In mid-January Netflicks inflicted a defeat on Top Bananas, represented by Reuben and Maria De Silva. Reuben lived up to expectation with two singles wins, though Gordon Duff won a set from him. Shona Morton and Gordon edged the first set of the doubles 11-9 and swung into a “well-oiled machine” mode to win the second and third sets easily. In her first tie Maria took a set from Gordon, then fought out a much closer four-set match with Shona, who narrowly won the final set 12-10.
Burns Night found Netflicks and KB Spinners locked in combat. Kay Solaja opened with a 3/1 victory over Shona, whilst Brian Kirkpatrick lost a gruelling five-set tie to Gordon. Shona and Gordon won the doubles, -5,6, 9, 10, to pull 2/1 up, and Gordon made it 3/1 with a 3/0 win against Kay. In the final tie Brian edged Shona out of all three sets, 9, 9, 11, for an extra point.
KB Spinners had had mixed fortunes in their previous matches. In early January they lost 2/3 to Gaulty Towers, when Graham Gault beat both players, and Paul Borrowdale defeated Brian. Kay managed to beat Paul, 3/1, and he and Brian won the doubles 3/0. A week later the Spinners won maximum points against the Watsonians. A good performance here from Mike Watson, who came close to winning a couple of sets against Kay, after which he and Doug Campbell won a set in the very competitive doubles. Meanwhile Top Bananas, with Dylan and Reuben, also earned five points against the Owd Coots, who had suffered the same fate a week before against the Chuckle Brothers. Scores were more encouraging in the latter fixture although they were unable to win a set.
The Watsonians’ other matches against Apple Crumble and the Chuckle Brothers earned them one point. Gary Watson battled hard against Apple Crumble’s Craig Wilson, pulling back from 0/2 down to win, -11, -6, 8, 3, 8. However, the Chuckle Brothers only let slip two sets, when Doug Campbell and Mike Watson both pushed Barry Kirkpatrick to a fourth set.
Linda Powell