All change for Aces

Fountain Aces, who won the Division One title last year, find themselves on top of the table following a 4-0 whitewash of Dunloy Cowboys in the Dunloy clubrooms.

Aces, although having changed their entire playing personnel from last season, performed well as Dunloy is never an easy place for visiting teams to get a positive result.

Paul Bloomer had put the Aces ahead with a win over Gerard McAuley and the Antrim side's advantage was doubled as former 147 Rockets player Richard Hayes edged a tight third frame decider against Cowboys captain Aidan McErlaine.

Ian Templeton secured a third point for Aces when he saw off Garth Connolly in two frames. Young Sean French then recorded a fine victory over the always tough to beat Randal McDonnell to send the Fountain side back to Antrim with a full points haul.

Aces lead the table on frame difference from Parochial Hawks who recorded a 4-0 win against Dunloy Galaxy.

Respective captains Danny McGarry and Bobby Darragh met in the first match and it was Danny who put the first point on the scoreboard for the Hawks by sealing a black ball win in the deciding frame.

John Martin, playing well on his return to league snooker, then doubled the Hawks points total by running away with the decider after sharing the opening two frames of his game against Paul McQuillan.

Further wins in straight frames for Niall Martin and Paul Casey against Michael McPoland and Miceal Murphy gave Hawks full points and maintained their impressive start to the season in all competitions.

A bad night in general for the Dunloy snooker clubs was completed as Minnesota Strikers upset the form book in the Minnesota clubrooms to inflict a first defeat of the season on Dunloy United.

Trevor Alexander enjoyed the run of the balls on his way to a 2-0 success over the luckless Brendan McTaggart before young Matthew McFall secured his first win in his debut season defeating Paul Kelly. Matthew won the first frame before Paul hit back to level the contest before the young Minnesota player shaded the decider.

Martin Crawley then hauled the North Antrim men back into the match as he proved too strong for Colin Perry on his way to a 2-0 success. Cathaoir Cunning completely outplayed Bill McKane in the first frame of their match before the Minnesota player produced some steady potting to level in the next frame.

The third frame saw Bill edge ahead and the key moment in the frame came when Cathaoir firstly failed to escape from a snooker on the blue and then left the blue on having been put in again by Bill. Having potted the blue Bill secured his first win for Minnesota Strikers by potting the pink a few moments later.

Also in the Minnesota club the all Minnesota match between the 'A' and the 'B' teams finished all square.

Andrew Hutchinson's win over Rodney McFall put the 'B' team ahead only for the consistent Brian Hannaway, aided by a 55 break, to level the contest by beating Willie Dobbin.

David McClintock then put the 'A' team ahead with a win over 'B' captain and league sponsor Keith Williams. Dean Greer had the 'A' team on the verge of victory having taken the opener against David Swann only for David to ensure a share of the points for Minnesota B by winning black ball deciders in frames two and three.

In the Fountain clubrooms the Jokers played host to Parochial Lions and despite a good fight from the Ballymena side it was Joe Binghams Jokers who emerged on the right side of a 3-1 scoreline.

Liam Kelly proved too strong for league chairman Ronnie McCart as he put the Antrim side ahead before Fountain youngsters David Gould and Callum Lindsay trebled Jokers' total with wins over Rodney McAleese and Dennis Curran respectively. Richard Russell made sure the Lions didn't go home empty handed as he defeated Joe Bingham in straight frames.

Dunloy Cowboys 0, Fountain Aces 4: (50] G McAuley 0 (35] P Bloomer 2 (52-56, 34-63); (70] A McErlaine 1 (40] R Hayes 2 (61-35, 32-67, 61-75); (60] G Connolly 0, (60] I Templeton 2 (9-49, 13-40); (15] R McDonnell 1, (60] S French 2 (89-61, 43-83, 60-79).

Parochial Hawks 4, Dunloy Galaxy 0: (40] D McGarry 2, (45] B Darragh 1 (57-48, 37-58, 58-49); (55] J Martin 2, (45] P McQuillan 1 (73-41, 41-60, 51-2); (60] N Martin 2, (50] M McPoland 0 (49-43, 82-45); (35] P Casey 2 (30], M Murphy 0 (66-29, 61-28). Break - Paul Casey 30.

Minnesota Strikers 3, Dunloy United 1: (35] T Alexander 2 (30] B McTaggart 0 (81-28, 64-38); (70] M McFall 2 (55], P Kelly 1 (61-34, 34-44, 52-37); (60] C Perry 0, (15] M Crawley 2 (58-94, 68-76); (30] B McKane 2, (50] C Cunning 1 (8-60, 72-36, 60-38). Breaks - Trevor Alexander 25c, Bill McKane 24, Martin Crawley 24, 28.

Minnesota A 2, Minnesota B 2: (5] R McFall 0, (20] A Hutchinson 2 (30-65, 21-54); (5] B Hannaway 2, (30] W Dobbin 0 (82-49, 85-60); (10] D McClintock 2, (45] K Williams 0 (78-47, 74-59); (35] D Greer 1, (20] D Swann 2 (75-64, 54-55, 52-54). Break - Brian Hannaway 55.

Fountain Jokers 3, Parochial Lions 1: (15] L Kelly 2, (70] R McCart 0 (83-62, 84-69); (55] D Gould 2 (20], R McAleese 1 (85-62, 66-68, 79-65); (50] C Lindsay 2, (70] D Curran 1 (55-43, 33-57, 72-50); (35] J Bingham 0, (20] R Russell 2 (29-54, 32-64).

MINNESOTA HANDICAP

Callum Lindsay beat Chris Wilson in the weekend handicap competition at Minnesota.

The entry of 24 players included none other than world number 10 Mark Allen, playing off a large handicap!