moved into third place after drawing 5-5 with Derbyshire. As with last year this fixture saw the Mother and Daughter clashes between the Vickers and the Wangs, and this time the Vickers Family came out on top 3-1. Jane Vickers beat Sarra Wang 3-1 but missed out 2-3 against Sarra’s Mum – Lucy. Vytas Rybakas and John Holland were both undefeated for Essex, with both players coming through tough examinations against Shaun Marples.
By contrast the Junior Premier Division looks as if there will be two teams at the most fighting it out for honours, the same two sides as last year – Hampshire and Lincolnshire who both have a maximum eight points. However, with Lincolnshire only managing to beat Essex 6-4 Hampshire must surely be resounding favourites. Lincolnshire trailed Essex 4-2 so to win 6-4 was a fine achievement. Dominique Jones led their fight-back and her last gasp 12-10 in the fifth set win over Hannah Pitt kept their hopes alive. It gathered further pace when Stewart Mudie picked up his second win, a fine 3-1 victory over Emran Hussain. Inform Emily Bates made no mistake against Holly Stubbings and Paul Johnson sealed what was an excellent victory by getting the better of Luca Mariano 3-1.
Champions elect Hampshire didn’t have it all their own way but they beat Devonshire 7-3. Devon’s Richard Marshall beat both Garth Kinlocke and David McBeath and Chris Smith came through a real test by getting the better of Ruihao Zhang 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10. However, on this showing it will be a major surprise if David McBeath, Garth Kinlocke, Ruihao Zhang, Hannah Hicks, Anabelle Morle and Becky House are not crowned as Champions.
Sussex will be very pleased with their morning’s work, as they beat an admittedly understrength Derbyshire 6-4. Emma Vickers who was playing in both Competitions predictably won two of Derbyshire’s games whilst Stephen Eckford impressed for Sussex. Stephen beat Mark Naylor (8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9) and he sealed the Sussex victory by getting the better of Tom Booth 11-3, 11-4, 11-8 in the last game.
Yorkshire’s 7-3 victory over Hertfordshire went to form with Mary Fuller and Edward Fambely remaining undefeated for Yorkshire. Hertfordshire’s Guy Ben-Aroya caught the eye by beating Damien Piper over five ends.
Courtesy ETTA