First Division

Guppyspotters ran out surprising winners 21-7 in a week 7, top-of-the-table clash against Fork.

With both teams matched on 128 runs scored this season, tight defence looked to be key. Clean up hits from Gareth Preece and John Rides took Guppyspotters to a 1st inning 11-run lead.

Forks struggled to make significant inroads against a clinical Guppyspotter defence and left it too late to come back despite a battling four-run 7th innings and now fall behind joint league leaders LSDs and Guppyspotters.

Top of the table LSDs executed a clinical win over the bottom team Bristol Creamers 16 - 1.

LSDs targeted batting and error free fielding always had them comfortably in control of the game while Bristol Creamers fielded well but never turned up with their bats.

Grandslammers defeated Bucks Wizz 23-22 in the first meeting of last season's two promoted teams.

With team captain Steve Cheung lost in action due to work commitments it was left to rest of the team to organise themselves into something that resembled a softball team.

After last season's previous two encounters in Division 2 everybody knew this was going to be a close run game.

Eventually, in a game that was nip and tuck throughout with the lead changing hands several times, Grandslammers came through eventual winners 23-22.

With the scores tied at 22-22 going into the top of the 7th innings both teams decided that even though all the other matches had finished over 30 minutes ago and were sat in the warmth of the bar supping there favourite beverage, both teams decided to produce their best fielding performances of the match to send the game to an extra 8th innings.

After another fine defensive display from Grandslammers in the field at the top of the 8th it was left to Rob Mason to knock the ball skywards into deep field.

After what seemed like an age the ball dropped aimlessly between two of the Bucks Wizz outfielders aided by some blinding sunshine that had caused havoc all night to send Mel Colzie in for the winning run.

Special mention to Mark Russ for hitting a deserved and only home run of the evening to follow up his MVP award last week. A great game played in great spirit by two evenly matched teams. Bucks Wizz will surely be out for revenge later in the season.

Second Division

In a close game Chipmonks edged Orange Crushers by 11 runs to 8.

With the scores so close it was important for teams to bat well and Orange didn’t quite have enough power when it was required.

In another close game Desperados consolidated their second place in the league with an 18 to 16 win over Sloggers.

Fine performances from two of the old timers, Kevin Patterden and Rhian Welch, gave them respectively the male and female most value player awards for this game.

Imperial Sliders continued their domination of the second division with a 34 - 3 victory over The Flinstones. The game took a one-sided turn in the 4th innings when Sliders powered 19 runs in.

The Force continued their comeback with a comfortable 20 - 9 victory over rookie second division side Friendly Fire.

Third Division

Go Balls Deep arrived to a rapturous reception on Tuesday evening to warm up for the eagerly anticipated match against another "newby" team The Thunderbats - but were undone 25-21.

G was an excellent stand-in captain for the absent 3 Sipps, who was sunning herself in Marbella.

The Balls batted first and leapt to an early lead with some demon hitting from the likes of Millsy.

This continued into the field where Thunderbats were fielded into submission, and Go Balls Deep were able to capitalise on their early advantage with another impressive display of home runs.

Life in the outfield was just as action packed. And there was some impressive catching, fielding and general body slamming going with Maggs on 3rd, but she kept her steely determination going, and quite rightly, this earned her MVP status.

The Go Balls Deep's batting took a bit of a stumble mid game, the concentration dropping with a rather dashing pitcher making the girls (and a couple of the boys too, but that's a whole other story) all weak at the knees with his boyish charm, and impish grin. His balls were right in the faces of Go Balls Deep.... Definitely something to keep an eye on in future games.

There was also a couple of controversial decisions that ended up going the way of the Thunderbats but, in the end, the umpire's decision is final.

Go Balls Deep, managed to keep their heads in all the confusion, but unfortunately were unable to tip the scales in our favour, ending the game Go Balls Deep 21 - Thunderbats 25.

The Thunderbats were an excellent team, formidable competitors, and above all else, sporting.

The Greasy Mitts inflicted the Multiple Scorgasms first defeat of the season on Tuesday, winning 17-15.

Following a slow start from both teams, a lovely sunny summer’s evening saw home runs scored by both teams, with Stu Parkes from the Scorgasms achieving an impressive four home runs.

Dave Wilmot stepped up to the plate and pitched well, striking out several Mitts players. A respectable result with a well deserved win for the Greasy Mitts. It seems that this new team may just have it in them to challenge the leaders of the pack.

Spartans' Tuesday-night match with the Flatpackers was one of the most closely contested of the season so far.

A real nail-biter to the last inning, Flatpackers took a slight early lead, but with some fantastic fielding by the Spartans, including an amazing double play on 2nd and 1st, and an awesome innings with six runs scored, Spartans managed to edge in front.

They held their nerve, and with Steve's pitching, which included a strike-out, and Robin's much needed Home Run, managed to hold onto the lead for the rest of the match. It'd be too hard to pick out a star player as honestly the whole team was brilliant: tight fielding, consistent batting, and a genuine team spirit!

Flatpackers’ captain was proud to see how much they have improved in just a few weeks despite the loss. And, as always, they were gracious in defeat, but have set their sights on victory next time.