In the L-Style Division One of the UKDA National League, Salopian had a home tie with Merseyside and after both teams had played six games, the latter had a narrow one point lead on their hosts.
The ladies ‘B’ game finished all-square at 3-3 with all six games going in favour of the first throw advantage. Merseyside took the lead three times through Claire New, who beat Tracey Nicholas 3-0, Sandra James who had a 3-1 success over Molly Atter and Emma Evan for her 3-2 win over Hayley McGuinness. Replying for Salopian were Emma Hayward with her 3-0 win against Maresa Edwards, Anna Peatroy who won 3-1 in her game with Molly Brash and Emma Tapp who had a 3-1 win over Lynne Sorrell. With a 17.28 average the lady of the match award went to Emma Hayward.
The men’s ‘B’ could not have wished for a better start as man of the match Eddie Price handed out a straight 4-0 defeat to Mike Warren with a 30.83 average. Sadly the lead didn’t last long as Merseyside’s Robbie Gorst beat Glyn Thomas 4-2 and Alan Magee beat Jake Elsey 4-3. Although Tony Burton levelled the score with his 4-1 win over Jonny Green, by the halfway mark, Merseyside were 4-2 up as Lee Crank won 4-1 against Dean Stokes and Waynne Lang beat Jack Darby 4-3.
Merseyside went further ahead as the second session got underway, Tom Lockyer beating Andy Gilbert 4-2 and Bradley Williams winning 4-1 against Danny Humphries. Jake ‘B, Smith momentarily reduced the arrears with his 4-0 success over Dan Nuttie but with a 4-0 win for Dave Richards against Scott Towers plus a 4-2 success for Aaron Jones over Ian Evans, Merseyside were home and dry, leading 8-3. The last game of the day went to Salopian, Scott Dockerty winning 4-3 against Danny Russon to put the result at 8-4 to Merseyside.
Trailing 11-7, Salopian fell further behind as the ladies ‘A’ went down 4-2, Adele Mulligan and Emma Barlow putting the away side two up when in turn they won 3-2 and 3-1 against Stacey Price and Kate Titley. Tracey Dean kept the hosts in the match with her 3-2 win over Lucy Prescott and with a similar 3-2 win for Steph Clarke over Viv Cullimore, the score was level at 2-2, Steph Clarke taking the match award for her super 23.98 average. Unfortunately for Salopian, Middlesex then took the final two games, Vicki Lloyd winning 3-1 against Sue Lane and Julie Whelan beating Emma O’Callaghan 3-0 to give the visitors a 4-2 win.
What a way to start the men’s ‘A’ match, Terry Nash putting Salopian one up with a straight 4-0 win over Jack Boardman with a terrific 35.16 average. Ash Hilditch made it 2-0 with his 4-1 success over Clive Rule before the away side got their first winner, Paddy Williams, who won 4-2 against Mark Crutchley. The last three games of the half all went to the home team, Derek Coulson beating Dave Harnick 4-1, Dean Rogers winning 4-2 against Steve Gow and Jon Mansell having a straight 4-0 win in his game with Joe Brady to put the hosts 5-1 up at the break.
As the second half began, a draw was assured as Kacey Jones won 4-0 against Tom Gater. Merseyside then had their best run of the match winning three-in-a-row thanks to Robbie Gorst, John Prescott and Ben Jones who in turn won against Gary Crowther (4-3), Paul Rowley (4-3) and Jamie Chaplin (4-2). In the penultimate encounter, Dave Bayton chalked up the magical seventh win when he defeated Phil Lloyd 4-2. The last game went to Merseyside, Johnny Brammeld winning 4-1 against Jamie Kynaston to give a final score of 7-5 to Salopian.
The result for the weekend was a 20-16 win for Merseyside to see Salopian remain sixth in the table with 119 points, their opponents staying fifth with 127 points.
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