As previously reported, Unicorn beat Knighton Park to gain control at the top of Division One of the Leicester League. Meanwhile those in challenging positions await any slips at the top because, as we all know, anything can happen and a couple of defeats would very quickly change the whole picture.
Electricity have been impressed by the performances of Tomas Oravec in their second division team and gave him a run-out against Holwell Works. Alas, things did not quite go to plan individually, although Oravec showed enough to suggest very good things to come. Riding to the Sparks’ rescue were David Grundy and Andy LeButt who both notched maximums as well as the doubles to give Electricity a 7-3 success.
John Underwood has been captaining Knighton Park II in the top sphere, despite not having won a single set as yet. He is far from disheartened, however, and is receiving some excellent support from team-mates Reza Kiani and George McClurkin, both physically and psychologically.
Underwood keeps chipping away and very nearly broke his duck against Mark James of Syston Casuals. At two games apiece Underwood was 8-3 up but James played very well indeed to win the next eight points to get home 11-8. Meanwhile, Kiani won three and McClurkin two and the doubles to give KP a 6-4 victory with John Szostak taking two for Syston.
John Fuller won an excellent maximum for Ajax Wolvey in their 7-3 victory over Arnesby, with good backing from Aidan Walsh (2) and one from Jon Williams. Fuller just pulled it off in five against Darren Bramhall while Ian Brown won two for Arnesby.
Another match-winning maximum came from Thringstone’s Maurice Newman after beating Sohail Caratella of Desford Village in five in first set of the night. Alastair Hawthorn chipped in with two and Barry Taylor one for Thringstone to win 6-4, while Tony Smith took two for Desford.
Desford Village second team have started the second half of the season in Division Two very much as they conducted the first, in a winning vein but having the match go right to the wire with some very close sets against Electricity II. Richard Hayes won three, including 3-2 against Russell Pettitt and 3-2 (11-8, 12-14, 13-15, 11-8, 13-11) against Andy Wright. Kevin Parker supported with two while the Sparks’ most successful player was Sam Radenhurst with two.
Mike James, previously seen just getting the better of John Underwood in Division One, also came good in his usual team in the second division when helping Syston Casuals II to a 6-4 victory over Great Glen, including a close five-gamer against Kelvin Herbert. Ian Wetherley supported James with two and Terry Hall one. For Glen Alex Mason took two.
Eddie Lyons is still undefeated for Knighton Park V and spearheaded a good 7-3 success over Regent Sports, with Jack Mooney winning two and just going down 10-12 in the fifth to Kevin Sanderson, who won two for Regent. Dean Jordan’s win over Richard Anderson at 11-9 in the fifth gave Park a crucial sixth singles to make sure of victory before the doubles.
Some excellent individual performances in other divisions included all three for Harry White for Electricity IV in Division Three against Goons in a 7-3 defeat, and this included a 12-10 win in the fifth against the wily John Jacques who, along with Barry Robinson and Dave Tanner, proved stronger in depth with two apiece.
Nomads III fielded only two players in Division Four against Wigston Conservatives with the pair, Laszio Kocsis and Dave Croucher notching a brace of wins each, but neither could get the better of in-form Ian Lockington, who held Wigston together for them to record a 6-4 victory.
Dave Rana had been showing some good form for Abbots Road V in Division Five with the match against the improving Knighton Park XII no exception. Rafe Walton and Robbie Bowsher showed how much they have improved so far this season with two each and a good doubles success, but the experience of Rana proved a step too far in an otherwise fair 5-5 draw to share the spoils.
John Bowness (publicity officer)
January 19, 2015