Warwickshire's Lincs jinx goes on

WARWICKSHIRE failed to end their dismal run against hosts Lincolnshire as they fell to a 22-14 defeat in a rearranged game three fixture in the Premier Division of the UKDA National League.

- By ALAN TOWE

Coventry Open doubles champions Chris Wickenden and David Davis with organiser Neil Pritchard, centre, at Hen Lane Social Club

The Bears have lost the last four meetings against Lincolnshire and unfortunately could not reverse the sequence

It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for the ladies as the ‘B’ side won 5-1 with Macy Gibbons taking the match award for her straight 3-0 win over Liv Heaton and 20.59 average, but the ‘A’ team suffered a 6-0 whitewash.

The men’s ‘B’ went down 9-3 with Taylor McGuckian their top player with a 27.08 average in his opening 4-0 win over Dave Wilson.

The ‘A’ side came back from 4-1 down to go on and earn a 6-6 draw with Steve Hine man of the match with his 4-2 win over James Beeton and 29.35 average.

Despite defeat Warwickshire moved up three places in the table to fourth with 78 points, 18 short of leaders Lancashire.

Chris Wickenden secured an amazing third consecutive victory in the Coventry Christmas Open held at Hen Lane Social Club in Coventry.

From an initial entry of 70 players, the semifinals of the singles competition saw Wickenden beat Stephen Tomkins 5-2, while David Davies had a 5-1 success over Noel Grant. Wickenden took the title with a 5-1 victory against Davies.

The two singles finalists then paired up to win the doubles knockout.

After beating Wayne Mynard and Karl Reynolds 4-3 in the semis, then swept aside Ben Gamble and Sam Matthews 5-0 in the final. Gamble and Matthews had accounted for Adam Gallett and Matt Gallett in the last four with a 4-2 result.

The total paid out on the day was a fantastic £1,430.

Second-placed Highwood won 5-4 at home against Dog Inn Nomads to move within two points of Sheldon Marlborough Arrows in the Sheldon and District Winter League Premier League.

The leaders had no game and remain unbeaten on 14 points.