Superleague 2018

26/06/18 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat Exiles 6-0

N.Shaw & K.Hird beat N.Gill & R.Morgan 15-6

C.Austin & S.Chapman beat C.Ballingall & S.Warren-Thomas 15-12

N.Shaw & S.Chapman beat C.Ballingall & R.Morgan 15-13

C.Austin & K.Hird beat N.Gill & S.Warren-Thomas 15-9

N.Shaw & C.Austin beat N.Gill & C.Ballingall 15-6

K.Hird & S.Chapman beat R.Morgan & S.Warren-Thomas 15-12

Spencer Chapman reports: Our 2018 Superleague campaign came to a successful conclusion with a comprehensive win over the Exiles in the play-off for third place at Westway. Superleague stalwart Nick Shaw led the team this week in the absence of Laurie Brock, whose withdrawal enabled club patron Spencer Chapman the opportunity to have a run out on finals day. The games were well contested against a competitive Exiles team, and Ralph Morgan's side was unlucky not to get anything out of the tie. The pattern of the results tells its own story. Any of the matches not involving Spencer were free-scoring and brought regulation wins for the Thoroughbreds. Meanwhile, over in the bottom court, the action was a lot less watchable, with Chris, Nick and Karen all in harness trying to cajole Spencer into cut returns and backcourt retrieval. In truth, the Exiles could have won all three games, but came up just short each time.

So no trophy this year (in fact no trophy at all, for the Perpetual Pot seems to have gone AWOL!), but another strong season with our only defeat (2-4) a superb effort against the tournament's runaway winners, the Desperadoes. It would be remiss not to mention that we welcomed four new thoroughbreds into our stable this year (making 25 in all!). Andy Bishop, Stephen Thatcher, Stefan Nowinski and Joe Da Costa all made a good impression and we hope will be back in action for us again in future seasons. A look at the team's statistics for the season underlines what a fine player Karen has become. She led the team by the number of appearances, wins, points scored and points differential. She swept the board and was very much our MVP. Laurie, Nick and Spencer were all playing their 8th Superleague season, and Laurie and Spencer nudged their way over 100 sets of play with Nick not far behind on 90. Hopefully, he'll bring up his century next year. Thanks to all who played in the competition this season, and to everyone who has represented Aston House Stud over the years. I look forward to another feast of fun in 2019!

19/06/18 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds lost to Dossi's Desperados 2-4

L.Brock & C.Austin lost to R.Perrie & S.Welti 6-15

N.Shaw & K.Hird beat G.Thomason & A.Rattan 15-13

L.Brock & K.Hird lost to G.Thomason & S.Welti 11-15

N.Shaw & C.Austin beat R.Perrie & A.Rattan 15-14

L.Brock & N.Shaw lost to R.Perrie & G.Thomason 15-6

C.Austin & K.Hird lost to S.Welti & A.Rattan 15-4

The Aston House Thoroughbreds finally lost their grip on the Superleague trophy at Westway last night, going down 4-2 in the semi-finals to competition favourites the Desperados after a battling performance. The Desperados had reached the semi-finals without conceding a single set (in fact only once conceding more than 9 points in a set); Nick & Karen soon set that particular record straight with a tremendous come from behind 15-13 win over George Thomason & Alex Rattan in the first round. Laurie & Chris lost more heavily to Ryan Perrie & Sam Welti, however, meaning that the team were behind on points already. Another monumental win from Nick in round two, this time a 15-14 thriller with Chris against Perrie & Rattan, kept the scores level overall but with Salopians Welti & Thomason defeating Laurie & Karen to 11, the last round required either a double victory or a massive points swing to take AHT through to the final. The task proved beyond them, with the Desperados finally pulling away with two last round wins, but the AHT team can be proud of their performance, both in this match and the competition as a whole, having proved themselves once again one of the top sides around in this format, and certainly the most consistent in the competition's short history.

05/06/18 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat Lancing Lionhearts 6-0

L.Brock & S.Thatcher beat M.Scurr & A.Abrahams 15-14

K.Hird & A.Bishop beat A.Lumbard & S.Jackman 15-4

L.Brock & A.Bishop beat A.Lumbard & A.Abrahams 15-14

K.Hird & S.Thatcher beat M.Scurr & S.Jackman 15-5

L.Brock & K.Hird beat M.Scurr & A.Lumbard 15-3

S.Thatcher & A.Bishop beat A.Abrahams & S.Jackman 15-10

Laurie Brock reports: I am delighted to report a superb 6-0 win for the team this evening, as Karen in particular stepped up to the plate at 2 to see us through to the semi-finals. In round 1, Karen and Andy had no difficulty in seeing off Ashley and Sarah 15-4. Stephen and I found the going rather tougher against Mylo and Alex Abrahams (perhaps rather curiously demoted to 3 behind Ashley). However, after going 3-0 and 7-3 down we got our act together and it developed into a real classic, culminating in us nicking it 15-14. In round 2, Karen continued to cruise along, this time partnering Stephen to a 15-5 win against Mylo and Sarah. For a while, it looked like Andy and I would have a similarly comfortable time, as we raced into an 8-2 and then (thanks to Andy's cut returning) 14-8 lead. However, two cuts in a row out of court from me opened the door for a comeback and we found ourselves (again) at 14-14. Luckily, some nerveless cutting from Andy saw us through the wobble and we closed out another sudden death win. In the final round, Andy and Stephen had another lengthy match against Alex and Sarah. This was nip and tuck for quite some time before Andy and Stephen's class shone through as they triumphed 15-10. Meanwhile, Karen and I faced a potentially tricky match against Mylo and Ashley (especially with me a little weary after two long games). Fortunately, I was able to spend most of the set standing still and applauding, as Karen produced one of the best single sets of fives I have seen in the Superleague. It finished 15-3 (and to be honest they were lucky to get 3) - leaving Karen having conceded only 12 points all evening. Roll on the semi-finals!

