Confusion reigns as leaders drop points

The committee brought in a new format this year, which included three games of ‘Scotch’ doubles, as well as five singles.

A condition on the first doubles match is that a team must play one of their last two singles players in this match. Both McNulty’s A and Sperrin fell foul of this rule in the past week, with the Sperrin’s match with Mary Craig’s now declared a draw, while the committee will have to make a decision on the McNulty’s A vs McNultys B match as the last game was not played as the teams thought the match was over.

Division 1

Mary Craig’s 4, Sperrin 4

The visitors thought they had got a victory over the basement side, however this was not the case.

Young Lee McIlreavy took the first against Tommy Morrow, but the Dervock man stormed back with two superb eight-ball finishes.

Morrow then teamed up with Lee Caulfield in the first doubles match, however, this pairing was ineligible and this match has been awarded to Paddy Lynch and debutant Hubert Smyth.

Wayne Telford then produced a great comeback after Caulfield had took out an eight-ball finish in the first, Telford producing the finish of the night in the decider. Paul O’Connor took the next playing his usual steady game to beat Derek Allum. Telford continued his good form in the next doubles match as he and John McIlreavy were excellent in a victory over Caulfield and Billy Moore.

Moore was much better in his singles match as he swept the challenge of Paddy Lynch aside. Sperrin captain Raymond Stockman went in off the black in the first frame of the next, and opponent John McIlreavy couldn’t believe his luck as the balls opened brilliantly in the second, and he proceeded to take out a great eight-ball finish.

The match ended in confusion as the Sperrin claimed the last doubles match as they believed that Mary Craig’s did not have the correct players present, however, the home side have disputed this, and this is yet another issue for the committee, on what could be a very busy week.

McNulty’s A 4, McNulty’s B 3

Unfortunately, this was another match in which the result has had to be altered after the teams thought the match was over.

Davy Tosh recovered from losing the first against Johnny White, taking out two good finishes to put his team one up. Tosh partnered Damien Reid in the first doubles match, however, they should not have played together and this game was awarded to White and Chris Wade.

Allen Tosh played some excellent pool in the next match as he beat Aaron Moffatt in straight frames. Marc Hutchinson made hard work of the next match as he laboured to victory over Gavin McClements. However, McClements got his revenge in the next doubles match as he teamed up with Dijon McCorkell to beat Hutchinson and Willie Boreland in three tight frames.

Jimmy Moore made his comeback to league action as he produced some great pool to blow Chris Wade away, before Andy Parke thought he had sealed two points for his team with a similar victory over McCorkell. However, things were not as they seemed as due to the wrong pairing being used in match two, the committee will now have to look at this match also.

Forge A 5, Scott’s Bar 0

Another good performance from the Forge to keep up the pressure on the leaders. Raymond Baxter got the home side off to a good start as he recovered from losing the first frame to a good 8-ball finish by young Scott Clarke. Baxter composed himself and played solid pool to take the next two including a good finish in the decider after Clarke had missed the first chance.

Baxter then teamed up with Toner to double the Forge’s lead, the pairing getting the better of Paul Baird and Alan McBride in a very scrappy encounter. The next game was also a scrappy affair between McBride and Neville Smyth. The Scott man should have taken the first frame but some poor positional play cost him and he allowed Smyth to steal it and it was a similar story in the second with Smyth getting a chance he shouldn’t have.

Forge captain Willie Eakin continued a good recent run of form, as he controlled matters against Darryl Watt, putting his team within one of victory. Eakin, along with Darren Boyd, sealed the victory as this first time partnership combined well to beat Watt and Aaron Riley.

Division 2

Montra 5, Forge B 1

The leaders regained a ten point advantage with a resounding victory over Forge B, who had moved up to second place after a good run of wins.

Andy Hutchinson had got the visitors off to a good start as he had an impressive victory over Barry McLaughlin. However, McLaughlin made amends, alongside Paul Ramsey in the doubles, before Ryan Tosh took out two good finishes over William Boyce, to put the Montra in front.

The home team did not look back as they rattled off 3 games in quickfire fashion. Captain Johnny Goldie met counterpart Kieran Doherty, with Goldie being too strong on the night. Paul Ramsey and Ryan Tosh followed up with a similarly easy victory, before Ramsey wrapped up the victory with a straight frames victory over Jamie Boyd, and put the home side within touching distance of the title.

Roost A 1, Railway Arms 5

The Arms finally got back to winning ways with this victory over the basement side.

Johnny McDowell took out two excellent six ball finishes in a neasy victory over Charlie Speight. And Speight fared no better in the doubles as he and Stephen Kerr were out – potted by Adam Leonard and Wahib Ziani in three entertaining frames.

Ronnie McMullan then produced another great comeback as he lost the first to Dean Kane but McMullan produced two finishes of the highest order to turn it around. Gary McCafferty made his return to league action in the next, but showed signs of rustiness as he struggled in the first frame, opponent Glen Hutchinson taking full advantage.

McCafferty looked more comfortable in the second as he potted all seven of his reds only to go in off on the black. The pair met again in the doubles, this being McCafferty’s first taste of the new ‘Scotch’ doubles format, but he coped well as he and partner Wahib Ziani strolled to victory with two great finishes. Ziani then sealed his third win of the night, as well as two points for his team with a win over Stephen Kerr, the Roost man being unlucky in the second frame as he went in off the black.

Sperrin B 5, Roost B 3

A tight battle between two very evenly matched teams.

Rodney Leighton beat Declan Kneeland in the opener, but Kneeland got his victory in the first doubles match, as he teamed with John Sweeney to beat Victor Boyd and Keith Hunter. Boyd also lost his singles match, after taking the first, he allowed Steven Blair to turn it around.

Andy Lyndsay was impressive in a straight frames victory over Tommy McDonald, however did not maintain these standards in his double match, as he and Sweeney fell to Hunter and Leighton. Sweeney was in top form in his singles match though, as he beat a previously in form Keith Hunter with some top potting.

Steven Morton ensured it went to the last match as he beat Uel Kirkpatrick. However, Kirkpatrick got his revenge in the last doubles match, as he and Steven Blair beat Morton and McDonald to seal the victory, in what was a great match.