Hustlers keeping pace with champions at top of pool league

The Ahoghill side defeated Michelin Masters 5-1 to remain deadlocked at the summit in what is proving to be a fascinating title race.

Connolly’s and Towers Tavern are neatly tucked behind the leaders although the Balle side dropped three points in a draw at Coach Bar.

Coach 3, Towers Tavern 3: Malcolm Graffin got the home team off to a great start with a 2-0 win over Drew Sloan. Shane Moody then levelled the match scores with a win in straight frames over Aidy Rouke.

David Carlisle won the first frame for the Coach but James Millar hit back to win 2-1 and this included an 8ball clearance in the second frame.

The next game was won by Darren Gilmore 2-1 against David Millar and this made the match score 2-2.

In the fifth game Frazer Young had a 2-1 win over Dean Greer and in the final game K.D. Crabbe had a win in straight frames over Robert Artt to ensure the match ended in stalemate. POM - Malcolm Graffin.

Fairhill Hustlers 5, Michelin Masters: George McCullough got the Hustlers off to a great start with a win in straight frames over Jimmy Knowles. Sean Brannigan increased the lead for the Hustlers with a 2-1 win over Brian Hanna.

In the next game Rick McMaster pulled a game back for the Masters with a 2-1 win over Richard Campbell. Glenn Mairs restored a two game advantage for the Hustlers with a 2-1 win over Alan Armstrong.

In the last two games the Fairhill had two wins through Rab Graham and Ritchie Irwin who defeated Bobby Carson and David Armstrong by 2-0 score lines. POM - Rab Graham.

Minnesota Inbetweeners 5, Fairhill Rockets 1: The first two games both went the way of the Inbetweeners through Gary Ormandy and Glen Howard who had 2-0 wins over Barry Kernohan and Gary Allen. Ryan Logan had a 2-1 win over Allister Lowry and this left the match score at 3-0 for the Inbetweeners.

Craig Laughlin increased the match lead for the home team with a 2-0 win over Linzi McClelland. In the fifth game Ian Dewar had a 2-1 win for the Fairhill against Gareth Rowe. The final game was a win in straight frames for Phil Houston against Nigel McMaster. POM - Ian Dewar.

Moat B 0, Connolly’s 6: Connolly’s got off to the perfect start when Pat McAnally (jnr) had a win in straight frames over Adele Rutherford. Ian Boal increased the lead for Connolly’s with a 2-1 win over Steven Magill.

The next two games went both the same way with 2-0 wins for Pat McAnally (snr) and Alan Davidson against Daniel Magill and William Wilson. John McAllister then had a win in straight frames over Neil Weir to put Connolly’s 5-0 up in the match. The final game was won by Dean Dunlop by a 2-1 score line over Dean Robinson to complete the whitewash. POM - Alan Davidson.

Social Club 1, Moat A 5: Marc McMullan put the Social Club into the driving seat with a 2-1 win over Jason McKay. The next two games both went the same way with the Social Club winning the first frame in each only for the Moat to hit back to win 2-1 , the winners were Darren Campbell and Ryan Stewart who defeated Albert McBride and Eddie Fleck.

In the next game Barry Weir had a win in straight frames against Ross Hill to put the Moat 3-1 up in the match. Alan Rainey put the Moat further ahead with a 2-0 win over Brian Boyd.

In the final game David Nicholl had a 2-1 win over May Barr. POM - Ryan Stewart.