SNOOKER: Ballyclare closing in on leaders Greenbank

Ballyclare beat St Comgall’s in a close match-up at the Springvale Road club. Tommy Bamber, Stevie Higgins and Darren Agnew got the home side off to a good start taking the first three frames. Dean McDonagh and Shaun McAlister won the last two for the Saints. The result keeps the top five teams within five points of each other.

Latharna occupy third place despite losing away at Comrades ‘B’. Tommy Hart, Declan McClean and Joe Lennon won for the home side with Gavin Carmichael (35) and Jim Jackson chalking up the last two for Latharna.

Linfield remain a tough nut to crack on their own turf and their impresive home form was on display again as they beat Greenbank ‘B’ 4-1.

J. McKay, Gary Rutherford, Raymond Forsythe and John Ferguson netted wins for the Blues, with Stevie Nelson notching a fine break of 48 during his frame win for the visitors.

It was derby night at Carrick Golf Club with the ‘A’ team edging a 3-2 victory over the ‘B’ team.

Gavin Baker, Marty Goudie and Ken Knocker brought their A-game, while W Hill (jnr.) and Glen Gibney hit back for the second team.

Jim Magill, D. McNeill and Davy Irwin won their frames as mid-table Ballylumford defeated Comrades ‘A’ 3-2 win over Comrades ‘A’. J Hogg and Ronnie West provided the Ballyclare side’s response.

Bottom team St John’s pulled off a surprise result as they defeated The Point 4-1. Wins for Andy Reid, Damien Todd, Alex Robertson (28) and G. Hunter (22, 20) sealed the outcome of the match, with Stephen Girvan (21) winning for The Point.

Results: Carrick ‘B’ 2-3 Carrick ‘A’, Ballyclare ‘A’ 3-2 St Comgall’s, Linfield 4-1 Greenbank ‘B’, The Point 1-4 St John’s, Comrades ‘B’ 3-2 Latharna, Ballylumford 3-2 Comrades ‘A’. Bye: Greenbank ‘A’.

This year’s Pairs’ Final will be an all Ballyclare Golf Club affair. Neil McKelvey and Darren Agnew (snr.) will play Tommy Bamber and Stevie Higgins (+14) in St Comgall’s Club on Monday, February 11 at 7.30pm. The match will be refereed by the league secretary and will be played in a best-of-three frames format.

Old Division Two Individual: Alphonsus McIlwaine of St Comgall’s will play Wayne Harper from Greenbank in the semi-finals in Latharna Club on Thursday, February 14 at 7.30pm (five frames). In the other semi-final, to be held in St Comgall’s, Dougie Long, from St John’s, will take on team-mate G Hunter.