Hellifield Hotshots had a busy week with two games, a 2nd Rd Naylor Team Handicap Knockout fixture against First Division opponents Lothersdale Nomads "B" as well as their Division 3 league fixture against Crossflats "C", in the Keighley & District T.T. League
 
The Handicap game was played at Keighley T.T. Centre last Weds. where Hellifield overcame their opponents 407 to 388 pts. in an epic struggle.
 
With the handicap giving a net start of 215pts, Hotshots effectively received almost 12 pts start in each of the 18 games.
 
Nomads' Keith Wilkinson, arguably the second best player in the Keighley League, kept his side in the frame, but with young Ben Lee achieving a commendable return, not just in his two games against Keith, it left Hotshots' John Flitcroft to achieve almost parity against both Martin Connolly and David Adams. to clinch victory.
 
Neither Lothersdale players were, understandably, prepared to play an open attacking game, so both of his games were full of lengthy rallies with each player trying to out manoeuvre the other, looking for that elusive opening to win each point.
 
John held his nerve and used his experience to achieve the required results and clinch the hard fought tie for Hellifield, ignoring some gamesmanship from Martin!
 
Bill Wright found the going tough, but kept battling to the end of each game. His points tally achieved was vital to the teams' success.
 
Hotshots play Wilsden, another first division side, at home in the quarter final round on Friday 19th February 2010.
 
Scorecard:
 
Home                Away                        
Team                Team                        
Hellifield            Lothersdale Nomads "B"                                 Totals Pts    Totals Pts
Hotshots    

                     Martin Connolly    David Adams    Keith Wilkinson    HH         L N "B"
John Flitcroft      15    21              19    21             10    21           44           63
                          21    19              21    18             11    21           53           58
Ben Lee                7    21                8    21               4    21           19           63
                            5    21                5    21               7    21           17           63
Bill Wright           15    21                6    21               9    21           30           63
                            4    21                5    21               5    21           14           63
                                                                       Handicaps            230          15
                                                                       Totals                  407         388
 
 
On Friday 29th January Hotshots returned to League action with a home game in the 3rd Division against Crossflats "C".
 
In the away fixture, last October, Hellifield came away with a close 6 - 4 victory, so really needed to improve on this result to maintain their challenge near the top of the 3rd Division.
 
The team of John Flitcroft, Ben Lee and Sam Wright achieved an 8 - 2 victory, with singles wins for John (3) and Ben and Sam (2 each). John and Ben combined to take the doubles game.
 
Ben and Sam showed great improvement in their singles wins, with excellent shot selection, and at last realising not to gift their opponents cheap points. The resulting pressure exerted on their opponents contributed to these valuable wins.
 
This result keeps Hotshots in second place in the 3rd Division, with 79 pts, behind Haworth Penguins, with 88 pts. Both have now played 11 out of the 20 league matches.
 
Scorecard:
 
Home                            Away                        
Team                            Team                        
Hellifield                        Crossflats "C"                                   Sets    Sets
Hotshots                  Pat Legg    John Patrick    Ady Powis        HH      C
John Flitcroft             11    3          11    0         11    0         
                                 11    2         11    5          11    4         
                                 11    3         11    2          11    6              3       0
Ben Lee                     11    8         11    13        11    8         
                                 11    4           5    11         6    11         
                                 14    12         8    11       13    11         
                                                                       11    3               2       1
Sam Wright               11    13         5    11       11    6         
                                 11    7           9    11       11    7         
                                 11    7           7    11        7    11         
                                 16    14                           9    11         
                                   4    21         5    21       11    5               2       1
Doubles                                       
John Flitcroft                vs.    John Patrick         11    6         
and                                      and                      11    6         
Ben Lee                               Ady Powis              11    2               1      0
                                                                     TOTALS               8      2
 
John H Flitcroft
30th January 2010