Men's O35's Division 1 promotion group - Stage 2.

Berkshires first match in the promotional weekend to the premier division was against Essex.
With a strengthened side the home team were keen to get a good start; No. 5 Jeremy Baker
battled hard against Andy Russell losing a close game 3–2.
Meanwhile on court 2 no. 3 Stuart Milton struggled against former world no. 20 John
Ransome losing 3–0. Ricky Weatherall playing to top form took a comfortable win against
Essex's Jason Friend 3-0. Slow to get moving Steve Dodridge at no. 4 lost 3-0 to David
Speed whom Steve beat in stage 1.
Finally at no. 2 Berkshires Darren Gray looked in good form with a 7-1 lead in the first when
he pulled a hamstring from which he never recovered fully and eventually lost 3-0 to John
Fletcher.

Berkshire keen to improve on the morning result got off to a great start against
Gloucestershire with no. 5 Jeremy baker dragging out a 3-1 win against Mick Healy, no. 3
Ashley Sykes fought a hard game to beat Ali Smith 3-1. Ricky Weatherall won convincingly
against Tim Smith 3-0 whilst at no. 4 Steve Dodridge pulled back from 2-0 down winning a
long and gritty match against Gloucester no. 4 Simon Spencer. To conclude a 5-0 win no. 2
Darren Gray won 3-1 after a shaky start on his dodgy leg!

Sunday morning saw the final bout against neighbouring Buckinghamshire. No. 5 Vince
Paliczka for Berkshire got off to a good start with a tough game against CH Foo winning 3-1.
Ashley Sykes had the torment of Simon Martin and fought hard to a 3-2 win and avoided
being talked, blocked or humoured out!! No. 4 Steve Dodridge played Mark Tradwell and
despite weary legs from Saturday afternoon clinched his match 3-0. Ricky Weatherall true to
form beat Doug Struthers convincingly 3-0 leaving Darren Gray at no. 2 to clinch the match
5-0 with a 3-0 win against Kevin McKay.

Despite the latter two 5-0 wins this was not good enough to secure premier status won by
Essex who won all their matches. Berkshire hold position in division 1 and came a
reasonable second overall at the weekend.

Results

Berkshire v Essex

R Weatherall v J Friend, - 3 - 0, - 9/2, 9/7, 9/1
D Gray v J Fletcher, - 0 – 3, - 7/9, 0/9, 2/9
S Milton v J Ransome, - 0 – 3, - 5/9, 7/9, 0/9
S Dodridge v D Speed, - 0 – 3, - 9/10, 1/9, 0/9
J Baker v A Russell, 3 – 2, - 9/10, 9/4, 6/9, 9/0, 9/2

Essex beat Berkshire 3 – 2, 16 – 6

Berkshire v Gloucestershire

R Weatherall v T Smith, - 3 - 0, - 9/0, 9/2, 9/7
D Gray v M Terrell, - 3 – 1, - 4/9, 9/1, 9/4, 10/8
A Sykes v A Smith, - 3 – 1, - 9/7, 7/9, 0/9, 9/0
S Dodridge v S Spencer- 3 – 2, - 4/9, 5/9, 9/6, 9/4, 9/2
J Baker v M Healey, 3 – 1, - 3/9, 9/3, 9/7, 9/0

Berkshire beat Gloucestershire 5 – 0, 20 – 5


Berkshire v Buckinghamshire

R Weatherall v D Struthers, - 3 - 0, - 9/0, 9/5, 9/0
D Gray v M Terrell, - 3 – 0, - 9/0, 9/5, 9/3
A Sykes v A Smith, - 3 – 2, - 9/7, 3/9, 9/7, 9/10, 9/2
S Dodridge v M Tradwell, 3 – 0, - 9/7, 9/2, 9/6
V Paliczka v CK Foo, 3 – 1, - 7/9, 9/6, 9/5, 9/6

Berkshire beat Buckinghamshire 5 – 0, 20 – 3

Table

Essex 56 points
Berkshire 46 points
Gloucestershire 25 points
Buckinghamshire 11 points

Men's Over 35's - Division 1 South A Stage 1

To be played 10th and 11th November 2007

Essex - Hosts
Berkshire
Sussex

Report

All the counties had a disappointing start to the weekend following Hampshire pulling out on
the Thursday before.

The weekend proceeded with Essex playing Sussex at 1 pm. on Saturday. Essex proving too
strong with some seasoned players to win 5 – 0 and only dropping one game in the tie.

Berkshire played Sussex at 5 pm. the same day. The fresh un-played Berkshire team proved
too strong over the already beaten side 5 – 0 also only dropping one point in the tie.

Sunday morning saw the weekend playoff for the top spot. Berkshire got off to a good start
with No. 5 graham Hooper winning in a comfortable 3 – 0. Mean while on the other court
Berkshire's No. 3 Ashley Sykes struggled to make ground with Essex's very respectable
John Ransome loosing 3 – 0. Berkshire's No. 1 Rick Weatherall played Jason Friend, Rick
playing very well outshone and went on to win 3 – 0. Berkshire Captain and No. 4 Steve
Dodridge played a solid game to go 2 – 0 up, loosing the third 3 – 9. Dodridge sensing the
need to win to secure the overall match, Dodridge dug deep to victor over Dave Speed 3 – 1.
The final dead rubber was closely contested with Jeremy baker (Berkshire No. 2) playing a
strong Essex No. 2 John Fletcher losing 3 – 0

Results

Berkshire v Sussex

1. R Weatherall v D Mann, - 3 – 0, 9/2, 9/1, 9/6
2. D Gray v C Monk, 3 – 0, 9/1, 9/2, 9/3
3. J Baker v John Millard, 3 – 1, 9/3, 10/8, 8/10, 10/8
4. A Sykes v V Lawrence, 3 – 0, 9/7, 9/1, 9/3
5. G Hooper v A Darnell, 3 – 0, 9/5, 9/1, 9/1

Berkshire v Essex

1. R Weatherall v J Friend, 3 – 0, 9/5, 9/2, 9/7
2. J Baker v J Fletcher, 0 – 3, 1/9, 5/9, 2/9
3. A Sykes v J Ransome, 0 - 3, 2/9, 2/9, 6/9
4. S Dodridge v D Speed, 3 – 1, 9/4, 9/3, 3/9, 9/1
5. G Hooper v W Brand, 3 – 0, 9/0, 9/2, 9/3

Table

1. Berkshire - 34 points
2. Essex – 27 points
3. Sussex – 2 points