There are a few matches being caught up in the Leicester & District League before the close of the first half of the season when all first half matches must be played, and these include a 9-1 win for Knighton Park firsts over Thringstone for them to hang on to the coattails of leaders in Division One, Unicorn, and are only a draw behind at half time.
Karen Smith and Reza Kiani both emerged undefeated having scored successes over Maurice Newman along the way, the latter securing Thringstone’s only success when he beat Chris Rogers.
A mid-table clash saw Arnesby just get the better of Abbots Road by 6-4, mainly thanks to a maximum by Abraham Conteh, although Ian Brown supported well with two. Dave Small, playing up for Arnseby from three, lost in five to Amrish Rana while Ross Adams took two for Abbots.
Ajax Wolvey had to play a rare doubles when finding themselves at 5-4 up against Knighton Park seconds after the nine singles, Jon Williams and Mick Allsopp supplying the important win in the final set, only the third out of 11 they have played. Earlier Williams had won three with John Fuller supplying two while Kevin Yang won two for the Park.
The young Knighton Park IV team has been vying with Unicorn II all season at the top of Division Two but they suffered a rare thrashing at the hands of a red hot Electricity III who took the match 9-1. Russell Pettitt and his son, Adam, both won maximums ably supported by Sam Radenhurst who lost to Adnan Ebrahim in five which at least avoided the full house.
The two teams locked at the top of Division Four fought out a thrilling 5-5 draw when Tim Cawston took a tough maximum for Regent Sports II against Winstanley Wizards, including a 12-10 in the fifth success against Himansu Mishra who won his other two for the Wizards, Dan Andrews also gaining two. The Dewsbury brothers, John and Dave, each won one for Regent.
Meanwhile Ian Lockington was losing his unbeaten tag in this division when Zia Malik took a three-straight maxi for Knighton Park X against Wigston Conservatives in a 7-3 success. Lockington is still top individually but now has Malik lurking only just behind.
It is also a time for League Cup matches during the festive break. In the Saracen Cup for players graded below 170, Knighton Park found themselves 1-0 down when Electricity’s Dave Greasley beat Steve Bessant before Tracey Smith just got the better of Daniel Woolman in five to level things. From there KP raced to a 5-1 win with Smith and Patrick Cox each winning two out of two.
Woolman is in demand for the Sparks as he also featured in a Frith Trophy match for players graded below 140 – Woolman is currently 130 but is climbing. He won three against Syston Casuals in a 5-4 success backed by two from Dave Silvester. For Syston Scott Morris won two, Nick Bishop and Tony Monteiro one apiece.
In the Rose Johnson Challenge Trophy organised by the County Association, a four-a-side handicap, Syston Casuals inched home against Electric City after giving 68 points away at the start. Ian Wetherley won all four for Syston to finish plus 34 while John Szostak did even better at plus 40 despite losing 21-19 to Andy Wright.
This unique event allows players from lower division to mix with those much higher and Syston’s Scott Morris and Tony Monteiro did just that, both playing well and Morris actually finishing with a positive score. Wright was best player on view for Electric, finishing on plus 4. Syston won 311-303.
Not such a close match found Vintage Nomads beating Knighton Park Two 329-279, having had a 60 point start but losing only ten along the way. For Nomads Cliff Smith was undefeated with plus 16 while Andy Searle finished on plus 15. Lucky Obi was the Parks most successful player on plus 41.