Latest League Results

Division Two
Amphlett Powers To Victory
Old Saracens chalked up their third win of the season when they played Tirley Tigers, courtesy of another max from Judy Morley, although Martin Kirby was pushed all the way by Pete Humble and had to come from two sets down to secure his win. A straight sets win in the doubles for Saracens rounded off the 7-3 home victory.

Cleeve Saracens B with only two players did well to limit Lakeside C to a 6-4 win; Mark Nally won two of his three singles and the doubles with Tony Iles, while Tony beat Trevor Oliver in a close 5-setter after being two sets down. But star of the evening was Julie Taylor with a fine performance to win both her singles against Tony and Mark in 5 see-saw sets.

Winchcombe Warriors pushed themselves a little higher into the top half of the table with a convincing win over Cheltenham D. Both Charlie Loh and Richard Bishop came away with maxes, while Matt Mulcahy and Tom Ricketts for Cheltenham D both managed to get the better of Luke Gresty to secure CTTC’s only points – although Tom was pushed to 5 sets by Luke in doing so.

In the (nearly) top-of-the-table clash between Lakeside B and Saracens A, Ross Greening secured a fine 5-set win over Andy East who only last week lost his 100% record. Ross went 2-1 down but recovered to level the match at 2-2 before taking the final set 11-5. Andy was also pushed all the way by Mike Dodwell in a thrilling see-saw encounter which eventually went to Andy 16-14 in the 5th. The doubles also proved to be a 5-set cliffhanger, with Andy and Chris Ball – who claimed a max in his singles - finally squeezing home 11-7 in the 5th. Although Terry Sims came away empty-handed on the night, he had a great struggle against Ken Smith, only going down 11-5 in the 5th set after having been 2-0 up.

Cheltenham C have now climbed above early pace-setters Saracens A to take second place behind Winchcombe Legends, with a 7-3 away win over Tewkesbury A. Mike Maxwell had a real ding-dong match for Tewkesbury against Chris Williams, finally winning 11-8 in the 5th set, while Martin Smith for CTTC had a similar encounter with Rob Amphlett, finally triumphing in 5 sets after going 2-1 down and securing a max. CTTC looked odds-on to secure the doubles after going 2-0 up but Tewkesbury rallied valiantly to level the match at 2-2 before trouncing the CTTC pairing 11-1 in the final set.

With Saracens A having to postpone against Lakeside C, Winchcombe Legends seized the opportunity to make a real statement of intent about the title race, overcoming Cheltenham C by a convincing margin of 9-1 and leapfrogging Saracens to the top of the table. Obviously lulling the opposition into a false sense of security, Darrell Wiltshire specialised in going two sets down in all of his singles, before rallying to take the remaining three – but the ploy didn’t quite work against Mel Garlick who squeezed home 15-13 in the 5th to register Cheltenham’s only point.

In the Warriors vs Lakeside B clash, Andy East finally lost his 100% record (the last one in the Division), losing out in four sets against Graham Fisher. As always Ken Smith slogged away industriously and had three 5-set epics but only managed to win one of them against Graham Fisher 11-9 in the final set. With Chris Ball also weighing in with two singles and combining with Andy East to take the doubles, Lakeside came out 6-4 winners.

To save typing, I shall have to set up a hotkey saying that Judy Morley won three again for Old Saracens, which she duly did, this week against Saracens B. Miraculously “Desperate Dave” Foulser actually didn’t get involved in any 5-setters this week and, apart from losing to Judy, won both his other singles. With two from Neil Penny and one from Tony Iles, and the doubles going to Old Saracens, a draw seemed like a fair result on the night.

There were some titanic battles in Tewkesbury A’s defeat of Tirley Tigers – mainly from Alan Cook who won two, but could have lost them all. Rob Amphlett was the star of the night, winning all three singles, but surpassed himself when playing Elaine Evans by falling on the room heater and fusing all the electrics, including the lights. An “electric” performance all round (ha ha!) It was one of those nights where the score could have been very different, if Pete Humble had won all his three very close singles, instead of just one, but the highlight of the evening for Tigers was the doubles – won in 5 sets.

CCS A managed to squeeze a 6-4 win against Cheltenham D thanks to a max from Phil King – in excellent form this season. Steve Murton and Jeremy Turberville weighed in with one singles apiece, and Steve combined well with Phil King to take the doubles, and the match, against Alan Harvey and Matt Mulcahy.

As we near the end of the first half of the season, Cleeve Saracens A are just keeping their noses in front at the head of the table, but the chasing pack of Winchcombe Legends, Cheltenham C and Lakeside B all have games in hand and are keeping up the pressure.

