Castle begin title defence with a win

League round-up

Monkstown Bees 4-10 Castle

Champions Castle got their League title defence under way with a good win away to newcomers the Monkstown Bees. The champions issued a statement of intent by racing into a 5-0 lead with wins from D. Irwin (2), T. McCorry (2) and P. Roberts. It should have been six but Castle captain D. Whiteside missed a routine black to gift the frame to A. Mackey and R. Brown.

Irwin then secured his hat-trick before Brown won his second franme of the night. The Bees were buzzing now but a four-frame burst for Castle courtesy of Roberts, McCorry and Meredith (2) put the match beyond the reach of the hosts. Bees took the final frame courtesy of a win from A. McMeekin.

Barbarians 11-3 Alpha

Barbarians made a bright start to the season with an emphatic win over fellow newcomers The Alpha. P. Gingles won the first but it was soon 1-1 when Scott Hay unluckily potted the black mid-frame. But Barbarians responded by rattling off the next five in a row through Gingles, S. Mitchell, H. Regan, G. Harrington and A. Galloway. The visitors won the first frame of the second session through L. Carson, but three on the trot from Regan, Mitchell and Harrington ensured the three points would go to the Barbarians. Alpha pulled another back but the home side won the final two to complete the rout. Stephen Mitchell who won 3/3 on his Carrick League debut.

Pirates 8-6 Dolly Mixtures

New Ladies team in the League, the Dolly Mixtures set out their stall early showing that they aren't just there to make up the numbers. With a number of Northern Ireland International players in their team, they led the Pirates 5-2 at one stage and pushed them all the way before unluckily losing 8-6. Jean McIlroy won three out of three frames on the night.

Other results: Rockers 8-6 Scorpions; Spartans 12-2 Greenisland.

Fixtures

Monkstown Bees v Monkstown

Greenisland v Pirates

Castle v Scorpions

Spartans v Barbarians

Eastway v Alpha

Dolly Mixtures v Rockers

Ties to be played on Tuesday, September 28