This season’s Stone Pool League title contenders – The Joker, The Lamb, Lamb A, Little Stoke and Lamb Hot Pots – all recorded wins last week and continue to challenge for this season’s trophy.
Here’s all the action from week 11…
Joker 7 Labour In Vain 1
The Joker recorded another impressive big win at home. Gaz Cummings was on an 8 Ball clearance in frame but missed a pottable black to give Keith Wake an unexpected opportunity. Gaz escaped from several good snookers before a mistake gifted him the frame. His long term team-mate Tony Douthwaite went one better to win frame 2 with an 8 ball clearance off Ben Davies’ break shot. Melvin Archer made a rare safety mistake to allow Labours in form Andy Gibson to secure frame 3 but the first half went to Joker 3-1 as Mark Welton played a very solid frame to defeat old rival Phil Smith. Captain Mark Perry elected to keep himself on the bench for the second half and was rewarded by a clean sweep of 4 further frames from the same players. Poor old Ben Davies only had 2 shots all night in his 2 frames as Melvin Archer cleared with 2 shots off his foul break in the second stanza!
Moddershall 2 The Lamb 6
League leaders the Lamb remain top for another week with a strong showing at the much improved Moddershall venue. Their new table has been described as the best in the league and should now be considered for finals nights! John Grobnik recorded his 2nd 8 ball of the season in frame 1, beating Ben Warrilow. Steady Shaun Brian beat Paul Loughhead and Simon Key beat returning Moddershall Captain Mark ‘The Law’ Bradshaw. Gav Davies continued his fine form and, despite snookered himself on the black, still managed to pot it out of the snooker to beat Neil Rowley for 3-1 at the break. Frame 6 was remarkable with John Grobnik, on his 2nd 8 ball of the evening, snookered himself on the black but potted it -along with his opponents object ball!- to gift the frame to Mark Bradshaw without Mark potting a ball! That was Moddershall’s last success however as Key and Ruttledge made it 6-2.
Eccleshall 4 Longton Cricket Club 4
Fron 0-2, Longton CC went 3-2 up with 2 wins from Matt Moores either side of the break. Eccleshall Captain Leigh Marshall made it 3-3 and Andy Evans put the home side ahead at 4-3 before Longton CC Captain Russ Johnson gained revenge for a defeat to Eccleshall a few seasons ago that cost his then team the league title, winning the final frame for a point!
Lamb Hot Pots 6 Jokaz 2
Hot Pots Captain Ben Smith has secured another top signing with Rob Murray now part of his squad. Rob was great last season for Longton Cricket Club securing most 8 balls in the season. Hot Pots were 3-1 up at the turn, only Alan Pinkstone losing to former Singles Merits Champion Phil Ratherham. Rob, Ben and Neil Dale quickly made it 6-1 before Phil captured his 2nd victory over Pinky of the night for 6-2.
Langtry’s 3 Lamb Phall 5
In a close match, Langtry’s almost recorded their first league win of the season. Home Captain Rob Hughes made it 1-0 and it was 2-2 at the turn before a 2nd half run of form by Kieran Williams, seasoned Graham Gilbert and Chris Smith gave Phall the win. Phall Captain Andy Smith lost his 2nd of the night, frame 8, for 5-3.
Longton Snooker 0 Little Stoke 8 (provisionally)
Longton Snooker were unable to field a full side, or rearrange this fixture at short-ish notice. An 8-0 was awarded but Longton Snooker are appealing. The league committee are meeting on Wednesday to hear explanations and fact find and will make a deliberation on the outcome thereafter.
Stone Cricket Club 3 Cuckoo 5
Stone League became ‘Family Fortunes’ for a week as The Banks of Stone Cricket Club welcomed The Harts of the Cuckoo for a battle of skill and muscle memory! The Cricket Club had 8 players available, and chose to play them all, but ended up with no points for their evenings work. Lewis Banks lost to Sam Hart, Rich Chandler beat Rob Henery, Jake Hart overcame Liam Hickey and it was all square after the first 4 as Chris Banks beat Steve Hampton. Sean ‘Flan’ Flanaghan put Stone CC 3-2 up with a win over Paul Brown but then the Cuckoo pulled away for the win with 3 straight frames courtesy of Steve Hampton, Sam and Jake Hart over Ian Banks, John Cheadle and Andy ‘Pav’ Moreton respectively.
Lamb A 7 Talbot 1
Lamb A continue their fine form, and continue to find themselves in the lofty position near the top of the league for another week, as they trounced The Talbot at home.
Dave Dopper Clift ‘twitched’ on a shot in frame 1 to gift the Talbot frame 1 before 7 straight frames from Steve Loughhead, Paul Knight and Andy Conner, all winning twice, with Dopper redeeming himself in frame 5, gave them the win.
[box type=”info” ]This week (Thursday 28th April) sees a top-of-the-table clash as Lamb entertain Lamb A. The Joker face Longton Cricket Club in a tricky fixture, while Jokaz travel to Eccleshall in a traditionally competitive fixture. Cuckoo welcome Longton Snooker[/box]