The consistent Saracens A team of Mike Dodwell, Terry Sims and Ross Greening ensured they kept up their momentum with a 7-3 against Old Saracens but no one could stop Judy Morley notching up another max for Old Saracens, although Mike Dodwell had a good go, only going down 11-8 in the 5th.

Both Charlie Loh and Richard Bishop of Winchcombe Warriors chalked up maximums against Lakeside C, but Richard was made to work hard by Trevor Oliver, only edging him out 12-10 in the 5th. Luke Gresty was unlucky to lose out to Trevor in another close encounter, going down 11-8 in the 5th set, while Barry Pope and Trevor combined well to take the doubles in straight sets against Bishop and Loh.

Chris James registered Cheltenham D’s only singles win against the consistently strong Winchcombe Legends team, edging out Stewart Ratcliffe in the final game of a ding-dong 5-setter (I’m running out of adjectives!), and then combined well with Alan Harvey to take the doubles. Legends 8-2 win has them breathing down the neck of Saracens A, with a game in hand.

"Desperate Dave" Foulser was hugely unlucky yet again to come away empty-handed against Tewkesbury A, losing out in five to both Mike Maxwell and Alan Cook; he must be wondering what he has to do to clinch one of these 5-set epics which he gets involved in every week. Both Tony Iles and Mark Nally for Saracens B were also involved in close encounters with, respectively, Mike Maxwell and Rob Amphlett, both losing out in tight 5th sets. The 6-4 result in Tewkesbury’s favour could so easily have been 7-3 the other way !

Cheltenham C swept the board against Tirley Tigers to maintain their challenge for the championship. But with a game in hand over Saracens A, whom they just beat 6-4 earlier in the season, they have yet to play Winchcombe Legends in what should prove to be a crucial encounter. I’m waiting with bated breath for the result card at the moment !

Dennis Wadley, playing for Cleeve Saracens A, continued his winning ways with a max against Tewkesbury A, while Alan Cook and Rob Amphlett both managed to account for Terry Sims and Ross Greening to secure four points for Tewkesbury.

Unfortunately not even Janie Kirby’s cakes could slow down Winchcombe Legends who ran out comfortable 10-0 winners over Tirley Tigers, although Elaine Evans and Tony Saxton – determined to avoid the whitewash - pushed them all the way in the doubles, only finally losing out in the 5th set, and both took sets off Darrell Wiltshire and Stewart Ratcliffe.

Once again Judy Morley stood between, this week Winchcombe Warriors, and a 10-0 win over Old Saracens, winning all her singles in 3-straight, and with Pete McGeough almost managing to pull off the doubles too, only going down 11-8 in the 5th after a see-saw struggle.

Cheltenham D were no match on the night for Lakeside B in the week’s second 10-0 result, although Matt Mulcahy pushed Chris White all the way in a very tight encounter, only losing out 11-9 in the 5th.

Steve Murton was Civil Service’s only singles winner against Lakeside C, overcoming Trevor Oliver in three sets, but the surprise of the evening (and I am allowed to say this!) was CCS doubles win in 3-straight over the combination of Graham Chandler and Barrie Pope. Trevor Oliver – who wasn’t playing – suggested I write that we annihilated them, or something similar…!!! But Steve M and Jonathan Nixon just seemed to “click” better on the night.

And finally, in what turned out to be the clash of the week, Cleeve Saracens B held Cheltenham C to a hard-fought draw, with Mark Nally starring for Saracens, scoring a max in his singles and combining with Neil Penny to scrape home 13-11 in the 5th in the doubles. Dave Green and Mel Garlick both won two singles each, but Saracens could even have notched up a win if unlucky Dave Foulser had managed to convert either or both of his 5-setters – he was agonisingly squeezed out 11-9 and 12-10 against Chris Williams and Dave Green, the latter after recovering from 2 sets down!

Steve Murton
Division Two Secretary

Tewkesbury A	4	Cleeve Saracens A	6	Dennis Wadley
Tirley Tigers	0	Winchcombe Legends	10	Stewart Ratcliffe, Darrell Wiltshire, Chris Lane
Winchcombe Warriors	7	Old Saracens	3	Judy Morley
Cheltenham D	0	Lakeside B	10	Chris White, Chris Ball, Ken Smith
CCS A	2	Lakeside C	8	Graham Chandler, Barry Pope
Cleeve Saracens B	5	Cheltenham C	5	Mark Nally
Lakeside C	3	Winchcombe Warriors	7	Charlie Loh, Richard Bishop
Winchcombe Legends	8	Cheltenham D	2	Darrell Wiltshire, Chris Lane
Tewkesbury A	6	Cleeve Saracens B	4	Rob Amphlett
Cheltenham C	10	Tirley Tigers	0	Mel Garlick, Dave Green, Martin Smith
Old Saracens	3	Cleeve Saracens A	7	Judy Morley
Cheltenham C	1	Winchcombe Legends	9	Stewart Ratcliffe, Chris Lane
Winchcombe Warriors	4	Lakeside B	6
Cleeve Saracens B	5	Old Saracens	5	Judy Morley
Tirley Tigers	3	Tewkesbury A	7	Rob Amphlett
CCS A	6	Cheltenham D	4	Phil King
Old Saracens	7	Tirley Tigers	3	Judy Morley
Lakeside C	6	Cleeve Saracens B	4	Julie Taylor
Cheltenham D	2	Winchcombe Warriors	8	Charlie Loh, Richard Bishop
Lakeside B	8	Cleeve Saracens A	2	Chris Ball
Tewkesbury A	3	Cheltenham C	7	Martin Smith

