In the final round of the first half of the season, the big match of the evening resulted in a draw, not suiting either side but helping the top two to consolidate their positions going into the second half of the season.
Here’s all the latest action from the Crown Street Garage Stone Pool League…
Lamb Hot Pots 4 Little Stoke 4
This mouthwatering clash ended in a draw, and a point dropped by each team in this monumentally tight season! Frame 1 was a clash of the titans as Lee Walker continued his dominant form in beating Ben Smith.With the score at 2-2 at the half way stage, Little Stoke then went 4-2 up with a great chance of an away win, Lee Walker and Russ Britton both with 2 wins.However, Ian Grieve and Neil Dale captured the last 2 frames for a point, denying Little Stoke the chance of a great win which would have put them right back in the hunt for top spot.Lamb Hot Pots are losing a little ground, and have a very tricky fixture in round 16 against The Lamb.
Moddershall 3 The Joker 5
Table-topping Joker were made to sweat against a very good Moddershall side, on their lovely new table, specially ironed for the occasion! Gaz The Stitch Cummings and Tony Douthwaite opened up a 2-0 lead, Shaun Brian outground Mark Perry to get back a frame before Melvin The Legend Archer beat in-form Neil Rowley for a comfortable half time lead.The Stitch amazingly missed a thin cut on the 8ball completely, to give Neil Rowley an unexpected opportunity which he took for 2-3.Douthwaite beat Dan Cousins to secure at least a point. Mark The Doc Welton missed the easiest of blacks to gift the frame to Shaun Brian for 3-4. The Legend ground out a tense frame over Mark The Law Bradshaw to take all 2 points and remain in top spot.
Lamb A 8 Labour In Vain 0
A rout at The Lamb put Lamb A back on course after 2 disappointing weeks. Lamb A’s 4 of Knighty, Conner,Steve Loughhead and Dopper beat Labours regular 7 improving their points difference and confidence ahead of their testing fixture away to Longton Cricket Club in the next round.
Longton Snooker 7 Talbot 1
The Snooker Club are climbing the table now to their expected position after a slow start. With Captain Nick Backhouse at the helm, they brushed aside Talbot with only Billy Berry for Talbot registering on the score card. Backhouse, Brown and Flaherty all won 2/2.
Langtrys 0 Cuckoo 8
The oddest result of the night came at Langtrys. In what was expected to be a close match, Cuckoo breezed through, winning 8-0 in little under an hour. Langtrys only had 3 players, Cuckoo have strengthened via the addition of Tez Thorley and Andy Gent.If you add in their existing squad, Cuckoo could upset several sides in the second half of the season.
Jokaz 2 Longton Cricket Club 6
Longton Cricket Club continue to pick up points and remain just below the top flight teams. A run of 5 straight wins from 1-0 down gave them the 2 points before Jokaz best performer this season, Tom Sharman stopped the rot with a win over LCC Captain Russ Johnson. Kev Plant and Ryan Kenny both won 2/2 for LCC, Tom Sharman won twice for Jokaz.
Stone Cricket Club 1 The Lamb 7
2nd place Lamb won with some style over the tricky Cricket Club family. Lamb were quickly 6-0 up,and hence match over, before Chris Banks beat Si Key for their only frame of the night. 2/2 wins for John Grobnik, Paul Loughhead Jnr and Gav Davies, Captain Darryl Norman again leaving himself on the side-lines. Lamb’s confidence will be high ahead of their crucial game next round against The Hot Pots.
Eccleshall Eagles 4 Lamb Phall 4
Phall did well to get a draw against The Eagles who have enjoyed several good results in the last few weeks, especially as they found themselves 3-1 down at the turn. 3 straight frames put Phall on the cusp of the win but Andy Evans again won a crucial frame for the point, a habit he has developed this season! Chris Why won 2/2 for Phall, Andy Evans won 2/2 for Eccleshall.
The league takes a half-time breather now! The next fixture is the Griffins Butchers Cup, Joker face Lamb Hot Pots in the main competition, Langtrys face Longton Snooker in the Subsid Cup.
