Bognor still top dogs after win at Littlehampton

Bognor were able to field one of their strongest teams with Pat Jones at number five, who set the visitors up with a good 3-1 win over Steve Slaughter.

Jones won an easy first game, Slaughter then levelled but Jones responded in emphatic style with two wins, scores 9-0, 5-9, 9-5, 9-0.

Steve Carruthers kept Bognor on track in a good tussle with Chris O’Neil, coming back from a first-game defeat to take the next three, scoring 6-9, 9-7, 9-4, 9-6.

A welcome return at third string for Bognor was veteran Andy Parker, who had a terrific battle with Les Pritchard, with the Littlehampton player edging home by the closest margin. Parker levelled twice to set up a fifth game thriller in which Pritchard secured the only tie for the home team winning 9-4, 7-9, 9-0, 8-10, 10-8.

Steve Enfield, Bognor’s number two, made few mistakes against Dave Bridgeman in recording a 3-0 win, winning 9-6, 9-1, 9-5.

Number one string Steve Porter, playing Ashley Squires, seemed to have a close match on his hands in just edging the first game 10-8, but then made short work of his opponent taking the next two 9-1, 9-5 to give the visitors a 4-1 win and 19 points to five.

The result sees Bognor remain top of Division 3 West. Their second’s home match against Midhurst was a victim of the weather.