Division Three
Cheltenham F Win Close Derby
Leaders Tewkesbury B were given a run for their money by Civil Service B, who narrowly lost 4-6. Whilst Tewkesbury’s John Goodchild secured his maximum without too much trouble, his team mates had to fight hard for their points. John Teare lost out to Rob Browning 3-11, 11-8, 15-13, 11-9,11-13, whilst Wayne Lippett’s invincible image in five game sets was ruined by Geoff Wilson who edged through 12-10 in the fifth. Tewkesbury lost their unbeaten doubles record in a closely fought encounter, having been two games to one up.

Winchcombe Vikings have been finding it difficult of late to acquire points from those sides in the top half of the table, and were out of luck once again against Cheltenham E, who swept to a 10-0 win.

Cleeve Eagles gained a useful 8-2 win over Cheltenham G. Tiffany Hopton was in good form. She soon gained the upper hand in her forehand battle with the in-form Jon Laramy, winning in three games, and comfortably won her other two sets. Roly Holder and Derek Brown chipped in with two wins each, whilst Jon picked up the two points for Cheltenham.

There was no stopping Cheltenham E as they demolished Civil Service B, winning all ten sets with only one game dropped. The Cheltenham side consolidate their second place in the table as a result.

Cheltenham H met a similar fate against Cleeve Eagles who had little trouble in recording a 10-0 win.

Despite a number of long matches, Winchcombe Vikings could only notch one win against Cheltenham G. Roy Gavin provided Vikings with their main source of hope, winning against Tom Parry, and just losing out 11-13,11-7,10-12,11-5,5-11 to Mike Robertson.

John Whitworth led Cheltenham F to an impressive 8-2 win over Cheltenham E, winning all of his sets without dropping a game. He received good support from Matt Wells and Kai Ansley who won two each. It was left to James Bird to salvage two points for the E side.

Top versus bottom went by the form book as Tewkesbury maintained their winning ways against Cheltenham H without dropping a set, and indeed John Goodchild did not drop a game. Wayne Lippett was given a fright by Tom Warner, but produced his trademark last ditch effort to win 13-11 in the fifth game.

Cleeve Eagles ground out a 9-1 win against a stubborn Winchcombe Vikings side, the highlight match being the clash between Dick Prior and Dan Cross. Dan pulled back from two games down to square things up. He was 6-0 ahead in the deciding game, but Dick crawled his way back to get even, but Dan clinched it 12-10.

A young Cheltenham G side were too strong for Civil Service B, their star being Jon Laramy who won all of his sets without dropping a game in an 8-2 victory.

Derek Brown
Division Three Secretary

Cleeve Eagles	9	Winchcombe Vikings	1	J Seed, D Cross
Cheltenham E	2	Cheltenham F	8	J Whitworth
Tewkesbury B	10	Cheltenham H	0	John Goodchild, Wayne Lippett, Simon Lockley
Civil Service B	2	Cheltehnham G	8	J Laramy, S James
Civil Service B	0	Cheltenham E	10	J Terry, C Maisey, J Bird
Cheltenham G	9	Winchcombe Vikings	1	S James, M Robertson
Cheltenham H	0	Cleeve Eagles	10	T Hopton, M Holder, J Seed
Tewkesbury B	6	Civil Service B	4	J Goodchild
Cheltenham E	10	Winchcombe Vikings	0	C Maisey, J Terry, J Bird
Cleeve Eagles	8	Cheltenham G	2	Tiffany Hopton

Winchcombe Cavaliers	6	Winchcombe Royals	4	Choi Sze To
Cheltenham B	0	Cheltenham A	10	Mike Harvey, Robert Harvey, Dave Harvey
Lakeside A	3	Cirencester	7	Dave Adamson, Rob Willsher
Winchcombe Roamers	5	Winchcombe Royals	5	Choi Sze To
Cheltenham 'B'	1	Winchcombe Cavaliers	9	Chris Pearce, Craig Norledge