Brian Hargrave was hoping for a full team for the new year, but it's not to be ...
Manchester Northern v Benz-Bavarian Duffield
Probable Teams
1 Martin Heath v Nick Matthew ( world 11)
2 Lauren Anjema v Paul Hargrave
3 Peter Billson v Jonathan Kemp
4 Phil Barker v Marcus Cowie
5 Jenny Tranfield v Vicky Lankester
Duffield's hopes of a victory to start the New Year and to keep their play of hopes alive suffered a major set back when Renan Lavigne advised that he had accepted an offer to play for his Dutch League team before being asked to play against Manchester. Dan Jenson had already committed himself to playing in USA in anticipation Renan would be making his debut. Peter Hughes, the other registered overseas player, is back home in Australia
To add to Duffield's task Jenny Tranfield ( World 16 Eng 4 ) is unexpectedly included in the visitors line up and she will be a formidable opponent for Vicky Lankester (Eng 14) who will be making her debut for Duffield to satisfy the mandatory U23 lady regulation.
In the new world rankings Nick Matthew has soared ten places to register a career-best No11 place and he will be hoping to cointinue his impressive recent form against the experienced Martin Heath who is missing from the world top 20 for the first time for many years.
Paul Hargrave and Jon Kemp will both move up the Duffield order and with Laurence Delasaux hoping to be involved with the British Junior open final manager Brian Hargrave is attempting to contact Marcus Cowie to fill the number 4 slot. He must be skiing or cut off in Scotland as he is not answering his mobile!
Joel Hinds, 16 years old, also seeded in the British Junior Open and Kevin White ( soon aproaching veteran status being nearly half way to three score years and ten) have been put on standy by together with the team sponsor Felix Frixou and the experienced Brian Legg.
Meanwhile, Manchester Northern expect to be at almost strength hoping to build on their 5-0 whitewashing of Nottingham in round 5. If Anjema does not play Daryl Selby would come in at No 4 and Billson and Barker would move up the order. All the above assumes that there have been no changes to the respective orders of merit.
Duffield's loyal supporters are looking forward to their annual trip to Palatine Road via Manchester airport.
