Acorn clinch crown despite defeat (From Harrow Times)
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Acorn claim Middlesex Division Nine title
3:10pm Thursday 4th August 2011 in Sport
Champagne time: the triumphant Acorn team.
Acorn LTC won the Middlesex Division Nine men’s title in dramatic fashion over closest rivals Paddington Rec.
Acorn were without three of their regulars in what would turn out to be their most memorable league match for years. Greg Ofstroff, Steve Byrne and George Christea all missed out, while Paddington fielded their strongest team, including their coach.
After going 7-2 down, promotion looked unlikely but Neil Phillips and Ravi Gupta, who played despite suffering from food poisoning, clinched the title from love-40 and 4-5 down to win 7-5 and shatter Paddington’s first pair’s unbeaten record.
Steve Melzack and Barry Barnett took two valuable points after winning their final set 7-6, while Jeff Rubinstein celebrated his 60th birthday by gaining two important points with Petro Stoian.
Acorn won the league by just six points despite being defeated in the match, 16-8.
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