Here’s the latest round-up of all the action in the Crown Street Garage Stone and District Pool League. These round three matches were played on 4th February 2016.
Also in this report is the round-up of matches from week two.
This week heralds the start of the Griffin’s Butchers Gold Cup as the teams take a break from league action. Tie of the round sees the Joker meet Longton Snooker Club, hoping for a repeat of their victory from the opening round of league fixtures.
Joker 3 Lamb Hot Pots 5
There is only one place to start this week. The top two from last season met in a heavyweight clash at the home of the champions. The Lamb Hot Pots got off to a flying start with a win for their captain, Ben Smith, followed up by Ian Grieve and Neil Dale to put them 3-0 up. Last season’s leading player, Melvin Archer, hit back for the Joker with back-to-back wins in frames 4 and 5, continuing his 100% start to the season and bringing the Joker within a frame at just 3-2 down.
Grieve scored his second win of the night to restore a two-frame advantage for the Hot Pots, before Gaz Cummings kept the Joker’s hopes of a point alive with a win over Dale. Joker skipper Mark Perry brought himself in to play the crucial final frame, but it was Paul Loughhead who held his nerve to give his side a hard-fought 5-3 win and the early advantage between these title rivals.
Lamb A 6 Longton Snooker Club 2
Andy Conner’s Lamb A side top the fledgling league table after a dominant 6-2 victory over former team-mate, Nick Backhouse’s, new side. As is his right under the league rules, the Lamb A skipper chose to enforce the 60-second shot clock rule for the match. Dave Clift maintained his unbeaten record for the season with 2 wins. The match was in the balance at 2-2 at half-time, but Lamb A made home advantage pay after the break, running away with all 4 frames. Conner completed the performance with his second win of the night in the final frame.
Cuckoo 3 Little Stoke 5
Little Stoke continued their impressive start to the season and sit second behind Lamb A only by virtue of frame difference. Lee Walker, in good form both in the Stone League and Staffordshire competitions early in 2016, struck with 2 from 2, as did Craig Foster. Cuckoo looked well placed to post their first points of the season, sitting 3-2 up at one stage, but it was Little Stoke able to lift themselves to take the win.
Lamb 5 #Jokaz 3
Simon Key and Gavin Davies were the stars of the show with 2 wins each to do the bulk of the damage for the Lamb side. John Grobnik won the other frame for Darryl Norman’s side, who sit handily one point behind the leaders in fourth place. #Jokaz put on a good performance against a side expected to be among the challengers to the Joker’s crown.
Moddershall 7 Langtry’s 1
Moddershall notched their second successive 7-1 home win. The side from the cricket club at Spot Acre lie fifth in the league after a strong performance, with 2 out of 2 for Shaun Brian and new signings, Neil Rowley and Ben Warrilow. Scott James registered Langtry’s solitary frame. Rob Hughes’ men have had a difficult start to the campaign and are yet to get off the mark. Time will tell whether they can take advantage of the cosy conditions at their home venue to make their way up the league.
Labour in Vain 3 Eccleshall Eagles 5
Yarnfield met Eccleshall at the newly-refurbished Labour. The match was nip and tuck with frames traded back and forth to 3-3. Steve Guildford bucked the trend to put the Eagles 4-3 up, before Leigh Marshall scored his second win of the night to take both points for his team. The Eagles sit level with a clutch of teams on 4 points from their 3 games, with Labour in Vain now 2 points further back.
Railway 1 Lamb Phall 7
The league’s new arrivals from Norton Bridge fell to defeat at home to a dominant Lamb Phall side. Winning the first 6 frames without reply, the result was secured for the Phall before Billy Berry managed a consolation for the Railway. Sean Creighan, Mark Tolley and Chris Why all won 2 from 2 for the victors.
Stone Cricket Club 4 Longton Cricket Club 4
The battle of the cricket clubs ended all-square as both teams got off the mark in the league following tough starts to the season. Chris Banks scored 2 wins from 2 in successive frames to turn the match towards the Stone side, but Kev Plant and Ryan Kenny hit back with their second victories of the evening. The final frame of the night saw Rich Chandler take on Colin Paterson with Longton having the opportunity to take the full complement of points from the evening. However, it was Chandler coming out on top to ensure the spoils were shared.
Leading Players
Melvin Archer (Joker), Dave Clift (Lamb A), Leigh Marshall (Eccleshall Eagles), Mark Tolley (Lamb Phall) and Lee Walker (Little Stoke) all maintained their 100% records, now with six frame wins out of six.
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Week 2 round-up
Langtry’s 1-7 Joker
The first league match to be played at Lantry’s saw perrenial champions Joker go to top of the league with a comfortable defeat of Langtry’s. Scott James was Langtry’s only winner. 2015’s number one, Melvin Archer remians unbeaten with 4 wins from 4, as does teammate Tony Douthwaite.
Stone Cricket Club 2-6 Lamb ‘A’
Lamb ‘A’ took a quickfire 2-0 lead before Stone CC’s Ian and Chris Banks took advantage of some missed blacks by Paul Knight and Andy Conner respectively to pull level and make it 2-2 at the halfway mark. Lamb ‘A’ went up a gear in the second half with some aggressive pool to win by 6 frames to 2 to put them joint top, and leave Stone CC at the foot of the table.
Longton Cricket Club 3-5 Little Stoke
Ever improving Little Stoke took maximum points and went third with a at Longton Cricket Club. Lee Walker and Nick Griffin with 2 wins a piece saw Little Stoke race into a 5-1 lead. Ryan Kenny and former junior champion Colin Paterson adding some respectability to the scoreline for Longton.
Jokaz 3-5 Railway
Jokaz failed to build on an excellent result last week as league newcomers Railway picked up their first points in the Stone Pool League with Alex Peatfield and Ed Singh both recording two wins.
Lamb Hot Pots 7-1 Labour in Vain
The return of Dave Burke to Labour’s line-up couldn’t prevent them from a heavy defeat at the hands of Lamb Hot Pots. Ben Smith was Hot Pot’s only casualty, losing to Burke as they cruised to victory over Labour in Vain.
Eccleshall Eagles 3-5 Lamb
A strong Lamb side edged out an always difficult to beat Eagle. Simon Key,making his first appearance of the season, and Gav Davies both winning their two frames, as did Eagle’s Leigh Marshall.
Longton Snooker Club 5 Moddershall 3
Mark Bradshaw put Moddershall 1-0 before Longton hit back with four in a row. Nick Backhouse sealed the points for Longton Snooker with his second win of the night.
Lamb Phall 6-2 Cuckoo
Lamb Phall chalked upan excellent win over unknown quanity Cuckoo. Mark Tolley was again Phall’s star man. Sean Creighan,on his first outing of the season also registering 2 from 2.
