First DIvision blown wide open as Angler’s sneak to the top

However, The Angler’s reeled in five-in-a-row to steel the points.

Their resurgence started with back-to-back wins from the two McAnearney’s, firstly, team captain BJ and secondly Cathal, who proved he is not just a bandit on the golf course but a whizz kid on the baize as well!!

Mick Doyle and Noel Tumilty continued the winning streak before Brian Burns made up for his singles defeat when he and D.Armstrong beat Neil Monaghan and Decky Brady to clinch the match.

Bus Bar 5 Gilford Inn 3: The Bus Bar made it two out of two with another impressive win against a Gilford team looking to make up for last week’s dismal result against the Angler’s.

Some exhibition potting from N.McMurrin put TB’s one up, but Gilford hit back by winning the next two with Leon McClusky and Brian Campbell enduring tactical battles and coming up with the goods.

The Mulligan Bros replied in equally impressive fashion to go 3-2 up but Gilford found themselves level thanks to Paul Grey in the sixth frame.

Hopes of getting their first points of the season looked good!

The doubles matches are still proving difficult for a lot of teams and this again was proved when Gilford lost both, to get beat 5-3. TB’s seem to have got a grip of themselves and their season back on track as they move one point behind the leaders.

Imperial 4 Bridge Bar B 4: The Bridge got their first point of the season but it was almost a case of stealing defeat from the jaws of victory!

However, they have had the misfortune of not having played on their home turf this season but from next week the pool table will be available to play on in the Bridge Bar.

Russell Connell got the ball rolling for the Bridge Bar but I McCreanor equalised when he defeated Deano.

S.McKay put the Bridge 2-1 up again but the Imperial had an answer once more when Ivor Wilson made sure he wasn’t beaten in his own pub by a below par Ryan Hunter!

The Bridge guaranteed their first point of the season when M Myles and P Malcolmson both won their matches.

P McCahon and Kevin Quinn were beaten by R Kerr and M McCrum in the seventh frame. Surprisingly Kevin was even allowed out considering his antics the previous Sunday night!

The job was left to Deano and Hunter in the last frame to gain the Bridge their first win of the season, but they could not atone for their singles defeats and I McCreanor and M Jamison were victorious in rescuing a point for the Imperial!

Mulholland’s B 4 First & Last 4: With names like “Taepot”, “Meetro”, “Rambo” and “Stumpy” in their first four matches, the team-sheet reads like an X-rated version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves! Snow White of course being portrayed by The Bistro’s C Parrott!

The F&L’s start to the season has been mediocre to say the least but captain B.Burns rallied them in the match comments last week when he suggested that they turn up to matches expecting to win and don’t put the effort in!

After going 3-1 down thanks to wins from S Wilson M Jardine and A Bingham for Mulholland’s the F&L pulled it back with wins from publican B Lyness and the ever impressive C Parrott. Chris is undefeated so far this season and he went on to do the damage in the last match along with team captain B Burns and nick the F&L a well-deserved point!

The Railway 4 Market Bar B 4: The Railway let their lead at the top of the table slip away when they lost both doubles matches after going 4-2 up and looking like maintaining that 100% record.

Team captain Gary Murphy got back to winning ways when he give The Railway the lead but P McStraw and G Graham won both their frames to put Cull’s 2-1 up.

Damien Paxton Maintained his 100% record this season beating A Barr. He certainly looks like he could be challenging for player of the year!

Damian Dunne and Joe McGivern put The Railway 4-2 up and hopes were high that they would go on to clinch their third win on the trot!

McLeans Bookmakers wouldn’t have wanted to take a bet on The Railway at this stage after a wonderful start to the season but, complacency crept in and Cull’s went on to win both doubles matches with impressive wins from G Graham and A Barr, then N Finnegan and P McStraw.

Three-a-sides: Entry is now closed for the three-a-sides. The entry this year was pretty poor and I would like to remind everyone involved in the league to try and support as many different events as possible. Hopefully the doubles and singles after Christmas will gain better support.

League table after week three:

Railway 5

Anglers Rest 5

Market B 4

Mulholland’s B 4

Bus Bar 4

Imperial 3

O’Reillys 2

First&Last 2

Bridge Bar B 1

Gilford Inn 0