JOG show no mercy to depleted Jeffernauts

In division 1, two player Thatcham Jeffernauts, (Fallon Rust & Andy Jeffery) were thumped 1-9 by Kintbury JOG, (Tom Watmore, Ray Powell & Pete Sinyard). Rust lost an epic 5 set match against Player of the Match Watmore, losing 9-11 in the fifth, beat Sinyard 3-2 and lost to Powell in five. Jeffery lost 0-3 to Watmore and Sinyard and lost 1-3 against Powell. In the doubles, Thompson & Jeffery lost 0-3 against Watmore & Sinyard.

Thatcham C, (Ray Beeks, Jack Savage & Nestor Ceron) drew 5-5 against Woolton Hill Wolverines, (Jonathan Hopson, Richard Fettes & Sue Purton). In a close match, Beeks narrowly lost to Hopson 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 10-12, beat Purton 3-0 and lost to Player of the Match Fettes 0-3. Savage lost 1-3 to Fettes and beat Hopson & Purton 3-0. Ceron beat Purton 3-1, lost to Fettes 1-3 and beat Hopson 3-0. In the doubles, Beeks & Ceron lost 1-3 to Fettes & Purton.

In division 2, Woolton Hill Oracles, (Panos Stemitsiotis, Robert Cox & Dimitrios Stemitsiotis ), beat West Illsley, (Steve Cobrin, Lionel Sheppard & Deryck Crossley) 8-2. Panos Stemitsiotis lost to Steve Cobrin 1-3, beat Deryck Crossley 3-1 and beat Lionel Sheppard 3-0. Player of the Match, Robert Cox, beat Lionel Sheppard & Deryck Crossley 3-0 and beat Steve Cobrin 3-1. Dimitrios Stemitsiotis beat Deryck Crossley & Lionel Crossley 3-0 and lost 9-11, 7-11, 10-12 to Steve Cobrin. In the doubles, Robert Cox & Dimitrios Stemitsiotis beat Steve Cobrin & Lionel Sheppard 3-1.

In division 3, there was a two player contest between Thatcham A & E Specials, (Lorraine Mortimer & Bill Bavister) and Thatcham Spitfires, (John Panting & Christine Haines) with A& E Specials winning 7-2. Player of the Match, Mortimer, beat Panting 3-0 and beat Haines 3-1. Bavister beat Haines 3-0 and beat Panting 13-11 in the fifth. In the doubles, Mortimer & Bavister beat Panting & Haines 3-0.

Thatcham Tornadoes, (Reece & Dan O’Neill & Rowan Quittenton) and Kintbury Outlaws played each other twice in the week, sharing the spoils with a 6-4 win each. Despite a home advantage, Tornadoes lost 4-6 first time out. Outlaws were able to field a stronger team than usual, calling on the services of ex county champion Duncan Campbell. Player of the Match Dan O’Neill won a treble with Reece O’Neill beating Bradley Watson 3-0. Campbell & Rawlings each won a brace for Outlaws and Watson beat Quittenton 3-0. In the doubles, Dan & Reece O’Neill lost 1-3 to Campbell & Rawlings.

In the return fixture, the scores were reversed with Outlaws losing 4-6. Rawlings won a brace and Rees & Watson won a game apiece. For Tornadoes, Player of the Match Dan O’Neill won a treble and Reece O’Neill took a brace. Quittenton lost all 3 matches and in the doubles, Rawlings & Reece lost 0-3 to Dan & Reece O’Neill.

In division 1, Thatcham Extra Edge have already won this season’s trophy with 62 points from 21 games. Kintbury JOG have secured second place with 55 points and Woolton Hill Wolverines are in third with 46 points from 19 games.

In division 2, with a maximum of 2 games left to play, Thatcham Spartans have a commanding 5 point lead with 48 points from 16 games. Thatcham Lions are in second with 43 points from 17 games and AWE Fission are in third with 40 points from 16 games.

In division 3, with 18 games to play, the battle for the trophy is finely balanced between Thatcham A & E Specials with 49 points from 17 games and Woolton Hill Tomahawks with 43 points from 16 games. Thatcham Tornadoes have played all 18 games and are currently in second with 45 points.

In the remaining Emmanuel Cup semi-final, Woolton Hill Wrens, (Martin Berry, Vijay Kesarariman & Dhani Taylor) from division 3 took on Thatcham Jeffernauts, (Andy Jeffery, Fallon Rust & James Ellicot) from Division 1. Rust’s ability to return driving shots and strong backhand flick, coupled with Ellicot’s wide variety of spin serves and looped forehand were Jeffernauts’ main weapons but these were insufficient to overcome Wrens’ 310 point headstart and Jeffernauts ended up losing by 70 points. All 3 Wrens’ players played bravely and consistently against significantly stronger opposition. Woolton Hill Wrens take on Thatcham Lions in the Emmanuel Cup final and Woolton Hill Wildcats play Thatcham Tornadoes in the Pembroke Cup final. Both finals take place on 10th May at Jubilee Sports Centre in Kintbury on 10th May - spectators are welcome!