A teams claim big victories in derby-day clashes

In the Premier Division, Cricket Club A ran out 7-3 winners against Cricket Club C, with the B and D teams also due to meet.

Newly-promoted Pontesbury A lost 9-1 to Prees, but were unlucky not to gain more points. Ken Pratt took the point for Pontesbury with a win over Neville Lacey that featured two deuce games each going to 15-13.

Richard Hunt almost followed suit, losing to Lacey with yet another 15-13 score in the fifth set. The club derby match in Division One saw Bagley A beat newly-promoted Bagley B 8-2, but once more there were some very close games.

Match of the night was a five-set thriller between Nick Scott and returning player Richard Scott, with skilful and entertaining play from both players, Nick clinching it 11-8 in the fifth. The derby between Unison B and Cricket Club F was a typically close affair for this keenly-fought division.

Mike Chidlow, in excellent early-season form, won his three, and there was a topsy-turvy five-set classic between league president Barry Taylor and chairman Barry Lowe, Taylor edging it 11-9 in the fifth set. The match finished all square at 5-5.

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Rushbury A won 9-1 against a two-man Myddle A.

Division Two saw club derbies at both Rushbury and Bagley

Rushbury C's 10-0 win over their D team, with three wins each for Gary Lewin, Chris Smith and Sam Evans, was matched by Rushbury B in their win over a two-man Cricket Club G.

Clearly the Rushbury sides are going to have plenty to say in the outcome of this division, but in the other derby Bagley C also scored heavily, winning 8-2 against Bagley D, with both Josh Anders and Anne Moore winning their three.

Semi-finals draw for Divisional Cup: Cricket Club A v Prees, Cricket Club C v Cricket Club B, Rushbury A v Pontesbury B, Bagley A v Unison B, Rushbury B v Cricket Club G, Rushbury C v Myddle B. Matches to be played week beginning 23 November.