Replacement Hancox reserves her best for Lillington Free Church’s D team

Injuries to key players pointed to a tough day for the D outfit but they upset the odds to finish third in Division Three.

They lost their first match 5-1 to Knighton Park B of Leicester with reserve Ciara Hancox grabbing the consolation and another defeat followed to Milton Keynes C, Emily Beasley and Ashley Knott the scorers.

However, they bounced back to defeat Westfield of Wellingborough 5-1, with Ricardo Bolanos and Hancox taking two and Knott one.

Draycott B (Long Eaton) were then dispatched 4-2 (Knott 2, Beasley 1, Hancox 1) and Milton Keynes D 6-0 with maximums for Bolanos, Hancox and Knott.

Sitting only two points off the runners-up spot, they are the only one of Free Church’s four teams in contention for a trophy on day four.

The A team of Kit Turner, Adam Cofler and Livvy Fletcher are sixth in their division.

Milton Keynes A were defeated 4-2, while St Neots A were held to a draw but 5-1 defeats to St Neots B and Knighton Park A and a 4-2 loss to Draycott A cost them dearly.

Fourteen-year-old Cofler returned a highly commendable 50 per cent win average.

The B and C teams also found it tough going in Division Two.

The B side drew with Milton Keynes B, with Jack Green, Lewis Singleton and Adam Pulman all claiming victories and beat their C string 4-2 but defeats by the same margin to Rugby and Wellingborough Hindu Association and a 5-1 loss to Draycott B left them in fifth.

The C team (James Robertson, Tom Fletcher and Jenny Singleton) are sixth despite gaining an impressive draw with Draycott in which Fletcher returned a double.

Meanwhile, in the Leamington & District League, Rugby B enjoyed a great tussle with Free Church B in Division One before coming out on top 6-4.

Adrian Pilgrim was in imperious form, winning his three, and he was helped by a brace from Ryan Stockham whom he partnered to the doubles. Sam Weaving replied with two wins and Sam Wiggins and reserve Harry Purewal added singles.

Rugby B also beat Enigmas 7-3 with Pilgrim (3) being joined by Niall Herbert (2) and Paul Lilley (1). Gary Jackson won two for Enigmas and Malc Macfarlane one.

Colebridge A extended their lead at the top with a 9-1 drubbing of County Council B. Ian Ferguson and Edward Lynn took maximums with Kate Hughes just losing out to Simon Griew.

Colebridge B eclipsed Enigmas 7-3 thanks to a Vikas Bakshi triple, two from John Chandler and one from Farooq Kakar who also took the doubles with Bakshi.

The top three struggled in Division Two.

Nomads A squeaked home 6-4 against lowly Snitterfield for whom Chris Hughes posted an outstanding treble plus the doubles with Stuart Ayres.

Nomads kept the winning habit through braces from Ian Beasley, Andy Davies and Tony Thomas.

Whitnash A could only draw with Eathorpe A after turning up a player short, while Free Church C fell 8-2 to an in-form Phoenix for whom Paul Calloway took three.

FC R had a surprise 3-2 win over Free Church BB in Division D when Sophie Bethell won twice and reserve Ellie Goldsmith once. Fiona Wyburn took a single for BB and won the doubles with Matt Wand. Eathorpe G beat Free Church T 4-1 with John Gymer winning two and the doubles with Ben Barker who won once. Chris Jones saved Church’s blushes.

Eathorpe G also beat FC R 4-1, James Stone 2, Barker 1 plus the doubles with Bethell winning once. Free Church BB overcame Norton Lindsey B 5-0, Wyburn and Wand amassing the points.

Free Church V have set their sights on promotion from Division E and beat top side FC W 4-1 with identical twins Brody and Dylan Speller winning the singles. Ashorne C recorded their first win of the campaign thanks to a double from Steve Bolton who steered Jason Wood to the doubles. Catherine McAuley and Fran Singleton each won one.