Montra crowned champions

Victories over the Sperrin last week and Roost A this week secured the title for Johnny Goldie’s side.

However, an intriguing battle is taking place for the runners up spot as Forge B and Railway Arms remain locked together on 32 points with only three games to go.

In contrast, the Division 1 title is still up for grabs.

McNulty’s A lead the Sperrin by two points, while the Forge A also have a slim chance as they lie a further two adrift. Sperrin travel to McNulty’s this week in what is a crucial match, as there are only three games remaining.

Division 1

McNulty’s B 2, McNulty’s A 6

The A team secured another comfortable victory over their B team.

Davy Tosh started in typical fashion with a victory over Johnny White, before he teamed up with Andy Parke to take the first doubles match and put the A team two up.

Davy Logue played some solid pool to bring the B team back into it, his tactial approach did not suit opponent Jimmy Moore.

Marc Hutchinson reinstated the two game advantage as he comfortably beat Steven Warwick. Doubles champions Hutchinson and Willie Boreland kept up their good run as they took out two great finishes to secure a point.

Gavin McClements gave the B team a glimmer of hope as he recovered from losing the first to beat Andy Parke. But captain Adrian O’Kane sealed an important victory for his team with an impressive victory over George Canning.

Sperrin 6, Mary Craig’s 2

Sperrin keep up the pressure on the leaders with victory over the basement side.

Wayne Telford got the visitors off to a good start as he took advantage of some poor positional play by Tommy Morrow in the deciding frame.

The pair met again in the doubles but Morrow, alongside Lee Caulfield, got his revenge to level the match. The Sperrin stepped it up a gear after this as Raymond Stockman took advantage of Lee Mcilreavy’s bad luck in each frame to put his side ahead.

A hard fought match between Paul O’Connor and Paddy Lynch in the next but the Sperrin man just got over the line. Lynch was back in action alongside six time World Special Ladies individual champion Valerie Taggart, making her debut in the Coleraine League.

This pairing took the first frame, however Billy Moore and Caulfield came back well to take the next two.

John McIlreavy gave his side some hope as he won a tactical deciding frame after he had traded eight ball finishes with Caulfield in the first two frames.

Billy Moore secured the win for the Sperrin as he kept his focus to defeat the spirited challenge of Valerie Taggart.

Scotts Bar 3, Forge A 5

The visitors got lucky as Scott’s failure to have a fifth player gave them the win.

After Ady Toner played well to beat Alan McBride in the opener, Scott’s replied in great style. McBride teamed up with Darryl Watt taking out two great finishes against Raymond Baxter and Neville Smyth.

Lee Hull was not firing on all cylinders as he slumped to defeat against Adam Watt before Chris Moore put the home side 3-1 up with a good victory over Willie Eakin.

Baxter dragged the Forge back into the match, first of all teaming up with Lee Hull to win the second doubles match, before he overcame the challenge of Darryl Watt in two tight frames.

As Scotts had no fifth player they could not play the last singles match or the last doubles match. This handed the victory to Forge, keeping their slim title hopes alive.

Division 2

Roost A 2, Montra 5

The champions registered another victory over the basement side.

Ryan Tosh got them off to a good start as he beat Charlie Speight before teaming up with Paul Ramsey to take the first doubles match.

Stephen Kerr put the Roost on the board with an impressive victory over Barry McLaughlin. Glen Hutchinson took the first but Montra captain Johnny Goldie fought back well to take the next two frames.

Hutchinson teamed up with Kerr in the next, and again won the first but could not maintain it and lost the next two to Ramsey and McLaughlin.

Willis Hutchinson produced another good performance against Ramsey but Damien Hollinger wrapped up the victory in the next as he scraped past Clive Robertson.

Forge B 5, Sperrin B 0

The Forge have been in great form in recent weeks as they battle the Railway Arms for the second spot.

Steven McIlroy was too good for Andy Lyndsay before he teamed up with Andy Hutchinson for another comfortable win over John and Ryan Sweeney.

William Boyce showed his fighting spirit as he won a tight decider after sharing the first two frames with Declan Kneeland.

Under 21 champion Corey Sweeney showed his usual explosive potting game as he rushed to a win over Robert Sweeney.

A whitewash was ensured as Corey teamed up with Daniel McCauley, and despite a few mistakes they got the job done over Lyndsay and Robert Sweeney.

Railway Arms 5, Roost B 0

The Arms matched their rivals for the second spot with a whitewash of their own.

Adam Leonard showed his true form with an excellent victory over Keith Hunter.

They met again in the doubles but Leonard, alongside his mate Wahib Ziani, again got the better of it with a straight frames victory.

New signing Adrian Kerr won the Roost’s only frame of the night but opponent Johnny McDowell fought back well to take the next two.

Ronnie McMullan made it 4-0 with a routine victory over George Cameron. Arms captain Arthur McMullan teamed up with McDowell to seal the victory with another easy win.

Top and Bottom Cups

Forge A have won the Mary Craigs Top 6 Cup as they beat McNultys B in an exciting final. McNulty’s had lead the match 4-2 but Forge fought back to level matters at 4-4, forcing a playoff.

Forge picked Raymond Baxter, while McNultys B captain Chris Wade nominated himself, and it was the Forge man who held his nerve to secure some silverware for his team.

Scotts beat Roost B in the final of the Roost Bottom 6 Cup in what was a more one sided final.

Previous week’s results

Division 1: Forge A 4, McNulty’s B 4; McNulty’s A 6, Mary Craigs 2; Scotts 0, Sperrin A 5.

Division 2: Roost B 5, Roost A 3; Sperrin B 0, Montra 8.