Top dogs continue to slug it out in title race

Leaders Empire Club hammered Harrier 7-1 to stay three points clear of Plough and Harrow B, who have a game in hand.

Plough B collected a superb 5-3 victory in the match of the week away to third-placed Royal British Legion A, even though they trailed 3-0 at one stage.

Legion A looked in control after wins for Ryan Orton and Martyn Smith on singles and for Lance Severn and Smith on pairs.

But Plough B stormed back to square the match up in the hands of Patrick Ashurst, Nidge Orton on singles and Geoff Taylor and Ashurst. And they snatched a dramatic victory on the last two singles legs when Malc Grocock beat Richard Devine and Taylor defeated Frank Elkington.

Meanwhile Empire enjoyed a more routine triumph, which featured singles successes for Ashley Radford, Ryan Hewitt, Wayne Mayes and Paul Jones and pairs wins for Brian Woodward and Joe Etherington and Martin Lovett and Dave Wainwright.

Elsewhere the week included victories for Constitutional Club, Station Hotel (Hucknall) A, Yew Tree and Sherwood Ranger.

Conny crushed Royal British Legion B 7-1 and Station A battered Bestwood Hotel by the same scoreline – thanks to Paul Hibbard, Tony Dobb, Paddy McShane, Tom Kirk, Roger Green and the pairings of Jill Dobb and Kath Orange and McShane and Hibbard.

Yew Tree won 5-3 at Chequers Inn, while Sherwood Ranger hit back from 3-1 down to win 5-3 at Seven Stars, thanks largely to Pete White and Jeff Morley, both of whom were successful on singles and pairs.