Pairs spring into action

Great Yarmouth teams moved this week from league play to the popular Spring Pairs competition, in which each team nominates two players to represent them.

The 20 teams were drawn into five groups with handicapping and scaling down.

Group A produced Hospital Telecom as winners with Dick Boyce winning five from six games. Acle B pushed them all the way with Ali Sursham losing only one game to help his team to second place.

Group B played at King's Church Centre and saw Hospital Dynamos triumph with the young Acle Pirates in runners-up spot, pushing the experienced BSC side into third position with Kings D fourth. There were some excellent games in Group C, some being won/lost 21-20

Andrew Lilley played very well only losing to Reg Cadmore 20-21. Paul Wright jnr also took five games but lost heavily to Lilley 21-8. Paul snr could not pull back his handicap and lost all his games. Martin Clarke took three to give King's Church A top place and Hospital A took second with Paul Bartram four games and Malcolm King two. Gorleston Conservative and St Johns B finished joint third with five points each.

Group D saw four games won at 21-20. Hospital Sparks, with Chris Durrant and Brendan Green, took top place followed by St John's A, who despite minus handicaps fought hard to secure second spot. Claydon were third with four from six games for John Mansi and Mill Lane Beacons came fourth.

Hospital Police topped Group E by one point from Mill Lane with Kings Church C taking third and Caister were fourth. Tony Shaw starred for Police, dropping only to Colin Fortescue 20-21 in an exciting see-saw game. Nick Calver gave good support losing in another close game 20-21 to Mathew Smith. Young Josh Baxter used his handicap well to win four games and with Colin Fortescue also taking four they deserved their second spot.

All players send 'get well' wishes to secretary Jerry.

The next tournaments will be the Town Handicap Singles and the Random Doubles in early March.