Newcomer Leeford is in the Hard Bat final

Last Friday saw the Andover League kick off with the Hard Bat competition.

Forty seven players entered this year and it was well contested throughout. There were some memorable encounters, including Brian Dyke v Terry Greenwood in the second round, when at 21-20 in the second set, Greenwood's shot took the top of the net and dropped over to give him the match.

Young Ray Lockington took ten and 15 points off Pierce Stretch in round three and Brian Fox was outplayed by John Shepherd at 21-17, 21-12. Josh White and Pierce Stretch met in the semi-finals and White had the upper hand winning 21-16, 21-17. The biggest shock of the night came from newcomer Leeford, who carved his way past some good players on his way to the final. Shepherd had the honour of being the only player to take a set off him, but the deciding third set was a comfortable 21-12 to Leeford.

So the final will see White v Leeford at the John Hanson School tonight.

The first Inter-Town matches took place at Redbridge School on Sunday and the Andover Cadet side of Kenneth Gates, Mike Shepherd and Ray Lockington gave a good account of themselves in their first ever event of this kind.

They managed a good 5-5 draw against both Fareham and Portsmouth sides, before losing 1-9 to the strong Bournemouth trio. Top performer was Gates with five wins.

12:31am Thursday 9th October 2008

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