Maritime and Warriors still in Super League conflict

THE two teams at the top of the premier division in the Devon County Super League still cannot be separated and are locked together on 56 points after they both secured 7-2 victories.

Maritime were good value for their success and achieved five ton-plus checkouts on their visit to The Racehorse (Tiverton) while title rivals Winchester Warriors (Exeter) overcame Porters.

Maritime got off the mark through Jason Pinkerton (23.40), who won 4-3 aided by an outshot of 124 and although the hosts levelled, Kieran Burns (22.52) restored Maritime’s advantage with a win in four straight legs.

Lee Hellings (22.98) came from 3-1 down to win 4-3, followed by a man of the match performance from John Mann (pictured left) who, in winning 4-1 in 15, 15, 17, 17, taking the last leg with a checkout of 101, he finished with a 30.75 average.

Danny Allen (24.15) and Paul Palmer (21.26) both emerged 4-2 winners after taking out finishes of 126 and 120 respectively while Mark Turner (19.84) won the last point of the match 4-0, aided by a kill of 100.

Winchester Warriors (Exeter) also boast a share of top spot after they were too good for Porters whose only two points came through Phil Stewart (25.83) and Scott Wapshott (21.82).

Ker St Social Club also suffered a heavy defeat and went down 7-2 away at Muff Boyz (Exmouth).

They were already 5-0 down before Scott Lawrey (28.60) pulled one back, emerging a 4-1 winner in 21, 13, 18 and 15, aided by a checkout of 121.

Their only other point was a 4-2 victory for Dave Algar (21.33).

Porters have dropped to within two points of the relegation zone with Ker St another five points better off.

Poison Ivy had to pull out all the stops away at Dicey Darters (Teignmouth), but a 5-4 victory keeps them in contention at the top of division one.

Pete Holland (21.14), despite having to go the full seven legs, won the first point of the match, but only Mike Pearce (23.86) was successful from the next four.

Pearce ran out a 4-0 winner, claiming the last leg in 18 with an outshot of 128 before Quinton Taylor (24.30), who was making his super league debut, emerged a 4-2 winner to bring the two sides level at 3-3.

Victory was assured when the Lee Mill side won two of the last three through Kenny McCollum (21.35) and Dan Puleston (19.27) who both won by a 4-1 margin.

Bluebird defeated Ships Ahoy (Crediton) 6-3 in division two to stay top of the table, but it was not their best performance of the season.

There were 4-1 victories for the quartet of John Owen (16.27), Mark Henley (21.80), Alan McIlhiney (20.36) and Stew Roberts (21.99) while Shaun Kittle (16.68) won 4-2 and Rich Coombs (21.55) claimed a victory in four straight legs.

St Levan Inn moved to the top of the ladies’ division after a win by the narrowest of margins away at Flying Arrows but all credit to the Dawlish side who pushed them the full distance.

Three times Levy Ladies went behind but three times they levelled through Chrissie Kinnaird (3-0), Anna Johnson (19.03) and Trish Penberthy (3-2).

Karen Atkinson (pictured right) was the last player on and despite the fact that she had not played for more than three years, she delivered the match winning-point by a 3-1 margin.

Maritime Ladies are slipping down the table and suffered their second defeat on the bounce when they lost 5-2 against Country House Muff Girls (Exmouth).

Their only points were won by Lisa Aston (3-2) and Jodie Hawton (3-1) who also threw the top average of 18.92.