2:47pm Wednesday 20th February 2013
THE top of Ryedale League division one remained unchanged as leaders Amotherby ‘A’ fought out a draw with closest rivals Helmsley ‘A’.
Another cracking game between these two teams featured some super hitting and counting-hitting as players fought over every point.
Chris Londesborough got Helmsley off to a flying start by beating Joel Wright in four sets – reversing the loss he had suffered in the Ryedale Closed Tournament.
Charlie Allott followed up with some sublime blocking and hitting against Paul Young and put Helmsley two ahead.
Amotherby responded strongly by winning the next three contests, although Allott ran Joel Wright very close in two ends.
Ruth Pursglove for Helmsley was in good form too and unlucky not to extend any of her three games.
Allott again stepped up to the plate to put Helmsley ahead with strong performances against Tom Needham and Young, so it all came down to the doubles – Londesborugh and Allott against Wright and Young. In a night of fine games, this topped the lot – the second, third, fourth and fifth ends all going to deuce before Amotherby edged it to draw the match.
One point separates the two at the top but Helmsley have a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Ryedale ‘C’ and Ryedale ‘A’ overcame Swinton and Whitby respectively.
In division two, Ryedale ‘D’ drew with Coneysthorpe ‘B’ to move into second place, one point behind leaders Malton but having played two more games.
Amotherby ‘D’, comprising Ken Darby, Ian Dawson and Russ Scott, have clinched the division three title with four matches still to play.
Their match this week was postponed, but their lead is now unassailable as nearest challengers Helmsley ‘B’ could only draw with FERA last week, Andrew Cavanagh remaining unbeaten on the night for the Hutton side, before beating Ryedale ‘G’ 6-4, Chet Butler inflicting a rare defeat on Andrew Cavanagh for the Ryedale side.
Westow climbed to fourth with a hard-fought 6-4 win over the Drifters.
The highlight was a five-setter between Anthony Craven and Colin Payne, the latter being disappointed to lose the decider after being 10-7 up.
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