Crunch time in Division One of the Leicester and District League approaches as the two leaders, Unicorn and Knighton Park, currently a dozen or more points ahead of the rest, ready themselves for the climax to the first half of the season when they play each other, something that will be repeated during the final week when they face each other for the second time.
Their preparations are going well with Unicorn 9-1 victors over Electricity II for whom evergreen Steve White, who has won the county championship in times gone by, won the one for the Sparks when getting the better of Geoff Parsons in five tough games.
For Unicorn, Lois Peake and George Briskolas looked majestic as they both scored three-straight maximums. And they have Jared Patel waiting in the wings who, like Peake, is so far unbeaten.
Also undefeated for that matter is Knighton Park’s Chris Rogers, who also won a fine looking full house when his team defeated Ajax Wolvey, third last term, 8-2. Karen Smith and Reza Kiani both won a brace for KP while Aidan Walsh and John Fuller each took one for Ajax the latter, as usual, forfeiting the doubles.
If both teams are at full strength Unicorn look to have the edge but you never know on the night. If Rogers could hit absolute top form what happens to the others will be paramount with the doubles perhaps the key. The only certainty is that there will not be three left undefeated for the season thus far at the end.
Richard Hayes started the season for Desford Village in Division Two but, after two strikingly easy three-straight maximums, moved up to the club’s first team in the top sphere where he has now played his maximum quota without being re-registered, something that will surely now happen.
At the top he played the leading two teams to begin with, winning an excellent three from six sets and has won nine from nine since, his latest full house another excellent one against Electricity’s first team, albeit two of them needing five games. Tony Smith beat Andy LeButt to offer support to Hayes and they won the doubles in a 5-5 draw. The Sparks found themselves 3-1 down but the came back strongly for Mat Hobday and David Grundy to score two apiece, LeButt one.
Unicorn are attempting the double in Division Two where their second team has opened up a decent gap after defeating Knighton Park III 8-2. John Genovese won a good three with Ben Stone and Jianglong Guo two each. For Park Peter Wilson and Mike Lapworth won one apiece.
Second are Regent Sports after beating Electricity III 6-4 for whom Adam Pettitt secured a splendid maximum, but in vain, also winning the doubles with Sam Radenhurst. Pettitt beat Martin Bolton 12-10 in the fifth, won in five against Charlie Bateman but it was the latter two, together with Kevin Sanderson, who came through for an excellent team effort with two each.
Knighton Park IV are potentially second if they win their match in hand having beaten Great Glen 8-2 with three for Oscar White, two each for Rayan Kotecha and Adnan Ebrahim, a very good junior trio, while Alex Mason took two for the losers.
Syston Casuals II have looked relegation candidates so far from Division Three but have boosted their chances of avoiding the drop with a 7-3 win over Nomads II when John Henshaw and Terry Wale both emerged undefeated in a twin effort, Wale also winning the doubles with Ajay Lad.
Syston hitched themselves nearer to a few others who are beginning to struggle near the bottom, including Knighton Park VI who were thrashed 10-0 by one of the two top teams, Arnesby II, who had Rhys Emery, Dave Small and Dave Wagstaff in tip top form.
Arnesby together with Blaby and Whetstone II, the latter without a match this week, stand together at the top on equal points and still have to play each other in a rearranged fixture not yet affixed a date.
Ian Lockington maintained his unbeaten record for Wigston Conservatives in Division Four in a 6-4 victory over Nomads III. Pete Garfield supplied two in support and Dave Starkie one. For Nomads, Mark Clay won two.
Another good maximum in this division came from Rob Price for Regent Sports II against Electricity V in a 6-4 victory, John Dewsbury weighing in with two and these two won the doubles in five for full points. Dave Silvester scored two for the Sparks.