There was a thrilling 5-5 draw in Division One of the Leicester & District League in a resumption of activity after the first cup week which saw no matches as there are not enough entries these days.
Ajax Wolvey are finding it tough to hold a position near the top this term and were held by Thringstone. The latter had Maurice Newman very much back to form with a superb maximum, all in three straight, while Alastair Hawthorne notched a critical one. For Ajax, Jon Williams and Aidan Walsh took two apiece while Mick Allsopp won one. In the end Newman and Hawthorn won a pulsating doubles 13-11 in the fifth to ensure the share of spoils.
Dave Gannon was also back playing and winning three for Abbots Road in their 7-3 victory over Unicorn II, with support from Vishal Parmar (2) and one from Geoff Hancock playing up. Luke Greenfield won two for Unicorn.
Meanwhile, Knighton Park firsts moved to the top, having a match in hand of Unicorn firsts, when they defeated Arnesby 9-1, but there were some very close sets, not least of all by Ian Brown who won Arnesby’s one by beating Jack Rogers 11-9 in the fifth and suffered a 15-17 loss in the fifth to Reza Kiani who went on to win three, as did Chris Rogers, his all in three straight.
In Division Two it is still all about Holwell Sports who continued on their merry 100 per cent way with an 8-2 success over Knighton Park IV for whom Mike Lapworth captured the one. Martin Brunning and Dave Roche both came away undefeated while James Morley won two. Every other team in this division has lost at least two matches so far.
Andy Spring had an up and down week for Blaby and Whetstone. He won all three in a 7-3 defeat at the hands of Knighton Park III and then lost all three as his team, in this case with only two players, crashed 8-2 to Abbots Road II.
For KP, Rayan Kotecha, Patrick Cox and Brajesh Patel all took two while Fahed Sacoor and Geoff Hancock were both unbeaten for Abbots Road, the latter after his one victory playing up in Division One.
Electricity III defeated Blaby and Whetstone II 6-4 thanks mainly to an excellent maximum by Russ Pettitt, with Alex Westaby and Edward Brown supporting with one each. All six players emerged with something as John Winsper, playing his 50th successive season in Leicester, won two for B & W, the brothers Hinson, Paul and Phill, one apiece.
There was a top of the table clash in Division Five that did not live up to exciting expectations when Syston Casuals V soundly defeated Abbots Road IV by 9-1 to open up a gap. John Wolfe, making his seasonal debut for Abbots, managed to defeat Nick Bishop early in a close tussle going to five, the first game was 20-18, but that was it. Tony Burns and Tony Monteiro both won three while Bishop won his other two and clearly Syston had prepared very well.
Jumping into second position are Blaby and Whetstone III after another 9-1 result against Winstanley Wizards V with Jack Angrave, Alan Willson and Tom Phipps picking up all nine singles with the Wizards gaining a consolation doubles.
Fleckney firsts have the same points as Blaby but are behind on games after just getting the better of Nomads IV 6-4 despite the very talented Jason Prescott picking up an easy three, backed by two from Robert Palmer. Dave Weston won two for Nomads.
Eiz Eddin Al Katrib has been improving steadily and won all three for Winstanley Wizards III against Desford Village IV, but in vain in a 7-3 defeat.
Gemma Hargrave must be given credit for tenacity having been at or near the bottom of the averages for a few years, but is putting together some good victories this term. She notched her third brace in a row in this match, together with two apiece from Gillian Wisdish and John Lenton.