The league has, as usual, been dominated by the, "Big Two," Brian Harvey and Dick Watts. Brian (Regency) has scored 8 centuries and Dick 3 centuries, both have also had over 20 fifty breaks. A recent head-to-head produced the best league match anyone can remember. Dick got off to a flying start with a 119 and followed with 71 to put him within sight of game. Brian, despite an 88, was a long way behind but got going on a break which turned out to be the season's highest - 150 - which put the scores almost level. Dick finished the winner 150 - 124, the actual score being Watts 150 + 210 H'cap, Harvey 124 +235 H'cap which means that Dick scored just one more point than Brian in the game. Other matches between the two saw Dick win in the Wessex Championship and Brian getting the best of it in the League Handicap. Few teams have managed a consistent run and the main threat to former Champions, Regency, came from league newcomers, Bishops Lydeard, a village at the foot of the Quantock Hills. However some good individual performances have seen the following record their best-ever breaks:- Colin Hampton (Railway) 51; Frank Martin (147B) 40; John Chappel (Gatchells) 39; Keith Westlake (Gatchells) 35; Tony Ainsworth (147A) 30. The League table was headed by Regency with Bishops Lydeard second and Railway third.
Harvey and Watts are also well to the fore in the Taunton league. Harvey's team (Regency) have a one point lead over last year's champions 147 Club 'A.' Brian has made two centuries (124.100) Two for Watts Dick Watts had two centuries (100.137) in the same game and, as far as is known, this is a first time achievement for the Taunton League. His Railway colleague Colin Hampton registered his first league 50 break.
Mark Wildman is playing a long practice game with Roxton Chapman the young Peterborough Professional. They are playing 14,000 up in the way that matches used to be played in the old days. After a dozen or so sessions the scores stand at about 7000 each. Mark reports that Roxton is averaging around the thirty mark, has had three breaks over 200 with a highest of 297, and has a couple of session averages of 50+.