Paul Bowden reports:
22/03/23: The rearranged competition for the Bowden Bowl took place on Tuesday 21st March at Aldenham.
It was a pity that only two teams could take part but it produced a great contest with the home team defeating the much improved Burford team by 6 points to 3. Indeed it is amazing how much Burford had progressed since they took part last year and really struggled, and this, despite being an entirely itinerant team with no courts of their own.
From the outset the Burford team was on the front foot and their first pair raced into an early 4-0 lead. Gradually, however, the Aldenham pair, showing greater courtcraft and consistency, eventually ran out fairly comfortable winners. The other two matches were very keenly contested throughout as the scores show.
All the matches were played in the very best spirit and the third pairs in particular produced a long encounter played entirely with smiles on all their faces.
This result means that Aldenham become the first team to hold both the Vargas Salver and the Bowden Bowl simultaneously and they will have to defend them both when they are played again in the Autumn.
Scores: (Aldenham names first)
U.Topkaya & E.Cormican beat R.Venis & A.Parsons 3-0 (12-4, 12-10, 12-2)
M.McQuillin & T.Parnell beat D.Orrell & L.Ng 2-1 (11-12, 12-5, 12-6)
P.Rupasinghe & M.Malik lost to O.Roychowdhury & L.Saftiou 1-2 (12-9, 11-12, 11-12)