It was mixed fortunes for the Nomads and Abbots Road clubs in their two Elbow Tankard clashes in different groups of the summer handicap competition organised by the Leicester League, and both were successes for the away side.

In Group A Geoff Hancock of Bishops gave away eight points in his six games but still managed to win five with his control and tenaciousness, losing one to Nomads’ Dave Crouch who won two of four as well as two from four of the doubles. Raju Rahul chipped in with four to support Hancock while Shabnam Ahmed won three from four, and excellent 14-6 victory overall for the Abbots Road team.

Revenge was gained in Group B when Nomads won 12-8 against Vicars. This was a very tight affair and, not for the first time, the doubles had a say when Nomads won three from four. Spearheading Nomads were Cliff Smith and Laszlo Koksis, both securing four wins, while Ketan Patel and Fahed Sacoor each won three for Vicars.

Park Rangers went a long way to securing a place in the semi finals with a comprehensive 16-4 victory over Blaby and Whetstone in Group A. Dan Pearson, back to his best, won all six for Rangers while Max Huggins won three from four and had a hand in all four doubles successes, Oscar White supplying the other three. For Blaby Phill Hinson and Tom Phipps each won two.

Back in Group B Simon Taylor was winning five for KP Dry Roasted against club-mates KP Nutters, but to no avail as Steve Bessant, Robert Geary and John Bowness did enough to secure a 13-7 win, Bessant at the helm in taking all four doubles games.

John Bowness (Publicity Officer)
July 27, 2015