Welfares 100% Winning Record Goes

League leaders in Division One Worksop Miners Welfare’s 100% record in Division One finally went this week as Sparken Hill Woodpeckers held them to a 5-5 draw. One 100% record for the Welfare side that didn’t fall though was Richard Element’s unbeaten run in the singles as he made it 20 wins out of 20 with wins over al three of the Woodpeckers players in Orestas Riauba, Martynas Riauba and Steve Fox. Despite Element’s hat trick, the Woodpeckers went toe to toe with the Welfare side as both Riauba brothers beat Chris Cattell and Dave Marsh with Steve Fox chipping in with a single win over Marsh to clinch a share of the spoils. Element and Cattell won the doubles for Miners Welfare beating Fox Orestas Riauba in straight sets to complete the scoring.
Two sides at the foot of the table had contrasting fortunes this week in the attempts to avoid the drop into Division Two. Sparken Hill Starlings entertained Clowne ‘A’ and had new signing Jack Kirkland in their ranks, and despite not playing for the last 12 months looked like he’d never been away as he beat Steve Lyon, Farrel Anthony and Rob Vaughan who was playing up from Division Two. Kirkland’s game against Anthony included one extraordinary game which he finally won 24-22 to clinch the win over Anthony.
Andy Lee also got in on the winning act as he defeated both Vaughan and Lee and when Guilliatt also defeated Vaughan it set the Starlings on their way to a well earned and much needed 7-3 win. Guilliatt and Kirkland beat Lyon and Anthony to add the doubles to put the icing on the cake.
Bottom side Worksop Welfare Snipers were also looking for points to move away from the bottom as they played host Stanley Street who were looking points to keep the pressure on the league leaders. Terry Emmerson continued his good form with yet another hat trick of wins defeating Russ Webster, Erlands Skels and Dilip Malkan who was playing up from Division Two in the process. Alex Millward matched his team mates efforts and also won all his three singles games with Pete Eyre adding wins over Webster and Malkan but losing out to Skels in straight sets. Emmerson and Eyre then took the doubles against Malkan and Skels to complete a 9-1 win.
The top two sides in Division Two met this week as Sparken Hill Eagles were looking to close the gap on league leaders Clowne ‘C’. An Ian Henderson hat trick for Clowne set them on their 10^th straight league win of the season that now puts them 5 points clear of the Eagles with a game in hand. Rob Vaughan with two wins and Ben Crapper with one plus the doubles sealed a 7-3 win for Clowne ‘C’ who go into the Christmas break looking odds on favourites for the Division Two title.
Manton Tigers continued their fine season with a 7-3 win over Worksop Welfare Harriers ‘A’ with hat tricks for both Bill Bateman and Ron Firth plus the doubles with Steve Beeston going home empty handed on this occasion.
Carlton X-Youth beat Manton Sports 7-3 and climbed out of the relegation places leapfrogging their opponents in the process. Hat tricks for both Simon Hooley and Mark Bloomer plus the doubles ensured that the X-Youth side secured all three points and leave Manton Sports with a battle on their hands in the New Year to avoid relegation.
There were wins for Worksop Welfare Harriers ‘C’, Sparken Hill Nightingales and Sparken Hill Hawks in Division Three this week. Harriers ‘C’ had a walk over as their opponents only turned up with one player, Sparken Hill Nightingales narrowly beat Sparken Hill Robins 6-4 whilst Sparken Hill Hawks whitewashed Sparken Hill Blue Jays 10-0.