Things are really tight at the top after last week’s round of the Crown Street Garage Stone and District Pool League, with just three points separating the top five teams, who all remain title contenders.
Lamb 3 Lamb A 5
The big fixture of the night featured table-topping Lamb against their derby rivals, Lamb A, who are having a great season. This fine form continued as they raced into a 3-0 lead, courtesy of Dave Clift, Steve Loughhead and Paul Knight. In-form Gav Davies stopped the rot, and threatened a comeback win, by taking the final frame of the first half from Andy Conner then the first frame of the second half off Dave Clift, for 2-3. Steve Loughhead and Paul Knight however secured all 2 points before Darryl Norman won the battle of the captains defeating Andy Conner for 3-5. This puts Lamb A at the top of the table and demotes The Lamb to 4th place, such is the tightness at the top this season.
Little Stoke 5 Langtry’s 3
A determined performance by Langtry’s almost derailed Little Stokes push for the title, as they found themselves 3-1up after the first 4 fixtures. Lee Walker secured frame 1 before S James, Captain Rob Hughes and Jacob Eccles made it 1-3. However, a relieved Little Stoke swept through the second half, winning all 4 frames to capture a good win and 2nd place in the table. On this showing, Langtry’s must surely move off the bottom of the table before the season ends.
Longton Cricket Club 3 The Joker 5
The defending champions had to dig deep to overcome a very determined Longton Cricket Club side. They stand just 1 point behind Lamb A and Little Stoke.
The Joker started brightly as Gaz Cummings and Tony Douthwaite made it 2-0. Kevin Plant outrageously doubled the 8 ball to defeat Melvin Archer and Russ Johnson kept his patience in a tactical 4th frame, then made a good clearance to draw level. Gaz Cummings missed a tricky 8 ball on the clearance allowing Colin Paterson to turn the tables and ‘stitch and pot’ his way back into the frame, taking it for 3-2 to the home side. Captain Mark Perry gave his team a good talking too at this point, and it paid dividend as they won the next 3 frames; Melvin potted an excellent 8 ball down the rail for 3-3, Tony out-potted Kevin Plant and in a repeat fixture Russ attempted a difficult clearance, but failed to hand the frame and match to his former Captain Mark Welton.
Talbot 1 Stone Cricket Club 7
The Cricket Club regulars swept away Talbot, finding themselves 5-0 up before Talbot secured their only frame of the evening. Chris and Ian Banks and Richard Chandler all won 2 out of 2, Andy Moreton won his frame with only George Hawbrook losing to Dan Nichol.
Cuckoo 2 Longton Snooker 6
The Cuckoo are having to change venue due to a change of landlord and will be playing their remaining fixtures from The Joker on table number 2.
They left on a defeat as Longton Snooker struck back from last weeks disappointment to secure 2 points. It was 2-1down for Longton after 3 frames, Longton Snooker new signing Dave Flaherty (Liam’s Dad!) losing his first Stone League match to Steve Hampton. Longton however rattled off 5 on the spin to turn the match around. Liam Flaherty and Dave Roberts both won 2 frames.
Jokaz 4 Eccleshall Eagles 4
A point seems a satisfactory outcome for both sides in a very closely matched competition that ebbed and flowed. It was 2-2 at the break, the highlight being Captain Leigh Marshall’s win over former singles merits winner Phil Raterham. Eccleshall went 4-3 up, with a chance for 2 points, but Jokaz Captain Nick Beech secured a point beating Leigh Marshall. Charlie Kirkham for Jokaz and Steve Guildford of Eccleshall both won 2 frames from 2.
Lamb Phall 2 Lamb Hot Pots 6
Last seasons Runners Up remained in the mix with a win over their local rivals. Hot Pots Captain Ben Smith lost frame 1 to Mark Tolley but they then rattled off the next 5 frames to secure a comfortable win. Rob Murray and Neil Dale for Hot Pots won 2 from 2.
Labour In Vain 5 Moddershall 3
Labour secured a surprising victory and gained valuable points over their mid-table rivals. It was 2-0 to Labour with Andy Gibson beating Moddershall Captain Mark Bradshaw and Phil Smith defeating Dan Cousins, a Stone InterLeague player.Shaun Brian launched the comeback, winning frame 3 and 5, with Neil Rowley securing frame 4 over a returning Ant Gibson for 3-2 to Moddershall. This was Moddershall’s last success though as Labour won the last 3 frames for a good victory. 2/2 wins on the night for Andy Gibson and Phil Smith for Labour and Shaun Brian for Moddershall.
[box type=”info” ]This week: We take a break from league action as the doubles merits competition starts on Thursday 5th May. Defending Champions Tony Douthwaite and Melvin Archer face a difficult group at Longton Snooker which also features Mark Welton/Mark Bradshaw, Shaun Brain/Duncan Christer (former finalists), Ben Smith/Alan Pinkstone and Justin Kirkham/Nick Beech. The Lamb hosts a ‘group of death’ with former winners Nick Backhouse/Alan Brown, last years finalists Gaz Cummings/Mark Perry, Rob Hughes/Colin Paterson, John Grobnik/Ant Whitehead, Russ Johnson/Kevin Plant and Ben/Warrilow/Neil Rowley all in action.[/box]
