The semi-finals of the Rose Johnson Challenge Trophy, a four-a-side handicap event organised by the County Association in which every point counts, have been played with one result going to the wire with just one point in it when the dust finally settled.
Vintage Nomads started 48 points to the good in the 16 games against Syston Casuals who relentlessly clawed them back, Ian Wetherly beating Wes Glaud 21-8 in the first and then, after Mark Clay and Andy Searle had put points back for Nomads, John Szostak began his contribution for Syston with a terrific 21-3 success over the luckless Tony Burns – 12 of the 48 points pulled back over the opening four games.
So it went on with Nomads battling away to retain their lead but every time Szostak came to the table Syston’s deficit was reduced and he eventually finished at a match-winning plus 55 while Wetherly was plus 24 and Scott Morris a very good four to the good playing out of Division Five.
The final game found Tony Monteiro, also a Division Five player, needing nine against Searle who plays in Division Two and, in the most nailbiting and fluctuating game, finally secured those nine points for his team to win 291-290.
They will face Knighton Park I in the final after they had won a much more one-sided affair against their own third team. The first team started with a lead of 92 and never looked like being caught, eventually taking the match 349-300.
Simon Aldis played very well to finish plus 10 while Chris Parmar-Saville was not far behind on plus five, and both John Underwood and Martin Pember supplied enough points of their own to aid the success. Spearheading the thirds was Karen Smith, a Division One player but, although she won them all, she found it tough to win by enough points to matter, while Oscar White and Patrick Cox also finished with positive scores.
The penultimate round of the daytime Ladder League had Andy Searle making his place at the head a little more secure by beating nearest rival, Charlie Bateman, 2-1 gaining six points against Bateman’s four to lead by three in what is now a two-man shootout.
This also applies to the tussle for third spot which has John Bowness two points ahead of Chris Woodward after coming out of their clash 2-1 to the good.
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Meanwhile, the Leicester & District League gathers itself for the final straight of this season with two of the five divisional champions already home and dry.
Division Two has Unicorn’s second team in pole position and more than enough points in the bag while Arnesby have now made sure of Division Three after a complete full house 10-0 against Goons. Rhys Emery, Dave Small – first and second in the individual averages – and Dave Wagstaff all continuing their good form, although Goons’ Scott Robinson, playing up from Five, gave Small a scare before losing in five.
It looks as though Unicorn will need the draw against Knighton Park as the bottom line in Division One after defeating Ajax Wolvey 7-3 when Jared Patel just maintained his unbeaten tag in some close sets, George Briskolas and Tim Sheppard two each. Jon Williams won the two singles for Ajax.
In Division Four Winstanley Wizards lead the way but have Knighton Park X breathing heavily down their necks. This Park team with new signings this season has been going from strength to strength and defeated their own ninth team 7-3 when Brajesh Patel and Zia Malik each won three. Vishaal Sharda won one with all three of his sets needing a fifth game, beaten by Eddie Kwok and Paul Ducksbury on this occasion. They are two points behind the Wizards and await any slip.
Unicorn III have almost made sure of Division Five coming through the last four matches with full points and all four have been by way of tough 6-4 victories. They have three matches remaining and can afford to lose one.