The Leicester & District League finished last season with 57 teams over their five divisions, one of the handful of largest leagues in England. The good news is that despite losing two teams during the closed season, almost always unavoidable, they have picked up five teams, a net increase of three which means five full divisions of 12 teams.

Knighton Park have moved back up to 10 teams from eight last term while Unicorn are steadily growing with four instead of three, and new club last season, Fleckney, have added a third team.  There is also a new, and strong, Holwell team who will be in division three at the lowest, possibly even division two.

The League’s summer competition for the Elbow Tankard, a team handicap, is moving into its final third with Abbots All Stars just about home in Group A after beating Fleckney Flyers 16-4, Vishal Parmar six, Geoff Hancock four and Dave Rana two from four singles but all four doubles. They have won all four matches so far and one more point from two matches would ensure a semi final place.

This Fleckney team were unlucky in having to play the Abbots’ team twice in two weeks, losing also 17-3 when Hancock this time won six, Bradley Lapworth four and Eiz Eddin Al Katrib four from four.

KP Young Ones are another team almost through in Group B after defeating Ian’s Wizards 14-6 with a good team performance, Vishaal Sharma 5/6, Oscar Bentley 3/6, Patrick Cox three from four and three doubles. For the Wizards, Himansu Mishra won four.

Also in this group Abbots Renegades defeated Fleckney Flames 15-5 and are in line for the one “best runner-up” spot to go with the three group winners. Chetan Tailor was in very good form with all six and Fahed Sacoor five.

Group C is currently the most open with Electric City doing themselves no harm in beating Villagers 17-3 on the hottest evening, Andy Searle all six, Brian Moylan five and Andy Wright two from four but all four doubles.

In this group the other two vying for the top spot, Casualties and Park and Ride, still have to play each other twice and everything will revolve around those two matches.