The format of the Elbow Tankard, the Leicester League’s summer competition, with twenty games altogether and the four doubles right in the middle, means the “doubles man” is important as so often a match in the balance has been virtually decided by these four games.

Steve Bessant has been playing well for Park Strollers in Group C and two successive matches with a four out of four doubles return has put his team in a very good position, the latest win being by 16-4 over Normal Nomads. Bessant won three singles while Aman Rashid took 5/6 and Patrick Carton 4/6.

Parsons remain at the very top of Group C thanks to a 15-5 victory over Syston Casuals and again there was a four out of four doubles return, this time by Trevor Drury who also won two singles.  Excellent support came from Raju Rahul with 5/6 and Daniel Wilcock with 4/6.  John Henshaw won three for Syston.

Any one of four of the five teams in Group A could still win after a 16-4 success for Villagers over leaders, Vicars.  All the Villagers’ players won four, Alex Mason, Keven Truman and Phil Tomlin, the latter out of four singles as well as the four doubles.

Vicars had been streets ahead early on in this group but also lost to Desford Try Hards by 13-7 when both Mike Pratt and Vince Blair won 5/6 and Keith Adams three.  The fourth team in with a chance is Park Rangers who were matchless last week.

Park Keepers seem to have Group B almost tied up and need just one point from two matches to win the group.  Their latest success came by way of a 13-7 win over Electricity, their nearest challengers, with progressive Junior, Ashley Palmer, taking 5/6 as did George McClurkin, while Dean Jordan won two.  Charlie Bateman took three for the losers.

Written by John Bowness (August 12, 2013)