21/06/16 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds lost to Jesters 1 1½-4½
L.Brock & C.Rennie beat A.Theodossi & A.Rattan 15-9
N.Shaw & S.Chapman lost to P.White & H.Turnbull 11-15
L.Brock & S.Chapman lost to P.White & A.Rattan 13-15
N.Shaw & C.Rennie lost to A.Theodossi & H.Turnbull 9-15
L.Brock & N.Shaw drew with A.Theodossi & P.White 13-13 (timed out)
C.Rennie & S.Chapman lost to A.Rattan & H.Turnbull 7-15
The Thoroughbreds Superleague season came to a disappointing end at the semi-final stage with defeat against a strong Jesters line-up. With the two Westway teams facing off in the other semi, this match had the look of a de facto final with the winners likely to be heavy favourites to lift the trophy next week. Captain Chapman had taken the controversial decisions first to play for the Showponies last week as an ineligible player in order to save himself for this match and then to select himself over tournament MVP leader Karen Hird in the fourth player, reducing the in form Karen to photography and cheerleading duties. Despite Spencer and Nick Shaw losing their first game to Peter White and Harry Turnbull, the Thoroughbreds had a narrow lead at the end of round one thanks to a fine win for Laurie Brock and Carl Rennie over the Berkhamsted pair of Ant Theodossi and Alex Rattan. The second round saw a big swing to the Jesters, though, with Nick and Carl going down to Ant and Harry and Spencer and Laurie getting off a an awful start against Pete and Alex; 2-10 down was always going to take some clawing back, and although they got close in the end, the Jesters took a 3-1 lead going into the final round with the Thoroughbreds needing to win both games and overturn a 6 point deficit to make it through. Laurie and Nick put up a tremendous showing in the top match, pushing Ant and Pete all the way to 13-13 before the lights went out; the lights had already gone out for Spencer however as he crashed to a third successive defeat alongside Carl. This was a brave effort from the Aston House team against a strong Jesters side and they were unlucky the draw panned out the way it did, as a place in the final was probably the least they deserved after another excellent Superleague campaign.
15/06/16 at Westway: Aston House Showponies lost to Westway 1 1-5
C.Austin & S.Chapman* beat D.Patel & T.Thurnham 15-12
J.Shaw & M.Millership beat N.Patel & S.Carew 15-14
C.Austin & M.Millership lost to N.Patel & T.Thurnham 7-15
J.Shaw & S.Chapman* beat D.Patel & S.Carew 15-6
C.Austin & J.Shaw lost to D.Patel & N.Patel 9-15
A.Ibbetson** & M.Millership lost to T.Thurnham & S.Carew 3-15
*playing as an ineligible player
** ineligible substitute
The Showponies failed to make it two Aston House teams into the semi-finals last night as they narrowly went down to the stronger of the two Westway teams. With selection difficulties and long-term strategy in mind, Captain Chapman took the tricky decision to declare himself a Thoroughbred and ineligible for this match, leaving the Showponies very much on the back foot if they wanted to make it through. They got off to a flying start with Chris Austin in fine form in game one and Justin Shaw and Michael Millership recovering from 5-12 down with a smart tactical switch to take the game 15-14. Justin and Spencer were too wily for Darshan Patel and Spencer Carew in the second round of games, but Chris and Michael never recovered from a disastrous start against the erratic Tim Thurnham and Nirav Patel. In the final round, the Patel cousins found their best form to take out Chris and Justin, and with Spencer's coast to coast man flu kicking in, Andrew Ibbetson subbed in to partner Michael. A 3-3 draw on court (with Westway ahead on points difference) and a 1-5 result with Spencer's results not counting, the defeat leaves all of the Aston House eggs in one Throoughbreds basket as they take on the Jesters in next week's semi-final. A win there and the Thoroughbreds would be strong favourites against the winners of the Westway derby in the final.
14/06/16 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat Lancing Lionhearts 6-0
N.Shaw & K.Hird beat A.Lumbard & R.Scott 15-5
I.Mitchell & H.Asquith beat G.Linfield & L.Bell 15-9
N.Shaw & H.Asquith beat G.Linfield & R.Scott 15-9
I.Mitchell & K.Hird beat A.Lumbard & L.Bell 15-3
N.Shaw & I.Mitchell beat A.Lumbard & G.Linfield 15-5
K.Hird & H.Asquith beat R.Scott & L.Bell 15-1
The Thoroughbreds cruised into the WSSL semis last night at Westway with a comprehensive 6-0 win over the Lancing Lionhearts in a game most notable for having more women playing than men, possibly a first for the Superleague. Even the late withdrawal of Laurie Brock, keeping his powder dry for the semis, was unable to derail the Showponies as the quartet of Nick Shaw, Ian MItchell, Karen Hird and Harry Asquith won all six games against their Lancing opponents, with Nick, Karen and Ian surfing the wave of a weekend's Fives on the NOEFC coast to coast tour. Next up are the Showponies, who take on Westway tonight with the aim of getting two Aston House sides into the semi-finals for the second year in succession.
