IN Division One of the Reading & District League Kingfisher A managed a derby win over Kingfisher B 7-3 with Martin Gunn, Martin Adams and Mark Banks all earning wins over the B team’s Hari Gehlot.

In another derby encounter Kingfisher C beat their Kingfisher D club mates 8-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Marco Essomba and doubles from both Steve Murgatroyd and Andrew Parker.

A real week of ‘firsts’ in what continues to be a very interesting and competitive Division Three – which, after just five weeks, now has no teams still unbeaten.

There was a first win for Our Lady of Peace D – their 8-2 success inflicting a first defeat on Tidmarsh C.

Both teams played up a reserve – and, of the two reserves, it was OLOP’s Pradeep Desh who stole the headlines with a great 11-4, 14-12, 11-4 win over Chris Webb – who had a rare first duck of the season.

For OLOP Ali Richardson and Dave Godfrey both hit maximums – although the former was made to fight all the way by reserve John Liddle before squeezing home 16-14 in the fifth game.

There was a first point for bottom-of-the-table Tilehurst Methodists C against erratic Sonning Sports A.

A good team performance by Tilehurst included a superb display by Mike Williams, who defeated both Dave Chard and Bob Woodmansee and only lost 7-11 in the fifth to Bob Snellgrove.

Martin Wetherell and Masoud Ghabachi also picked up single wins and combined for a straight-games doubles win too.

For Sonning Sports, Bob Snellgrove not only recorded his first win of the season after ducks in his two previous matches, but he went on to turn this into an impressive maximum and save face for his team.

Pangbourne WMC B moved back to joint top spot with a narrow 6-4 win at Kingfisher J – thereby inflicting the home team’s first defeat of the season. Leroy Wilson and Ray Webb starred with maximums – the latter’s threesome all in straight games.

Springfield A share top spot with Pangbourne – Phil Burke recording his third maximum in as many matches for Springfield in another tight 6-4 win – this one at Kingfisher I, for whom Eric Holmes and Steve Woolnough both hit doubles in vain.

In a mid-table battle Tilehurst Meths B narrowly defeated Kingfisher H – also by a 6-4 margin. 

A great team effort by Tilehurst with doubles for John Virgo, Jes Eassom and Ian Cockling. Willis Ma replied with a double for Kingfisher - but lost for the first time this season - to Cockling - after a great comeback from two games down - 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4. Cockling himself also lost for the first time this season, to Peter Bennett.

Despite a three-straight maximum from Sachin Mundra, Division Four leaders Milestone B were held to a draw by Curzon Club B for whom Nick Lean and Jim Brent both won two each.

Curzon Club C slipped to their fifth defeat when going down 6-4 to Tilehurst Methodists D, Terry Spice for Curzon and Patrick O’Sullivan and Chris Taylor all gained doubles.

Springfield B helped themselves to a point against Sonning Common & Peppard F mainly thanks to a treble from Rob Wilkie.

His win over Derek Wavell was a bit tight beating him 12-10 12-10 12-10. Reading FC A saw off Kingfisher K 8-2 with Richard Witt and Jazz Dhillon both winning all three, while Steve Dopson was the star by gaining a maximum to help Tilehurst Methodists E beat Our Lady of Peace E 7–3.

Although all the teams in the bottom half of Division 5 were playing each other, none were able to find the elusive winner and climb up the table.

Tidmarsh E went into the final set leading 5-4 against Sonning Common & Peppard G, with Pete Sinclair and Oliver Sayer each having won their previous two sets.

A thrilling game ensued, with Oliver finally emerging victorious 10-12 11-8 10-12 11-9 11-9 to ensure Sonning Common grabbed share of the points.

A treble for Derek Anderson and a brace for Wayne Alleyne was enough to secure a point for Reading FC C, in their match against the BBC Club, for whom John Scott scored a double.

Sonning Sports B were leading 5-3 but Milestone C clawed their way back by winning the remaining two sets.

First, Tony Hayden beat Sally 11-7 6-11 11-8 11-13 12-10, to end his day with a brace, and then Cris lost to Bill Hayden, who went home with a maximum in his first match of the season.

Kingfisher L suffered their first loss of the season, a 9-1 defeat away to Our Lady of Peace F, who won thanks to a brace from Hari Laddunuri and maximums from both Simon Brookes and Laurence De Ste Croix.

Springfield D fought back against Reading FC B, to emerge victorious by taking the final three sets to win 6-4 and retain their 100% record.

The fight back started when Paul Martin beat Dave Evans 11-7 8-11 11-7 7-11 11-7, it continued when Colin Jones beat Keith Greene in another close five-setter and was completed when Stephen Leggett beat Joe Bull, in a match containing some remarkable rallies.