The unbeaten Sharnie's Boys and the winless Grippers went into their clash with regular team members unavailable and the instability changed the fortunes of both teams.

Grippers led early at 4-2 before Sharnie's Boys halved the gap to one at 5-4, and it seemed that a tight struggle may unfold.

Grippers, who had made their late-match collapses a common occurrence, turned it all around, winning the last six singles rubbers by a combined twelve games to three to finally inhale the sweet smell of victory, 17-7.

All of the Grippers outfit produced superb results, Shane Eagle and Lou Kappos both going 6-2 and substitute Pauline Wellfare contributing 5-3.

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Fill-in Maurie Poole (3-6) dropped three close 2-1 encounters, with Sharnie Roberts returning 2-5 and Leon Rust 2-6 as defeat tapped Sharnie's Boys on the shoulder for the first time this season.

The other match between Smashes and Charolais was virtually decided after just six rubbers.

Smashes won them all, dropping only three games, to put the result almost beyond Charolais' reach at 12-3.

Charolais had to be nearly perfect from there, and while they won a few games late, they couldn't prevent Smashes from cruising home, 18-8.

Matthew Kappos (6-2) stood out for Smashes, but only just, as Linda Kappos and Peter Jaccoud snapped at his heels with a pair of 5-3 records.

Sean Jenkins maxed out his playing time with 4-5 for the well-beaten Charolais, while Mark McAulay finished 2-5 and Kelly Gurney 2-6.

Pointscore: Sharnie's Boys 24, Smashes 18, Charolais 12, Grippers 5.

This Week's Matches: Round 8; Sharnie's Boys v Smashes. Grippers v Charolais.

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