Local Match reports
BILL LOWE SEMI -FINAL 28/3/02 WALL MANOR IV V GAUTBY ROAD WIRRAL VIII
The newly crowned 4th division champions travelled to play fellow 4th division side Wall Manor Iv for the cup semi-final. They had met earlier in the week in the league with Gautby Road coming out on top 8-2. Ken Cross beating Jordyn Layfield and Sophie Byron. This time though Gautby conceded an 85 point start and could ill afford to lose any sets. Wall Manor were unchanged from Monday as Ken Cross,Alan Tin and Alec Brammah set out for revenge. Gautby Road brought Ashley Layfield in for her sister Jordyn. Richard Barker and Sophie Byron keeping there places.
Richard beat Alec 8,2 & 6 to start whittling away the deficit. Sophie started in fine style with emphatic 4 & 3 wins over Ken. Ken won the 3rd 11-5 but Sophie kept her calm as she held on to win 11-8 in the 4th. Alec won the opener against Ashley 11-4 but Ashley came back to win in 4.
(after 3 games Wall Manor led by 50 points).
Sophie beat alan in straight sets by more than the required margin . Richard did a similar thorough job on Alec 8,2 &6. Ashley and Ken shared the opening 2 games before Ken cruised home 11-2 in the 3rd. Things suddenly started to look worrying for the visitors but Ashley put that game beside her and came back strongly to win the next 2 sets and wipe out the points deficit from the 3rd game. (wall Manor lead by 14)
The doubles was next and when Ashley and Richard won 11-1 in the 1st the momentum was well in the youngsters favour. Ken and Alec took the 3rd 14-12 to trail 2-1 but Ashley and Richard clinched it in 4. The points were now level with 3 matches to play. Sophie then looked out of steam as Alec crushed her 11-1. Sophie came from behind to level a t 1-1 and 2-2 as this went to the wire. Sophie narrowly scraping home for a vital win in the 5th. Wall Manor were now back in front despite losing the game as Alec had accumulated more points than Sophie. Ashley and Alan played a topsy turvy game that swung one way then the other. Ashley won 11-7 then Alan took the next 2 12-10 13-11 but Ashley ended strongly to win 13-11 11-5 and put us 4 points ahead. The match boiled down to the 2 number ones Ken and Richard. Richard started strongly winning 9 & 6 to put us 11 points ahead and nearly home free. Ken kept the pressure on as Richard fell apart in the next. Ken winning 11-3 . (If Ken took it to a 5th set it by winning 11-9 and then won 11-9 Wall Manor would win by 1 point) Richard regained his composure in the nick of time to win the 4th and avoid the pressure of a winner takes all final game.
Gautby Road Wirral VIII now play Spinners III of the 3rd Division in the final at Arrowe Park on Thursday 18th April as they bid for the League and Cup double.
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