Wins against Alderley Edge and Heswall (dropping just one point in the process) have propelled the First Team to the top of the league for the first time this season!
Two weeks ago the big hitting, Gareth Lumsden, did well to force his match against Alderley’s Austrian No.1 into a deciding game after going two down, but couldn’t quite sustain the effort in the fifth. All the other matches were closed out in straight games.
New signing, Tom Pashley, who is currently ranked World No.105 was earmarked to replace Laurence Delasaux when he is away. However Tom has been diagnosed with glandular fever and is set to be out until the New Year at least. This meant the team faced the trip to Heswall with Yawar at No.1 and with young Yorkshireman, Alex Cutts, filling in lower down the order. Any concerns about the strength of the team quickly evaporated as Heswall turned out a team depleted of their top two players. The comfortable 5-0 victory that followed was in marked contrast to the last time they made the trip to the Wirral club. It was the final match of last season and a tough Heswall side made them fight for every game until they finally earned the points that secured them the league title.
The same line-up, lead by Yawar, must now face New Brighton this Tuesday. This time they won’t be let off so lightly with New Brighton lying joint fourth in the table just 12 points behind. They will be tough to beat at the top of the order so if the first team are to retain their position at the top of the table, the middle and lower order must step up and produce big performances.