Scorpions close the gap after Rockers draw

Scorpions 9-5 Jacqs: The Scorpions would like to thank their opponents Jacqs, and staff from Arthur Wards Bar for their taking part in a one-minute silence held before kick off as a mark of respect to Scorpions legend Willie Lucas who died suddenly on the 4th January 2010.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jan 2010, 11:12 BST
Updated 19th Jan 2010, 11:32 BST

The evening kicked off in fine fashion as C. Howard quickly ripped out an 8 ball clearance with apparent ease after some nice potting from S. Millar. C. Rafferty made it 2, with another fine clearance against an unlucky R. McMurtry. H. McMurtry controlled the next with J. Thompson down to one red, however the half chance came, Thompson potted, whipping the white round 3 cushions to land plum on the black.

W. Smyth continued the good start with a tactically astute display to spoil the much anticipated return of B. Fleming. The long running fixture between these two teams of G. Thompson and J. Millar did not disappoint with a game of cat and mouse, Thompson earned himself two shots, keeping both teams on the edge of their seats, leaving a long fine cut on the black which didn’t even touch the sides to make it five in a row. C. Montgomery can count himself very unlucky in the next as he missed position on the black by a whisker for a superfast dish, H. McMurtry strapped him tightly to the torture chair and grinded out a ray of hope for Jacq’s. S. Millar then avenged his 1st frame by ripping out a classy pressure finish against C. Howard.

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Wes Smyth steadied the home ship in the second session with a clearance and jaw-dropping black against Roy McMurtry. In-form S. Millar met C. Howard for the third time and delivered yet again with another cracking finish, developing the black perfectly to make It 6-3. Jaq’s well and truly on the comeback trail made it four frames from five as H. McMurtry met C. Montgomery again, with the same result after a tit-for-tat tactical game. Scorpions newest recruit C. Rafferty showed how far he’s came in a short space of time with the perfect grind and finish against B. Fleming to put the Scorpions on the hill. J. Thompson went for the jugular in the next but a tough miss put J. Millar right back in control, until some excellent sportsmanship as Jim called his own foul, leaving Thompson the finish and 3 points for the Scorpions. R. McMurtry reduced the deficit in the next with a pin-point finish against G. Thompson. J. Thompson then finished the night how it began with a clinical 8 ball rip-out for 3/3.

Rockers 7-7 Castle: What a match we had in prospect here as champions The Rockers tried to put the brakes on a Castle side that were top and unbeaten to date in the League. And neither side dissapointed. Castle's P. Roberts accepted the donation of the first frame when A. Arbuthnot potted his penultimate colour but unluckily sent the black into the opposite corner pocket.

But it was soon 2-1 to the home side as R. Butler out-potted A. Galloway and S. Carson did likewise against T. McCorry. D. Whiteside played a fine tactical frame to beat D .Irwin and Rockers Captain McClean increased the lead to 4-1 beating T. Whiteside. Castle were in trouble but they have a resilience about them this season and they trailed only 4-3 at the interval as an eight-ball clearance from Irwin and a win from J. Meredith reduced the arrears.

The in-form Butler scored again against P. Roberts, 5-3 Rockers, but back came T. Whiteside for Castle beating his cousin Darren to bring it back to 5-4. The next two were also shared, Irwin beating Carson again and McClean outpotting Meredith. Arbuthnot’s bad luck continued as he screwed the white into the centre to gift Roberts the twelfth frame. With the scores at 6-6, up stepped Butler to put the Rockers on the hill, winning his third frame of the evening. D. Whiteside went for a clearance in the final frame of the night but his last ball hung in the jaws, allowing McCorry to take out a delicate finish and ensure a priceless point for the League leaders. Castle will be delighted with this point knowing that their two nearest rivals, Rockers and Spartans meet on the 25th of the month.

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Monkstown 10-4 Eastway: Eastway, still searching for their first League points of the season got off to a flying start with wins from R. Whiteside and D. Willis.

Monkstown’s Captain S. Greenberg steadied the ship for the home side with a long difficult black to reduce the deficit to 1-2. But it was soon 1-3 as D. Willis registered his second win of the evening. Again, Monkstown fought back with a classy seven-ball clearance from P. Henderson. Monkstown then took the initiative winning the final two frames of the first session courtesy of R. Henderson and S. Gardner. It looked as this match was going to go all the way when M. Greer levelled the scores at 4-4, but a fantastic run of 6 frames in a row ensured all three points went to the home side. Best for Monkstown were Greenberg, Gardner, P. Henderson and R. Henderson all winning 2/2 whilst best for Eastway was D. Willis with 2/3.

Spartans 12-2 Greenisland: Spartans romped to a 12-2 win against Greenisland as they tried to close the gap on Castle at the top of the table. The three points were never in doubt although a couple more frames on the board for the visitors would have made for a more realistic scoreline. Point scorers for Spartans were J. Kane 2, R. Hawkins 2, S. McWhirter 2, E. McDowell 2, S. Hamilton 2 and K. English 2. A. Harris replied twice for Greenisland.