29/05/18 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds drew with Westway 2 3-3

S.Thatcher & S.Nowinski lost to J.Black & J.Caplin 14-15

A.Bishop & J.Da Costa beat D.McCahon & K.Mikowski 15-6

S.Thatcher & J.Da Costa lost to D.McCahon & J.Caplin 10-15

A.Bishop & S.Nowinski beat J.Black & K.Mikowski 15-7

S.Thatcher & A.Bishop beat J.Black & D.McCahon 15-9

S.Nowinski & J.Da Costa lost to J.Caplin & K.Mikowski 14-15

The Aston House Thoroughbreds concluded the group phase of this year's tournament with a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Westway. With virtually the entire regular squad unavailable due to holiday and work commitments, the strength in depth of the North Oxford ranks was sorely tested, with captain Chapman spending the vast majority of his wedding anniversary holiday in Greece attempting to rustle up a side. The result was an awesome foursome of Throoughbred debutants and a well-matched fixture that could easily have gone 4-2 or even 5-1 in favour of the Thoroughbreds, who had the points-scoring edge overall but unluckily lost two matches 14-15. The lower order of Stefan Nowinksi and Joe Da Costa put in solid performances at three and four and Stephen Thatcher showed that he is one of the most-improved players on the circuit, leading the line impressively at number one, but the star of the evening was Andy Bishop, the NOEFC President producing a stunning Thoroughbred debut, playing at number two and winning all three of his matches including two over Westway's star man Julian Black. The result secures second place in the group, with Highgate requiring a 6-0 win in their last match to sneak top spot, but perhaps more interestingly opens up a quarter-final selection dilemma for captain Chapman with Stephen and Andy in particular seizing the opportunity and making a strong case for future selection.

23/05/18 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat EFA Allstars 6-0

L.Brock & K.Hird beat M.Lewin & W.Seath 15-2

G.Hoskins & S.Chapman beat M.Chinery & O.Avery 15-6

L.Brock & S.Chapman beat M.Chinery & W.Seath 15-5

G.Hoskins & K.Hird beat M.Lewin & O.Avery 15-6

L.Brock & G.Hoskins beat M.Lewin & M.Chinery 15-4

K.Hird & S.Chapman beat W.Seath & O.Avery 15-5

The Aston House Thoroughbreds continued their strong defence of the Superleague title with a regulation 6-0 win over the EFA Allstars at Westway last night. The AHT quartet of Laurie Brock, Gareth Hoskins, Karen Hird and Spencer Chapman didn't really have to engage the higher gears against a workmanlike EFA side, who included North Oxford's Matt Chinery at number two, allowing Spencer to nurse his side strain - he's held together at the moment by tape and a couple of elastic bands, which are not to be confused with Karen's weird elastic wrists, which may explain her current poppadom finger predicament. There was a full Thoroughbred complement in the Garden afterwards, but a disappointing lack of anyone else apart from Matt. Good to see the North Oxford training kicking in already. Availability issues are going to cause problems for captain Chapman next week with a match against Westway to ensure a top seeding for the knockout stages, but opportunity should knock for some new Thoroughbreds while the tried and trusted brigade rest their various ailments ready for the business end of the competition in a few weeks time.

16/05/18 at Westway: Aston House Thoroughbreds beat Highgate Bizzle 4-2

L.Brock & K.Hird beat J.Ho & T.Halstead 15-12

N.Shaw & S.Chapman beat A.Bhattacharya & E.Scoones 15-7

L.Brock & S.Chapman beat A.Bhattacharya & T.Halstead 15-5

N.Shaw & K.Hird lost to J.Ho & E.Scoones 10-15

L.Brock & N.Shaw lost to J.Ho & A.Bhattacharya 11-15

K.Hird & S.Chapman beat T.Halstead & E.Scoones 15-8

The Aston House Thoroughbreds started the defence of their Superleague title with a strong 4-2 win against one of the other main contenders at Westway last night with a 4-2 win over HIghgate Bizzle in a repeat of last year's thrilling semi-final. Last year's win was based on getting out in front early and then holding on - unlike the final, which was a come from behind epic - and this pattern was repeated last night as AHT won both matches in the first rotation. Three of last year's final winning side were back in action with only Chris Austin missing, meaning a return to team colours for captain Spencer Chapman, barely weakening the team (allegedly, if the Austin legal team happen to be reading this). Having overcome various handicaps - Laurie's lack of match practice, Karen's injured finger, Spencer's side strain, having Spencer in the team in the first place - to get in front, the team then stayed in control by sharing the second and third rotations, with the key differences between the two sides the relative strength of the AHT lower order and the crucial first rotation defeat of Kinnaird finalist Jonny Ho and Tom Halstead by Laurie and Karen, which meant that Jonny's subsequent two victories were mere consolations for the Highgate outfit. The win puts AHT in a strong position in their group already, with games against the EFA Allstars and Westway 2 to come in the next couple of weeks.