In Week 7 of the Crown Street Garage, teams from The Lamb were once again on top form, but defending champions The Joker were held at home by a much-improved Little Stoke.
Meanwhile, two players’ impressive 100% records finally came to an end. Here’s all the latest action…
Lamb 8 Talbot 0
A whitewash win for Darryl Norman’s men, who now sit atop the league on frame difference. Gavin Davies and Simon Key both won 2 frames each to lead the way for their unbeaten team. A tough night for the Talbot side sees them lying second-last and in need of a win. Is this finally the year that sees the return of the league title to a Stone side? Reigning champions, The Joker, will not allow that without a fight, but can they stop The Lamb?
Lamb ‘A’ 5 #Jokaz 3
The other undefeated team, Lamb ‘A’, edged a close contest with the Blurton outfit. Two wins and an 8-ball clearance for Dave Clift made him the man of the match. Paul Knight also struck twice to help his team to their lofty position of 2nd in the table, only a few frames behind The Lamb.
Joker 4 Little Stoke 4
The Joker could only manage a draw at home to a much-improved Little Stoke. Two personal 100% records were on the line as Lee Walker and Melvin Archer both stood on 12 frame wins from 12 before this match. Both records fell, as they each won 1 and lost 1, although they avoided each other in the match draw. At 3-1 to the good, Little Stoke may well be a little disappointed to emerge with only a share of the spoils. However, after then falling 4-3 down, Craig Foster’s final frame victory over Joker captain, Mark Perry, was great work under pressure. Both teams remain level, now on 11 points.
Longton Snooker Club 1 Lamb Hot Pots 7
Ben Smith pulled off a coup for his side this week, signing Staffordshire player, Scott Price, to replace the departed Paul Loughhead. Price, a former league winner with The Joker, resumed his Stone League career in fine style with 2 out of 2. Longton actually led through Rich Lewis, but 7 on the spin piled on the misery for Nick Backhouse’s misfiring Snooker Club side. Ian Grieve and Neil Dale also helped themselves to 2 frames each.
Langtry’s 2 Longton Cricket Club 6
Longton Cricket Club will be happy to have negotiated the tricky Langtry’s table and emerged with 2 points. Russ Johnson and Ryan Kenny’s two frames apiece did the bulk of the damage. Langtry’s remain the only side yet to register a point in the league and couldn’t build on their cup victory from a week ago.
Stone Cricket Club 3 Eccleshall Eagles 5
The Eagles edged a tight contest despite frame wins for 3 different members of the Banks clan! The ever-reliable Leigh Marshall held his nerve to secure both points in the final frame, his second win of the night. Credit also to Steve Guildford for 2 from 2 for the Eccleshall side, who lie 7th after this victory.
Moddershall 6 Lamb Phall 2
A return to winning ways for the mid-table men from Barnfields, whose unbeaten home league record continues. Skipper, Mark Bradshaw, ended a difficult run with 2 wins over Graham Gilbert, including a strong clearance in frame 6 to secure both points. Neil Rowley continued to settle in well in his new surroundings for 2016, winning both of his frames for Moddershall. Sean Creighan notched both of the Phall’s frames.
Labour in Vain 4 Cuckoo 4
The last remaining match this week saw the sides share the spoils in Yarnfield. The Cuckoo, showing signs now of coming to terms with the standard in the Stone League after joining for 2016, will be delighted to have come back from 4-1 down to 4-4. Back-to-back frame wins for Keith Wake either side of half-time were the highlight for the Labour.
[box type=”info” ]Top of the table after Week 7
(Frame difference in brackets)
1. Lamb, 13 points (+26)
2. Lamb ‘A’, 13 points (+20)
3. Joker, 11 points (+22)
4. Little Stoke, 11 points (+10)
5. Lamb Hot Pots, 9 points (+16)
Tonight (24th March) is Week 8 of league action, including a tricky trip for the leaders as they head to Longton Cricket Club[/box]