08/06/16 at Westway: Aston House Showponies beat Monday Knights 4-2
C.Austin & K.Hird lost to G.Williams & P.Gibbs 14-15
S.Chapman & I.Mitchell beat J.Saunders & S.Warren-Thomas* 15-9
C.Austin & I.Mitchell beat J.Saunders & P.Gibbs 15-5
S.Chapman & K.Hird lost to G.Williams & S.Warren-Thomas* 10-15
C.Austin & S.Chapman lost to G.Williams & J.Saunders 12-15
K.Hird & I.Mitchell lost to P.Gibbs & S.Warren-Thomas* 9-15
*ineligible player
The Showponies finished the regular Aston House Superleague season with a humdinger of a match at Westway last night. Selection difficulties meant a late call-up for NOEFC stalwart Chris Austin and the wand-like left-hand was straight into action as Chris and Karen got to within a point of a storming first game victory before losing 15-14 to Guy Williams and Paddy Gibbs of the Monday Knights. The Knights had Simon W-T filling in as an ineligible player, meaning the Showponies always had the edge on the scoreboard even if not on court, and when Chris and Ian MItchell - a strong number four if ever there was one - took out Paddy and Jonny Saunders in Round 2, overall victory was assured. 5-1 was a possibility when Chris and Spencer fought back from 2-8 down to 12-11 up in the blue riband game against Guy and Jonny. Despite losing that game 12-15 in the end, the overall 4-2 win and a Theodossi-less Jesters team slipping up in the other court mean that the Showponies and Thoroughbreds both look likely to end the group stages top of their groups. Could this be the year for an all Aston House final?
07/06/16 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat The Exiles 6-0
C.Rennie & H.Asquith beat A.Ibbetson & J.Powell 15-6
S.Chapman & E.Scoones beat A.Nice & H.Jones 15-8
C.Rennie & E.Scoones beat A.Nice & J.Powell 15-1
S.Chapman & H.Asquith beat A.Ibbetson & H.Jones 15-10
C.Rennie & S.Chapman beat A.Ibbetson & A.Nice 15-8
H.Asquith & E.Scoones beat J.Powell & H.Jones 15-4
The Thoroughbreds lived up to their name at Westway last night, cantering through to a classy, comfortable victory over a valiant Exiles side. Carl Rennie was in cruise control at one, Captain Chapman was happily sliding down the order after the vertigo induced by last week's top billing and Harry and Emily proved themselves to be the engine room of the side, both in fine fettle after their weekend's training camp in Provence. Andrew Ibbetson provided the strongest resistance for the Exiles but the Thoroughbreds were always in charge, the girls rounding off the evening with an impressive 15-4 walloping of Jonny Powell and Harrison Jones.
01/06/16 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds lost to Jesters 1 2-4
L.Brock & N.Shaw lost to A.Theodossi & A.Rattan 12-15
C.Rennie & J.Shaw lost to R.Perrie & N.Higgins 14-15
L.Brock & J.Shaw lost to R.Perrie & A.Rattan 12-15
C.Rennie & N.Shaw beat A.Theodossi & N.Higgins 15-8
L.Brock & C.Rennie lost to A.Theodossi & R.Perrie 6-15
N.Shaw & J.Shaw beat A.Rattan & N.Higgins 15-4
The clash of the WSSL heavyweights hit the Superleague ring last night as the Throroughbreds and the Jesters 1 matched each other punch for punch; in the end the Jesters edged it on points but no knockout blow was landed and the bookies are currently laying short odds on the two teams meeting again later on at the sharp end of the competition. The Thoroughbreds looked a strong selection on paper with big guns Laurie Brock, Nick Shaw and Carl Rennie all in the line-up alongside the wily Justin Shaw but with Laurie a bit rusty and the opposition featuring multiple Superleague winners Ant Theodossi and Ryan Perrie, 2 points was the best the side could do. With the group stages now coming to a close, both Aston House sides are in a strong position and with just a couple of games left, Captain Chapman's thoughts are now beginning to turn to the crucial issue of selection for the knockout stages.
31/05/16 at Westway: Aston House Showponies beat Jesters 2 4½-1½
S.Chapman & K.Hird lost to N.Bunyan & S.Warren-Thomas 14-15
J.Shaw & H.Asquith beat W.Skjott & R.Pattison 15-11
S.Chapman & H.Asquith beat W.Skjott & S.Warren-Thomas 15-10
J.Shaw & K.Hird beat N.Bunyan & R.Pattison15-12
S.Chapman & J.Shaw beat N.Bunyan & W.Skjott 15-4
K.Hird & H.Asquith drew with S.Warren-Thomas & R.Pattison 14-12 (timed out)
The Showponies drew first blood in this week's WSSL double-header with the Jesters as the big beasts of the superleague finally got to do battle with each other. The two second strings battled it out in a tight series of games, with only a suprise narrow 14-15 defeat for the usually lethal Chapman/Hird combo (perhaps Spencer got an unexpected nosebleed from playing at Number One?) and a badly timed 10pm lights out with Karen and Harry 1 point from victory in the final rubber standing between the Showponies and another full house. Tomorrow sees the battle of the top teams as Jesters 1 take on the might of the Thoroughbreds - who will emerge victorious?
