Week five in the Crown Street Garage Stone Pool League saw the early-season pace-setters clash as all top-four teams put their unbeaten records on the line. Both matches ended in wins for the home sides, with Lamb ‘A’ now standing alone with a perfect record. Here’s a round-up of all the action…
Lamb ‘A’ 5 Lamb Hot Pots 3
The battle of the Lamb-based sides was won by Andy Conner’s men. The match opened with a heavyweight clash between leading lights Dave Clift and Ben Smith. The Lamb Hot Pots captain looked to have seized the advantage, holding two shots with just the black remaining, but inadvertently snookered himself to hand the advantage back to Clift, who sealed victory in the opening frame. This spurred Conner’s side on to a dominant 4-0 half-time lead.
The match looked to be turning back towards a draw when Ian Grieve and Smith took the opening two frames of the second period, but Paul Knight held his nerve to take a fifth frame for the Lamb ‘A’ side, clinching maximum points. Ian Lewis notched a consolation frame for the Hot Pots to complete the match.
Lamb 6 Little Stoke 2
Surprise early high-flyers Little Stoke suffered their first defeat of the season in the lounge at The Lamb. Darryl Norman added to an already impressive pool of talent recently with the signing of Paul Loughhead junior from the Hot Pots. The new arrival was among the winners for the Lamb, who now face the tough task of keeping everyone match-sharp with such an array of top players to choose from.
The increased competition for places looked to spur on Gavin Davies and Simon Key, who both knocked in 8-balls on the way to this comprehensive victory for the Walton side. Credit though to Lee Walker, whose 2 from 2 for Little Stoke leaves him as one of only two players with a maximum 10 frame victories in league play this season, alongside Melvin Archer of The Joker.
Joker 5 #Jokaz 3
The reigning champions overtook Little Stoke into 3rd place with a win in the derby against the other side from the Blurton venue. Archer’s 2 out of 2 was key for The Joker, and his pot of the winning black out of a snooker was a fine way to seal the final frame when the spoils could still have been shared. Tony Douthwaite was as reliable as ever, winning both of his frames for the champions. Charlie Kirkham, the leading junior of recent years in Stone, won a tactical encounter with Mark Welton to maintain #Jokaz’s hopes of a point going in to the final frame, with Phil Ratheram and Tom Sharman also amongst the victors on the night.
Moddershall 4 Eccleshall Eagles 4
Moddershall lie 6th in the table following this meeting of two of the league’s stalwart sides. This fixture swung one way then the other, with the Eagles taking the opening 2 frames, before a run of 3 straight for the Spot Acre squad. Shaun Brian led the way for them with 2 out of 2, matched by Steve Guildford for the visitors. The match turned on a piece of bad luck for the home side, when Duncan Christer unluckily potted the black too soon. It was certainly unexpected as the 8-ball sat near its spot, seemingly nowhere near danger, but the angle of the cue ball coming off the cushion cannoned it perfectly into the middle pocket without contacting another ball – another 100 attempts would not have seen it repeated. Credit to Guildford’s side, who became the first side to take anything from Moddershall Cricket Club this season, as Leigh Marshall held his nerve in the final frame with 2 visits to clear up. The Eagles lie 7th in the table, just behind the home side on frame difference, both teams lying on 5 points from 5 matches.
Labour in Vain 5 Lamb Phall 3
The Labour also lie on 5 points after matchday 5, winning this encounter in Yarnfield. Phil
Smith provided the key contribution for them, winning two frames in succession either side of the half-time break. Andy Gibson also struck with 2 from 2 for the home team. Sean Creighan, Graham Gilbert and Kieran Williams scored victories for the visitors, who fell behind Labour in Vain following this result.
Longton Snooker 3 Longton Cricket Club 5
The local derby between the sides who last year shared Longton Cricket Club’s table went the way of the visitors. Despite Alan Brown’s double win for the Snooker Club, it will be the away side who will be delighted with the result as Russ Johnson’s 2 out of 2 in quick succession turned the momentum their way. Matt Moores and Ryan Kenny won the key frames at the death to claim the 2 points and put their side in amongst the clutch of teams on 5 points. Nick Backhouse’s men are unexpected strugglers in the early part of the season.
Stone Cricket Club 5 Langtrys 3
Stone Cricket Club is the other side on 5 points from 5 matches, edging this topsy-turvy battle. Sitting 2-0 up, Stone appeared to be on the way to a comprehensive win, until Rob Hughes and Jamie Sherlock levelled the match at the break. Ian Banks and Andrew ‘Pav’ Moreton completed their second wins of the evening as the Cricket Club took the first 3 frames of the second period to secure the 2 points. Hughes’ second of the night proved no more than a consolation at the death for Langtry’s, who are the only side yet to score a point this season.
Talbot 2 Cuckoo 6
The Cuckoo ensured they no longer share Langtry’s distinction with their first win of 2016. The Talbot side, settling into new surroundings after their change of venue from The Railway at Norton Bridge, had brought themselves back into the match, as Alex Peatfield and Dan Nichol made it 3-2 from 3-0. However, it was The Cuckoo who took the next three, rounded off by Paul Brown, to give the Newstead side victory and both points.
League action continued on Thursday with leaders Lamb ‘A’ facing a tricky trip to Eccleshall to play the Eagles. We’ll have a full week six round-up next week
