Michelin in meltdown!

THE big question on the lips of the Ballymena Towers Pool League fraternity is, what has happened to Michelin Masters?

The Woodside Road team had cruised through the first section of the league campaign without a defeat in their 13 games - the only side to manage such a feat.

Success in the Knockout Shield during the Festival of Pool - after they had been narrowly beaten by Minnesota Eight-Ballers in the main event - only seemed to add to the suggestion that Michelin would be a genuine title threat in the post-split section of the league campaign.

But after from a thrilling draw with the Eight-Ballers on the first night, Michelin's season has nosedived dramatically, with four successive defeats.

A crushing 6-0 defeat on their own tables by Eight-Ballers this week followed on from a whitewash at the hands of Fairhill Hustlers a fortnight ago to leave Masters' title dreams in tatters.

It now looks to be a straight fight between reigning champions Eight-Ballers and the Inn-Offs - who ended Social Cobwebs' unbeaten run - for the crown.

In Division One, meanwhile, Moat Aces continue to edge further clear at the top after beating Knockeden Jokers, while nearest challengers Social Inbetweeners were held to a draw by Hardly Potters.

Rolling Stoners thrashed Slemish Hotshots 5-1, while the bottom two sides, Horse and Jockey and Social Sports, shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

PREMIER DIVISION

Inn-Offs 4, Social Cobwebs 2: An important win for Inn-Offs in their title quest against a Cobwebs side who may just come up short when the trophies are being handed out at the end of the season.

The William Street side were in no mood to give anything away and had a point in the bag by the time the first three games were completed, thanks to victories for Michael Rowan, Michael Wilson and Dessie Cooper, against Stephen Holmes, Neil Marrs and Darren Magee.

Liam Erwin kept Cobwebs in the game by beating Stewart Frew in straight frames but Gary Neeson's 2-1 win over Jimmy Knowles sealed the points for Inn-Offs.

Barry Kernohan notched a second win for Social, beating Joey McNally in straight frames, but it was too late to affect the outcome. MOM - Gary Neeson.

Michelin Masters 0, Minnesota Eight-Ballers 6: Another whitewash for Michelin as Minnesota power towards another league title.

Ricky McMaster won the first frame for Michelin but lost the next two to gary Erwin and from there, Michelin were on a slippery slope.

Pat McAnally and Alan Davidson quickly added to Minnesota's lead with straight frames wins over Donald Alexander and Alan Armstrong and although David Armstrong won the first frame against Michael Thompson, the Eight-Ballers player battled back to win the next two and put the visitors in an unassailable 4-0 lead.

There was no respite for Michelin as Ryan Foster overcame Darren Gibson in three frames, while Brian Hannaway completed the home side's misery by beating Brian Hanna. MOM - Brian Hannaway.

DIVISION ONE

Social Inbetweeners 3, Hardly Potters 3: Social slip further off the title pace after being held to a draw in a nip-and-tuck encounter.

Gary Ormandy put Social ahead with a come-from-behind win against Niall McElroy but Robert Hargan levelled the score by beating Chris McGaughey.

Fintan Long again put Inbetweeners in front by beating Johnny Walker but they were again pegged back by Amy Lynn, who beat Chris Penny despite losing the first frame.

Inbetweeners nudged in front for a third time when skipper Derek Dunlop beat Davy Cummins but Potters weren’t to be denied their draw and Alan Smyth beat Barry Johnston to claim a share of the spoils. MOM - Derek Dunlop.

Horse and Jockey 3, Social Sports 3: Horse and Jockey will be more pleased with this result as, not for the first time, they only had five players.

Needing to win four of the five games to claim victory, the Bryan Street side made good inroads into that with Ricky McNeill and Philip Houston defeating Ross Hill and Richard Campbell before Lee Wright pulled one back for Social by beating Ricky Handley.

Mark Gillespie put Horse back on track for victory by beating Brian Boyd, meaning that the outcome of the game hinged upon the fifth match.

Richard Turtle won it for Social against Gary Hillis to make it 3-2, which effectively made it 3-3 as Mark Foster had a walkover win. MOM - Lee Wright.

Moat Aces 4, Knockeden Jokers 2: A strong finish by Aces kept them well on course for the title.

Twice, Moat led through Darren Gilmore and Alan Rainey, who beat Gareth Rowe and David Gillespie, but twice they were pegged back through wins from Martin Craig and Raymond Lynn, against Barry Weir and Jimmy Duffy.

Aces took the lead for a third time when Simon Turner came from a frame adrift to beat Jamie Magill and this time they didn’t relinquish their grip as KD Crabbe defeated Andy Burnside to complete another Moat win. MOM - Darren Gilmore.

Rolling Stoners 5, Slemish Hotshots 1: A runaway victory for Stoners, started by Rodney Holmes’ 2-0 win over Damian Keenan.

Shane Stirling came from behind to beat Gary Rodgers to extend the home side’s lead, which was added to by wins from Archie Simpson, Jason Peacock and Jimmy McKeown with wins over Chris Adams, Dean Calderwood and Connor Graham.

Rodney Fleck averted the whitewash by beating Ron Robinson. MOM - Jimmy McKeown.

PREMIER DIVISION

PWDLPts

M’sota Eight-Ballers642010

Inn-Offs64119

Social Cobwebs63218

Fairhill Hustlers52034

Michelin Masters61143

DIVISION ONE

PWDLPts

Moat Aces1885521

Social Inbetweeners1874718

Knockeden Jokers1865717

Rolling Stoners1854914

Slemish Hotshots1937913

Hardly Potters19441112

Social Sports19351111

Horse and Jockey1924138

PLAYER OF YEAR

Alan Rainey, of Moat Aces, has clinched the Division One Player of the Year award.

The race for the Premier Division accolade continues with the latest standings: 17 wins - Ryan Foster; 15 - Stewart Frew; 14 - Darren Gibson, Brian Hannaway, Liam Erwin.

BEST WISHES

The league extends its best wishes for a speedy recovery to George Crothers and Gary Richardson following recent operations.

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