18/05/16 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat Sweet EFA 6-0
C.Rennie & K.Hird beat W.Gibbons & C.Vincent 15-6
J.Shaw & E.Scoones beat D.Doherty & N.Lilienthal 15-1
C.Rennie & E.Scoones beat D.Doherty & C.Vincent 15-9
J.Shaw & K.Hird beat W.Gibbons & N.Lilienthal 15-6
C.Rennie & J.Shaw beat W.Gibbons & D.Doherty 15-6
K.Hird & E.Scoones beat C.Vincent & N.Lilienthal 15-1
A dominant display from the Thoroughbreds at Westway last night saw the EFA representative side dispatched 6-0 as the two Aston House teams cruise towards the knockout stages in imperious fashion. The first round of games set the tone for the evening and MVP frontrunner Karen Hird continued to rack up the points as she leaves the competition trailing far behind, with the other three members of the side putting together the almost perfect team performance.
17/05/16 at Westway: Aston House Showponies beat Lancing Lionhearts 6-0
N.Shaw & K.Hird beat A.Lumbard & A.Abrahams 15-3
S.Chapman & M.Millership beat G.Linfield & L.Bell 15-0
N.Shaw & M.Millership beat G.Linfield & A.Abrahams 15-7
S.Chapman & K.Hird beat A.Lumbard & L.Bell 15-3
N.Shaw & S.Chapman beat A.Lumbard & G.Linfield 15-2
K.Hird & M.Millership beat A.Abrahams & L.Bell 15-9
The Showponies took to the Superleague stage last night and found course and distance very much to their liking once again. The Lancing Lionhearts were more tame tabbies than fearsome beasts and the Aston House quartet of Nick, Spencer, Karen and Michael didn't need to be at their big game hunting best to take the full six points and head to the top of the table. Karen continued her 100% appearance record and is making a concerted bid for the tournament MVP award already with another appearance lined up for the Thoroughbreds tonight against Sweet EFA, while Nick's persistent attempts to hit the hole at every opportunity and stake an early claim for the Golden Glove prize were thwarted by some dogged (or perhaps that should be feline?) Lionheart resistance. The 6-0 on court win was followed by an equally impressive 5-0 win in the pub afterwards, with Michele Shaw providing the bonus point.
11/05/16 at Westway: Aston House Showponies beat Westway B 5-1
C.Rennie & K.Hird beat D.Arwas & S.Carew 15-6
S.Chapman & M.Millership beat C.Wheeler & B.Young 15-5
C.Rennie & M.Millership beat C.Wheeler & S.Carew 15-6
S.Chapman & K.Hird lost to D.Arwas & B.Young 13-15
C.Rennie & S.Chapman beat D.Arwas & C.Wheeler 15-2
K.Hird & M.Millership beat S.Carew & B.Young 15-14
The Showponies picked up where the Thoroughbreds left off the previous evening, taking on the other Westway side (Westway losing significant style points in the naming battle) and conceding just the one point to round off a fine first week's work in the 2016 Superleague. A Superleague first saw two Spencers in opposition - surely one is more than enough? - and it was the AH head honcho who came out on top, despite he and Karen suffering the one defeat of the night from 10-4 up thanks to an inspired spell of Fives from young Dan Arwas. Elsewhere in the Showpony ranks Carl Rennie was in cruise control in the number one position, while Michael Millership came in at number four, swearing his way impressively to a maximum three points.
10/05/16 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat Westway A 6-0
N.Shaw & K.Hird beat N.Caplin & R.Scholey 15-4
S.Chapman & I.Mitchell beat M.Goddard & W.Carling 15-3
N.Shaw & I.Mitchell beat M.Goddard & R.Scholey 15-4
S.Chapman & K.Hird beat N.Caplin & W.Carling 15-2
N.Shaw & S.Chapman beat N.Caplin & M.Goddard 15-4
K.Hird & I.Mitchell beat R.Scholey & W.Carling 15-6
The names might be new in the Aston House Fives stable this year, but the magnificent record of the winningest franchise in Superleague history picked up another comfortable 6 pointer as the Thoroughbreds lived up to their billing against a valiant Westway outfit. The awesome foursome of Nick, Spencer, Karen and Ian galloped away from their opponents right from the start, not conceding more than 6 points in any one game and all but assuring a quarter-final play-off slot with the season only just started. It's now just a question of maintaining the stride and jockeying for position at the head of the field to get into pole play-off position, hopefully without excessive use of the whip by Captain Chapman.