The two semi-finals in the Leicester & District League’s summer competition for the Elbow Tankard were won in contrasting styles with one a relatively easy success while the other could not have been much closer.
Abbots All Stars faced Electric City, each with a little bit of newish blood but both having a depth of experience and the 10 sets, each consisting of two games up to 21 because of the handicapping, had no less than nine of them shared at 1-1.
The decider as it turned out was deep into the match when Geoff Hancock beat Bryan Moylan 21-17, 21-16, the winner having given away nine points each time.
This gave Hancock the best return of the match at four from six. Vishal Parmar, giving away anything from five to 12 points, won half of his six, including nailbiting deuce successes against Andy Wright and Moylan, but it was a solid return.
Abbots’ third player is relatively new to the sport compared to his team-mates and Eiz Eddin Al Katrib spent time in division five last term and came out of this with two from four in both his singles and the all-important doubles.
For Electric, Andy Wright won three from six, Andy Searle two from four in singles and doubles with Moylan, usually very difficult to beat in handicaps, two from six on this occasion.
The All Stars’ opponents in the final will be KP Young Ones who used their improving form as three individuals, all juniors, who are coming along extremely well. Their emerging talent overcame experience in the form of Park and Ride with the young ‘uns winning 15-5, their success never in doubt after taking a 5-1 lead with everyone having played.
Vishaal Sharda was in superb form, winning all six singles, while 13-year-old Oscar Bentley took all four of his singles as well as three from four in the doubles. Completing the picture was Brajesh Patel who won two from six this time, but is capable of better things.
Shirley Pickering, the junior coach, had the unenviable task of playing against some of her charges to win one from four for Park and Ride, James Lancaster took one from six while John Bowness won two from six.