Seagulls are flying high as they come out on top in seven frame thriller

The win for Seagull Potters though stands out in what was a cracking match between 2 of the league’s lesser lights.

The Roost looked like they could be on course for the 3rd win on the trot with the match tied at 3-3 a play off was required off. It was no surprise that the home side went with Gavin McClements but it was a tougher choice for the visitors with skipper Ivan Boreland eventually selecting himself. McClements has a good record this year and up against the veteran Boreland, the smart money may well have been on the Roost man.

However, it proved not to be the case as a tactical master class by Boreland secured the points for his Seagulls.

Potters All Stars had started the league well and even though they lost to the Sperrin last week they gave them a good enough game to suggest they would do the same against Potters A this week. However, it did not turn out that way as Marc Hutchinson’s men swept another side away as they look to retain the league title.

Lee McIlreavy should have put the Allstars in front but some poor finishing allowed Uel Stewart back into this game and he took the last two to put the A side ahead. Corey Sweeney was in blistering form as he recorded two break and finishes to beat Conor Kneeland 2-1. Stewart put a second on the board as he partnered Willie Eakin to victory in the Scotch doubles before Eakin made short work of Clem Howard to seal another impressive victory.

The only unbeaten team in the league now are the Railway Arms but that record will be severely tested this week with matches against both Potters B and Potters All Stars on the agenda. This week, it was the Bullseye Old Boys who fell to the Arms but things could have been different had Stephen Biggart closed out the first match against Raymond Baxter.

Biggart potted brilliantly to take out an eight ball finish in the first and looked like he would repeat the feat in the second, only to snooker himself on the black, allowing Baxter back into the match, with the latter also winning a very tactical decider.

Scott McClelland followed Baxter with another hard fought win, taking advantage of too many mistakes from Paddy Lynch. McClelland and Baxter then combined to maintain their 100% record in the scotch doubles, putting Arms into a 3-0 lead.

However, the Old Boys deserve credit for their fight back. Keith Hunter and Arthur McMullan had a ding dong battle which went to a deciding frame.

Arms skipper McMullan got a cruel piece of luck as he went in off the black to hand Hunter the win. Hubert Smyth and Barry McLaughlin met next in what was very poor game all round.

Both players missed a number of chances as the game went the full three frames. However, one mistake too many by the Railway man handed the match to Smyth. McLaughlin improved in the scotch doubles alongside the returning John Huston.

They met the team of Eddie Mullan and Keith Hunter but it was clear from the outset that this pairing were not on the same wavelength, the Arms duo running out comfortable winners in the end.

The Sperrin continue to pick up results, despite struggling for players. This week they travelled to the Social Club and found themselves under immediate pressure as Scott Clark never put a foot wrong against Paul O’Connor in the opener.

Billy Moore levelled as he proved too strong for Aaron Adair. Moore made it a double alongside Raymond Stockman in the next, a win sealed with a great shot out of a snooker to pot the black in the decider by Stockman.

Chris Wade put the visitors 3-1 in front with a win over Willy Fillis despite needing a rerack in the second frame. Stockman was looking to follow up his win in the doubles to get his side over the line but Ricky Close pushed him all the way, forcing a deciding frame. Close went for game early in the decider but potted himself into trouble.

This played into Stockman’s hands who ran out a comfortable finish to seal the points.

Potters B recorded another strong performance against a struggling Village Tavern outfit. James Nesbitt got them off to a great start, before Curtis Boreland struggled past Jack Kennedy, although Kennedy did get his revenge in the doubles as he got the win alongside Matt Maguire for the Tavern’s highlight of the night.

The two points were sealed with singles wins for Ady Boreland and Willie McMullan.

The Roost looked like they could be on course for the 3rd win on the trot as they finished 3-3 in their game with Seagull Potters forcing a play off.

With Gavin McClements facing the veteran Ivan Boreland, the smart money may well have been on the Roost man. However, it proved not to be the case as a tactical master class by Boreland secured the points for his Seagulls.

The Tennents Coleraine Pool League would like to express our deepest sympathies to Mary Craigs A player Derek Allum on the passing of his wife Ann last week.

Our thoughts are with Derek and the family circle at this time.

Results

Village Tavern 1 – 4 Potters B

Bullseye Old Boys 2 – 4 Railway Arms

Potters All stars 0 – 4 Potters A

Social Club 1 – 4 Sperrin

Roost 3 – 4 Seagull Potters

Mary Pats 4 – 0 Mary Craigs B

Mary Craigs A vs Bulls Eye (match postponed)