Division Three 2007/2008 w/c 31st Mar 2008

FINAL REPORT

Dartway Rats (K Walter 2, C Hutchins 1, R Tolhurst 1) 4
Howard VI (J Moore 2, B Bendle 0, T Bell 3) 6

Luton Invicta III (J Hollands 1, M Ball 2, M Smith1) 4
Cliffe Woods III (T Mortley 2, D West 3, A Kay 0) 6

CTTC Endurance (S Fritter 3, L Townsend 2, P Gates 0) 5
Anchorians MP III (T Slater 1, R Ellis 2, J Lolljawaheer 1) 5

Sturdee VIII (S Whale 3, M Barfoot 2, R Harding 3) 9
Luton Invicta IV (L Wilkie 1, D Murtagh 0, K Ball 0) 1

Rainham 83 IX (D Murray 3) 3
Rainham 83 VIII (R Savage 0, P Palmer 0, A Woollven 0, Walkover 7) 7

Anchorians MP III (R Ellis 2, T Slater 2, J Lolljawaheer 1) 5
Luton Invicta IV (K Ball 3, D Murtagh 0, L Wilkie 1) 5

Luton Invicta V (A Hall 2, M Barber 2, T Boarer 1) 6
Wald Vikings III (G Hentschel 3, D Myers 1, J Stewart 0) 4

With the top two positions already decided, the focus this week was on the dog fight at the other end of the table with five teams in danger of filling the final relegation slot.

Tuesday saw Anchorians MP III play their scheduled match at Chatham Endurance and they came away with a 5-5 draw thanks to a double from Captain Dick Ellis and singles from Tony Slater and Jack Lolljawaheer over a luckless Pat Gates. Ellis and Lolljawaheer teamed up to take the decisive doubles against Stuart Fritter and Lee Townsend. Endurance had welcomed Fritter back from injury and he showed his class as he claimed a hat trick which added to two five leg wins by Townsend.

On Wednesday, Luton Invicta IV had the unenviable task of visiting champions Sturdee VIII and in the end had to settle for just one point as Lawrie Wilkie did for double winner Mark Barfoot three straight. One and two respectively in the averages, Richard Harding and Scott Whale claimed their customary trebles at the expense of Wilkie, Dave Murtagh and Keith Ball.

Anchorians MP III and Invicta IV played a re-arranged match on Thursday with both teams needing points and both were pleased to take a share of the spoils in a 5-5 draw which ensured both of their survivals for another season. Keith Ball starred for Invicta as he claimed a hat trick although he had to dig deep as all his three games went the distance. He got the better of Dick Ellis 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, Tony Slater 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-1 and Jack Lolljawaheer 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-2. Ellis and Slater both bagged a brace against Lawrie Wilkie and Dave Murtagh whilst Lolljawaheer won the final singles against Murtagh before Ball and Wilkie secured the draw with a straight legs win in the doubles.

For the second week running, Doug Murray was the only player to turn up for Rainham 83 IX and again had to concede seven games to their Rainham 83 VIII club mates. An unhappy Murray duly dispatched Robin Savage, Pat Palmer and Alan Woollven to make the result a 7-3 defeat but it leaves his side on level points with Boxley III in the remaining relegation spot and a play off should take place.

Luton Invicta V played on Friday against Walderslade Vikings III knowing they needed three points to reach safety and more than achieved their target with a 6-4 victory thanks to doubles from Arthur Hall and Mick Barber, a single from Tony Boarer and a comfortable win in the doubles. Viking's points came from Divisional Champion Gary Hentschel's treble and a Derek Myers lone win over Boarer.

Luton Invicta III finished their campaign with a 6-4 home defeat at the hands of Cliffe Woods III for whom Dave West emerged with a hat trick and Trevor Mortley a double.
John Hollands, Mary Ball and Margaret Smith all got the better of Allister Kay and Ball also did for Mortley in five.

Relegated Dartway Rats gave runners-up Howard VI a run for their money as they battled to the last in a 6-4 defeat which saw Ken Walter post a double over Jim Moore and Bruce Bendle whilst Colin Hutchins and Dick Tolhurst also saw off Bendle. Tony Bell finished off his fine season with a treble but it was the doubles which provided the most interest as Howard need to secure at least four points to ensure the doubles crown. They comfortably won the first leg 11-2 but Dartway took the second 14-12 to mean that Howard could not afford to lose another leg. Nerves were eased as they duly won both the third and fourth legs 11-6 to give them the title.

STOP PRESS

Luton Invicta V (A Hall 0, R Ward 0, K Hall, Walk over 3) 3
Cliffe Woods III (T Mortley 3, D West 3) 7

ALL THE SEASON'S RESULTS