Chris Locks v. Ashley Stanton

Chris Locks became 6 times champion of the Club, after another impressive victory.

Ash, at 17 years of age, has improved greatly during the season and has been playing at 2 in the first team, so this was the opportunity to challenge for the No.1 spot. It was a shame for him, and for the audience on the balcony, that Ash was unable to do himself justice, and we witnessed a match played in good spirit but not the duel that we had hoped for.

Chris demonstrated all the qualities that we see every time he plays, summarised by consistency throughout. Ash relaxed towards the end of the third, and we saw a couple of long and demanding rallies, but they concluded as many other points had – with an error from Ash.

This was not to be his day but I am sure it will make him all the more determined to achieve the potential that he undoubtedly has. In the meantime, Chris remains No.1 and a worthy Club Champion.

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Phil Elliott v. Alan Williams

This match kept you guesing, with the momentum swinging one way, then the other.

Phil started really well, giving Alan no time to settle and he took the first 2 games comfortably, but not without cost, as he aggravated an ankle injury.

Alan relaxed, and with Phils mobility affected, his shotmaking improved, and fortunes began to turn around. Phil was forced into a few errors and the match took on a new perspective. Having got the scoreline back to 1-2, Alan’s confidence was now high and he made the fourth look easy. 2~2.

Could Phil up the tempo again? Alan looked as though he had come to terms with Phil’s game and was now in the ascendancy. He went 4-1 up but Phil gritted his teeth, cut out some of the mistakes he had been making and and came back to stand on the brink of victory at 8-5. But Alan was not about to give in easily – he fought back to make it 8-7 before Phil was able to finally close it out.