A really enjoyable & high quality Hard Bat Competition was played on Tuesday 28th April. We had a record entry of 32 players who split into eight Round Robin groups, with the top two in each group progressed to the knock out stage. There seemed to be a lot of fun as players adapted to the sandpaper covered hard bats.................and the bats cracked nine brand new 3 Star balls in the course of play! Some players were just smashing the balls too hard it seems.

It soon became apparent that some of the players adapted better to playing with the hard bats and this became clear in the two stunning semi finals that were played. Frazer McEwan defeated Martin Wyatt in a very high quality game. In the other there was a real battle between the holder Dave Kay & Tim Vaughan that went to the 5th game, with Tim edging it.

Those who stayed to watch Tim & Frazer in the final had a real treat. The quality of play with sandpaper covered bats was astonishing. Some of the returns were unbelievable. In the end Tim came out on top to win the competition in front of the appreciative spectators.

Thanks to everyone who played in the competition and to the Committee members who helped the evening run smoothly, especially Ged, Ian & Robin for all their umpiring in the knock out stages and Adam for working the hatch at the start of the evening.

Mike