Hawks soar to top of Charity Shield group

THE latest round of matches in the Ballymena and District Snooker League (sponsored by Keith Williams Snooker and Pool table services) continued last week with the Charity Shield group games.

In Group A Parochial Hawks continued their fine start to the season with their second maximum points haul in successive games with a 4-0 win over the visiting Dunloy Cowboys.

Danny McGarry won the battle of the captains with a straight frames win over Aidan McErlaine but the rest of the Hawks had a bit more work before winning their games.

Paul Casey emerged victorious in a third frame decider against Patrick Donnelly with the Hawks players victory only being secured on the final black. John Martin and Pat McNally both took the opening frame of their matches with Garth Connolly and Gerard McAuley only for the Dunloy men to level matters by winning the second frames. The Hawks men however both hit back strongly to claim the vital third frames by a comfortable margin.

The result means Hawks have already qualified for the Quarter Final stage and they can now concentrate on finishing in either of the top two positions in the group which will earn them home table advantage in the knockout stage.

In the other Group A game Minnesota B got their first win of the season with a 3-1 win over the visiting Parochial Lions. Jordan Millar put the 'B' team in front with a 2-0 success over Dennis Curran before Richard Russell ground out a 2-1 win over Andrew Hutchinson to restore parity for the Lions.

Rodney McAleese was unlucky not to put the Lions ahead when after winning the opening frame of his match he left the potential match winning black in frame two in the jaws of the corner pocket. David Swann knocked in the black to level the game before firing a 37 break on his way to a comfortable victory in the deciding frame.

In the final match up William Dobbin had to battle hard to overcome the challenge of league chairman Ronnie McCart. Ronnie edged the first frame on a re-spottted black before William drew level by winning the second frame. In the decider Ronnie was slightly ahead at the colours but the Minnesota man took yellow and green before a brown to pink clearance secured the victory and a vital third point for Minnesota B

Parochial Hawks 4, Dunloy Cowboys 0: (35] P Casey 2, (55] P Donnelly 1 (62-43, 57-67, 56-50); (45] D McGarry 2, (70] A McErlaine 0 (59-51, 72-47); (60] J Martin 2, (60] G Connolly 1 (45-32, 44-54, 69-22); (55] P McNally 2, (50] G McAuley 1 (66-46, 41-62, 53-20).

Minnesota B 3, Parochial Lions 1: (15] A Hutchinson 1, (20] R Russell 2 (66-22, 18-64, 38-39); (20] J Millar 2, (70] D Curran 0 (79-76, 94-61); (15] D Swann 2, (20] R McAleese 1 (27-70, 52-48, 76-27); (30] W Dobbin 2, (70] R McCart 1 (56-63, 89-63, 78-62). Break David Swann 37.

Standings: Parochial Hawks, played 2, points 8; Dunloy United 2-6; Dunloy Cowboys 3-5; Minnesota 'B' 2-4; Parochial Lions 3-2.

In Group B Dunloy Galaxy moved a step nearer qualification for the knockout stage with a hard earned 3-1 win over Fountain Jokers with all 4 games requiring a deciding frame.

Chris Connor put Galaxy ahead claiming the notable scalp of the talented Calvin Brammeld on a re-spotted black in the third frame. Bobby Darragh fought back from a frame behind to outlast Nathan Curtis. Paul McQuillan and David Gould then shared the first two frames of their match before the Dunloy player prevailed in the deciding frame.

Callum Lindsay then ensured that the Jokers at least had a point to take back to Antrim edging past Michael McPoland again in the deciding frame.

Minnesota A kept themselves within striking distance of Dunloy Galaxy following a 3-1 victory over Fountain Aces in Antrim. David McClintock put the visitors in front with a straight frames win over Paul Bloomer before Brian Hannaway and Rodney McFall added to the 'A' team total with similar wins over Ian Templeton and Sean French respectively.

Fountain's Richard Hayes denied the Ballymena side a full 4 points haul when he defeated Dean Greer in the third frame of their match.

Dunloy Galaxy 3, Fountain Jokers 1: (55] C Connor 2, (25] C Brammeld 1 (68-51, 50-73, 86-79); (50] B Darragh 2, (50] N Curtis 1 (46-56, 55-41, 47-11); (45] P McQuillan 2, (50] D Gould 1 (55-25, 11-53, 54-39); (50] M McPoland 1, (50] C Lindsay 2 (54-18, 25-50, 29-47).

Fountain Aces 1, Minnesota 'A' 3: (35] P Bloomer 0, (10] D McClintock 2, (60] I Templeton 0; (10] B Hannaway 2, (60] S French 0, (10] R McFall 2; (40] R Hayes 2, (35] D Greer 1.

Standings: Dunloy Galaxy, played 2, points 7; Minnesota 'A' 2-6; Fountain Aces 3-5; Fountain Jokers 3-4; Minnesota Strikers 2-2.

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