Derby date provides a classic encounter (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Derby date provides a classic encounter

Local clash. The Riverside and Salisbury players before Saturday's league match. Back row, Gill Christmas, Carolyn Barry, Kay William-son, Jenna Wareham, June Keen, Melissa Grewar. Front, Linda Machin, Fiona Barrett, Liezl Jacobs, Kath More, Karina Weedon and Jacky Witt. SUNBURN and bruises were the painful legacies of a classic duel in the scorching heat on Satur-day when Riverside edged a 5-4 victory over Salisbury in the Hampshire League Division One derby meeting of the city's top ladies teams.

The five-hour match was finally clinched by injury-hit Gill Christ-mas and Linda Machin, second set tie-break victors by 8-6 over Salisbury's June Keen and Kath More, who were aiming for a treble.

Karina Weedon and Jacky Witt also won twice for Salisbury.

Gill, an England veteran international, was floored earlier in the match by a ball to the head from a mishit volley, and Linda, who turned an ankle that finished badly swollen, battled valiantly to triumph after Salisbury levelled the match at four-all and were threatening to crown their fightback with victory.

Two wins by Kay Williamson and Liezl Jacobs and another from Carolyn Barry and Fiona Barrett completed Riverside's winning tally to keep alive their chance of landing the Hampshire League for the first time in the club's history. Two matches remain.

In a finish equally as tense a few days earlier, roles were rever-sed when Salisbury B won away to Riverside men in the Wiltshire County Division of the National Club League.

The match was won by Salisbury when Paul Zieleniewski and Alex Vandeleur pipped Steve Archer and Robin Penny 10-8 in the third tie-break of a deciding 'shoot-out.'

Salisbury A men's team are hopeful of promotion next summer to the top regional division of the Kia National Club League after finishing runners-up to Coombe Dingle, Bristol in the final South West Division Two table.

Salisbury's ladies held on to their Division One status by finishing sixth of eight in their South section.