Who Will Win The Race To The Division Three Title?

The battle for the Division Three title has now turned into a three horse race with DTH Redlands Tarr Babies currently sat in the box seat after starting 2014 in the same manner as they finished 2013, with a 10-0 win. Their victims on this occasion were Ryton Park Falcons and despite the efforts of the Falcons trio of Jordan Potter and brothers Nathan and Regan Langley they couldn't stop the onslaught by The Tarr Babies with only two of the ten matches not being won in straight sets. All three Tarr Babies in Daniel Cutts, Kieran Tutter and Antony Coupe were on top form returning maximums with the latter, Antony Coupe maintaining his 100% league record so far this season. The win for the Tarr Babies gives them a 4 point lead at the top of the table after their closest rivals Stanley Street 'C' also had a convincing 10-0 win this week against bottom side Ryton Park Dragons and in doing so stretched their unbeaten start in the league to an impressive 9 games. Captain Glyn Williams led from the front for Stanley Street with a hat trick and he was followed by Louis Spray and Orestas Riauba who also returned comfortable maximums with Williams and Spray teaming up to take the doubles and with a game in hand on the Tarr Babies it all points to a very close run in to the end of the season. Despite getting a bit of a drubbing special mention must go the Dragons trio of Jack Lennon and brothers Lee and Luke Banton who never let their heads drop all night and continued to play the game in an exemplary manner.
The third team in the hunt for the Division Three title are DTH Redlands Rookies who were looking for a win against Stanley Street Rascals to maintain the pressure on their rivals. Before this week's round of matches the Rookies were lying in 2nd place 2 points ahead of Stanley Street 'C' and only 2 points behind the leaders the Tarr Babies but they unfortunately ran into an in form Liam Stead who had a fabulous night beating all three Rookies players Derek Piper, Bob Atkinson and Caius Tweed in straight sets to set up his team's victory. Both Harry Downing and Thomas Gladwin chipped in with a win each over Tweed which left the match result hinging on the outcome of the doubles rubber. Stead and Gladwin were up against Atkinson and Piper and after a real battle managed to take the game 11-9 in the 5th and deciding set to clinch a 6-4 victory which in turn now leaves the Rookies 5 points behind the Tarr Babies.
Despite the Tarr Babies good league form they couldn't get past Stanley Street Cypriots in the preliminary round of the cup competition for Division Three sides The MBE Handicap Trophy. The Tarr Babies playing two matches in two nights were knocked out by Stanley Street Cypriots who were also playing on consecutive nights and after a very close contest the Cypriots Graham Stent, Adam Hamilton and Tom Parker just managed to win the match by just 2 points after the handicaps were added and will now have a home tie against club colleagues The Rascals to look forward to.
 Other Division Three Result: Stanley Street Cypriots 6 Ryton Park Cougars 4
One result in Division Two this week could well have shaped the destiny of where the title will finally end up. The top of the table clash between Stanley Street 'B' and Manton Tigers lived up to its billing and ended up being a gruelling battle and one which saw Paul Allison of the Tigers finally lose his unbeaten record as Kyle McIntosh became the first player to inflict defeat on Allison this season in what was a 5 set thriller. McIntosh and his team mate Paul Linfield both went on to win two games each with Jack Kirkland adding a single win over the Tigers Phil Hall to drag their team back from the brink of defeat at 4-1 down to lead 5-4 going into the all important doubles which would  decide the outcome of the match. Linfield and McIntosh for the Street were up against the Tigers pairing of Allison and Dave Bownes and after a close match all the way through inevitably went to the deciding 5th game which Linfield and McIntosh managed to just win 11-8 to win the match 6-4 and more importantly take all 3 points to stretch their lead at the top over the Tigers to 5 points.
Other Division Two Result: DTH Redlands Joggers 4 Ryton Park Eagles 6
Division One Results: DTH Redlands Roosters 4 MBE 6, Global Marble 'A' 6  Stanley Street 'A' 4