POOL: High fives for Sperrin

Sperrin 5-1 Scott's Bar

The leaders remain two points clear at the top of Division One with another strong performance.

Paul O'Connor played his best pool of the season as he beat Paul Baird in good style, including an 8-ball finish in the second frame. Tommy Morrow and Lee Caulfied made it 2-0 with an easy win over Adam Clarke and Alan McBride. Morrow then went on to beat McBride in singles action, with the Scott's man not getting the run of the balls.

Darryl Watt proved to be Scott's only winner of the night, as he recovered from being on the receiving end of an 8-ball finish from Raymond Stockman in the first frame. Darryl took the next two frames, taking advantage of a stroke of luck in the decider.

Morrow recorded his third win of the night as he teamed up with Billy Moore, and they proved too good for Watt and Baird. Moore sealed the victory with a solid performance over an unfortunate Adam Clarke.

Mary Craig's 1-5 McNulty's A

McNulty's kept up the pressure on Sperrin as Davy Tosh got them off to a good start, even though he was pushed all the way be the veteran Derek Allum.

Marc Hutchinson and Aaron Moffatt doubled the lead with a strong performance in the first Scotch Doubles match. Wayne Telford was Mary Craig's only victor on the night, with a good performance to beat Damien Reid in three tight frames. Hutchinson produced another strong singles performance as he was too good for Paddy Lynch.

Tosh and Reid then combined and just about scraped past Lynch and John McIlreavy. Aaron Moffatt sealed the win for the visitors as he saw off the challenge of John McIlreavy.

McNultys B 4-4 Forge A

The Forge lost further ground on the leading pair with a poor performance against McNulty's B.

Neville Smyth started off well in the opener with a good finish in the opening frame, Smyth looked well on his way to taking the second but an outrageous fluke by opponent Johnny White changed the game completely.

Smyth never recovered and White went on to put the home side one up. Darren Boyd and Lee Hull levelled matters as they took advantage of the failure of Allen Tosh and Davy Logue to gel as a partnership. Chris Wade produced a strong attacking performance to beat Raymond Baxter, Wade taking out a good 8-ball finish in the second frame.

Willie Eakin was on top form as he beat Gavin McClement in straight frames, before teaming up with Neville Smyth to repeat the feat in the doubles, over McClements and Scott McClelland. The match was level again as Allen Tosh beat Lee Hull. With the first two frames shared with a good finish apiece, the decider was a torrid affair with both players making errors, however it looked like Hull would take it as he got two shots with only two yellows left on the table.

However, he made a bit of a mess of things and Tosh stepped in for an easy finish. Dijon McCorkell ensured a point for the home side as he beat Ady Toner in three frames, however the Forge man can count himself very unlucky as he got some terrible luck. Willie Eakin won his third match of the night to make it a point apiece, as he teamed up with Baxter, beating White and Wade 2-1.

Division 2

Montra 5-1 Sperrin B

The Montra now have a 10-point lead at the top of Division Two and only a mighty collapse will keep them from taking the title.

This was another routine victory as Barry McLaughlin typically got them off to a good start, beating Steven Spence in the opener, before the pair met again with Paul Ramsey partnering Barry, Spence alongside Stephen Blair, again the Montra man produced the goods.

John Sweeney got one back for the Sperrin with an impressive victory over Ryan Tosh but this was a s good as it got for the visitors. Steven Ramsey put the Montra back in control as he battled back from a frame down to beat Peter McMullan, before he teamed up with Damien Hollinger to take the next doubles match. Paul Ramsey sealed the win as he played steady pool to beat Blair in straight frames.

Roost A 5-3 Roost B

The two Roost teams are battling it out at the bottom of the table and the A side are now only two points off their counterparts.

Uel White got the B team off to a flying start as he beat Clive Robertson before he won the first doubles match alongside Keith Hunter. The A team clicked into gear after this as Dean Kane and Glen Hutchinson won their respective singles matches, before teaming up to win the next doubles match and put their side 3-2 in front.

Stephen Kerr put an end to Keith Hunter’s recent good run of form, as he used all his experience in a 2-0 victory. Steven Morton ensured it went to the last match with a win over Willis Hutchinson, but Hutchinson got his revenge in the last doubles, as he and namesake Glen were too strong for Morton and George Cameron.

Forge B 5-3 Railway Arms

With the Montra now well clear, the battle for second place is now the main focus as Forge B drew level with the Arms with this win.

Wahib Ziani proved as reliable as ever with a good win over Steven McIlroy. However, the tables were turned in the first doubles match as Andy Hutchinson steadied McIlroy and the pairing beat Ziani and Arthur McMullan. Chris Baxter played some great attacking pool as he battled back from losing the opener to defeat Jamie Boyd.

Forge captain Kieran Doherty levelled the game again as he beat and out of sorts Ronnie McMullan. Jamie Boyd and Danny McCullough put the home team in front for the first time as they beat Arthur and Ronnie McMullan. Arthur fared no better in his singles match, despite winning the first, he could not get by Andy Hutchinson, the Forge man digging in well to take the next two.

Davy Troy ensured it would go to the last match with a good comeback win over William Boyce. However, Andy Hutchinson sealed a man of the match performance with his third win of the night, as he teamed up with Kieran Doherty. The Forge pairing took full advantage of some poor shots by Baxter and Troy to seal an important win.

Mary Craigs Top 6 Competition

The match between Forge A and Railway Arms proved to be a one sided affair as the Division one side proved too good for their opponents. Darren Boyd won the first singles match, before teaming up with Ady Toner to make it two.

Raymond Baxter and Willie Eakin then produced very good performances in their singles matches, before teaming up to seal a comfortable win. The Forge will now face the Sperrin in a mouthwatering semi final clash on Monday 15 February

Roost Bottom 6 Competition

Roost A 1-5 Roost B

The Roost B will now meet Sperrin B in the second semi final after a comfortable victory over their A team. Stephen Kerr won the first for the A team, and this proved their only success.

Keith Hunter and Tommy McDonald took the first doubles match, with Steven Morton following up in singles action to put the B team in front. They never looked back as Keith Hunter beat Dean Kane in a high quality affair, before Uel White sealed the victory with a win in both his singles match and doubles match, alongside John Cameron.

The next league meeting will be held on Monday 8th February in the Railway Arms. Committee meeting 7.30pm. Captain’s Meeting 8.00pm. All teams are reminded that entry forms and monies for the Festival of Pool are to be returned at this meeting.