It was knockout action for Stone Pool League’s teams last week as attention turned to the quarter-finals of the Griffins Butchers Gold Cup and Silver Plate quarter-finals. All the favourites made it through, although all of the Lamb sides wobbled…
Griffins Butchers Gold Cup
The Joker 4 Moddershall 1
Defending champions The Joker progressed into the semi-final with ease. A heavyweight encounter in match 1 was won by Gaz Cummings after a few missed pots by League Secretary Mark Bradshaw enabled Gaz to dictate the frame. A combination of good safety and accurate potting enabled Tony Douthwaite and Melvin Archer to secure frames 2 and 3 for 3-0. Dan Cousins potted crisply in frame 4 before a botched snooker attempt by Mark Welton allowed Dan to close the gap via an excellent back double on the 8 Ball. Joker Captain Mark Perry ground out the winning frame though against Neil Rowley to take them through without the need for the doubles frames.
Lamb A 4 Longton Cricket Club 3
Lamb A cruised into a 3-0 lead via victories for Dave Clift, Steve Loughhead and Paul Knight. Kevin Plant stopped the rot and saved the match, defeating Paul Loughhead Snr. League chairman Andy Conner was on an 8 ball clearance but rattled his final yellow, prompting Russ Johnson to go on one of his ‘Alex Higgins-like’ potting sprees to claim that frame and then the first doubles with Kev Plant to force the decider. Longton’s Colin Paterson and Ryan Kenny should have completed the comeback, and the win, needing just the black with their opponents still having all of their colours all on the table. However Paul Knight and Steve Loughhead ground out the win to the relief of the home side.
Little Stoke 3 Lamb 4
The tie of the round on paper proved to be so in reality. Man of the moment Lee Walker 8balled John Grobnik for a 1-0 lead, taking his tally so far this season to 3. The league record of 8 by Gareth Bould seems in jeopardy. His son, Jack, claimed frame 2 without potting a ball as Brendan Ruttledge rattled in each ball on his way to the 8 ball clearance, but potted his final black in a foul stroke. Ever reliable Simon Key, and then Gav Davies, on great form this season, won the next 2 to level. New signing Paul Loughhead Jnr made it 3-2, beating Nick Griffin. The 2 Walkers beat Grobnik & Ruttledge again to level but Key and Davies won the decider for victory.
Stone Cricket Club 2 Lamb Hot Pots 4
Stone CC drew 4-4 with The Hot Pots earlier in the league season and with Hot Pots only having 4 players must have fancied their chances again. Captain Ben Smith is trying to recruit to his squad this season and they will struggle to repeat their performances of the last 2 seasons unless they do so. Johnny Cheadle made it 1-0 with a win over Alan Pinkstone before the Hot Pots crack trio of Ben Smith, Neil Dale and Ian Lewis made it 1-3. Shaun Flannaghan benefitted from the bye for 2-3 but Pinky and Ben Smith won the doubles over Chris Banks and Johnny Cheadle for the victory.
Griffins Butchers Silver Plate
Cuckoo 1 Jokaz 4
The short journey from The Joker to the Cuckoo benefitted the away team who wrapped up victory over their local rivals without recourse to the doubles matches. Nick Beech, Tom Sharman and Charlie Kirkham made it 3-0 to Jokaz before S Hart defeated Phil Ratherham for 3-1. Charlie’s Dad Justin completed the victory however beating Cuckoo Captain Paul Brown.
Lamb Phall 4 Talbot 1
Another one sided encounter went the way of the Lamb based side. Talbot started brightly with Alex Peatfield making it 1-0 to the away team before wins for Chris Smith, Chris Why, Kieran Williams and Captain and Lamb Landlord Andy Smith completed their progression to the semi-finals.
Langtrys 4 Eccleshall Eagles 3
The surprise result of the round saw bottom-of-the-league Langtrys beat Eccleshall, who over several seasons have been very consistent in league and cup competitions. Unfortunately the result card hasn’t been submitted so the exact detail of their great win is unknown!
Longton Snooker Club 4 Labour In Vain 1
Longton Snooker must be big favourites for the Plate, and proved their value with a handsome win over the struggling Labour side. Rich Lewis, steady Sean Doolan and Captain Nick Backhouse made it 3-0 before Andy Gibson, Labours best performer this season, beat the seasoned campaigner Alan Brown. Dave Roberts completed the home win beating Ben Davies.
The draw for the semi-finals will be made at the league meeting on Wednesday 23rd March.
[box type=”info” ]Great Yarmouth National Competitions Update
Mark Welton reports that last weekend’s English Pool Association national trials saw success for two Stone League players. Rob ‘Whacker’ Wharne, of The Lamb, qualified for the English national men’s team, winning all six of his qualifying matches. Leanne Cragg, of The Joker, also went through the ladies’ qualifiers undefeated to qualify for the national ladies’ squad. Rob Murray and Jodie Lockett, formerly of The LongJohns, just missed out on qualification[/box]
Coming up on Thursday 17th March…
It’s back to league action and match of the round must be The Joker v Little Stoke, with the possibility of a clash between the league’s two undefeated players, Melvin Archer and Lee Walker. Longton Snooker, meanwhile, take on Lamb Hot Pots – it’s last season’s runners up versus last season’s third placed team.
