Cup week brought a few league matches being fitted in to avoid too many at the last minute of the season but, essentially, it was semi-finals for the Leicester League’s competitions and first round matches in the County Association’s unusual four-a-side handicap in which wins and losses play no direct part – it is all on the points gained.
In the latter event for the Rose Johnson Challenge Bowl four results are known with one wide margin and one very close while the other two, although seemingly comfortable, rested on pivotal performances that are very often countered and the result can be much closer.
Closest result came when Knighton Park IV gave away 100 points to Nomads – 16 games of 21-up to decide. When Les Baker beat Phil Tomlin 21-2 first game to claw 19 back straight away it looked as though KP might prevail in double quick time.
But Nomads’ Cliff Smith had other ideas. True, he lost later to Baker 21-12 but had two victories against players graded higher when defeating John Underwood and Dean Jordan. Eventually Smith finished plus 3 which went a long way to seeing his team last out to win 316-310, Baker finishing plus 53, but just in vain.
A local derby saw Knighton Park III defeat their own second team 324-261 after giving away 32, with Simon Aldis in good form at plus 41. Supporting were Tracey Smith, Martin Pember and Alec Downes.
Steve Pratt was in tremendous form for Abbots All Stars against Electricity in a 324-291 victory, the latter having a 149 start. Pratt had a plus 43 return while Ross Adams was on plus 41, Jinious Sheth and Fahed Sacoor also positive. Andy Wright was the Sparks’ most successful player.
Knighton Park I beat Casualties 331-271 thanks to their two youngsters from Division Five playing well, Ella Parmar-Saville and brother, Dylan, each getting a small, but vital, win along the way. John Bowness was plus 46 for KP while Jason Woodfield finished plus 43 for Casualties.
Pick of the semi-final stages of the League’s cup competitions came in the Corrall Cup for players graded below 170 with two teams from Knighton Park in the mix, apt as the competition is in memory of Les Corrall who was a long standing President and Chairman of the club.
KP’s A team had Aman Rashid in super form against Electricity, scoring a maximum including a classic against Harry White when all five games needed were of exceptional quality. James Morley supported well with two and he was 2-0 down against White before winning the next two games at deuce and then clinched the fifth for a 5-3 overall victory.
KP’s B team also had a youngster on form with Jack Rogers winning all three, but this time in vain. It included the narrowest successes against Syston Casuals’ Ian Wetherley which included three sizeable deuce games. The overall team strength of Casuals saw them through 5-4 with Mike James and John Szostak both winning two, Wetherley one.
Another player scoring a maxi in vain was Charlie Bateman for Regent Sports in the Saracen Cup (grades under 170) against Knighton Park B. Fortunately for the Park both Robert Geary and Steve Bessant were on form with two apiece.
The Rose Johnson Cup final (open) will be contested as usual by Electricity and Knighton Park. The Sparks beat KP ‘B’ 5-3 with David Grundy and Andy LeButt supplying the five. While KP ‘A’ comprising Karen Smith, Les Baker and Peter Wilson defeated Syston Casuals 8-1.
A Knighton Park local Derby came in the Lillian Williamson Cup for players under 115 when Max Huggins, Dan Pearson and Aga Hirt for the A side beat their B counterparts 5-0.