Three teams sit level at the top of the Crown Street Garage Stone Pool League after 10 matches, separated only by frame difference.
Darryl Norman’s Lamb side lead the way, just ahead of Lamb ‘A’ and Little Stoke. Reigning champions The Joker, meanwhile, are just one point off the pace.
Here’s the latest round-up…
Lamb 3 Joker 5
This heavyweight clash saw Mark Perry’s men regain ground at the top of the table, picking up a handy win away from home. Gaz Cummings got The Joker off to the best possible start with the first frame, followed later by another win in the middle of a run of 3 straight frames that gave his side a 4-2 lead with 2 to play. Mark Welton won the final, crucial frame to give the Blurton side both points. Frame wins were otherwise shared out among the players, with no-one bar Cummings taking more than one on the night.
Cuckoo 2 Lamb ‘A’ 6
Lamb ‘A’ ensured it remains tight at the top of the table with a good win against an improved Cuckoo side. Both Dave Clift and Steve Loughhead struck twice for the Walton team. The Cuckoo had the match even at half-time, thanks to wins for Jake Hart and Steve Hampton, but could not manage to get another frame on the board after the break.
Little Stoke 5 Stone Cricket Club 3
The local derby of cricket clubs went the way of the form book, with Craig Foster leading the way for Little Stoke with 2 frame wins. The match stood poised at 3-3 with 2 to play, but Jack Walker and Foster proved the difference-makers for their side, taking wins over Ian Banks and Liam Hickey respectively.
Eccleshall Eagles 4 Lamb Hot Pots 4
Ben Smith’s side salvaged a point from this match, always a tricky away fixture for any team. The Eagles raced into a 3-0 lead, thanks to Steve Guildford, Leigh Marshall and Andy Evans. Smith and 2 frames from Ian Grieve levelled the scores before Marshall struck with his second of the night. The experience of Alan Pinkstone, making a rare league appearance for the Hot Pots, paid dividends as he battled his way to the draw for his side, keeping them in touch with the leaders in fifth place.
Longton Cricket Club 6 Labour in Vain 2
The Labour were restricted in this match, only having 3 players available, meaning an uphill struggle to take anything from the fixture. And so it proved, as Ryan Kenny led the way for Longton Cricket Club with 2 frame wins on the night. LCC lie sixth after this win and will look to break into the upper reaches of the table as the season unfolds.
Talbot 2 Moddershall 6
The Talbot put up a fighting showing in this match, but points were out of reach when Neil Rowley took frame 6 to give Moddershall an unassailable 5-1 lead. Two frame wins each for Ben Warrilow and returning skipper, Mark Bradshaw, saw the Spot Acre side complete a comfortable victory.
#Jokaz 7 Langtry’s 1
Langtry’s remain adrift at the bottom of the league with just a single point to their name after this heavy defeat in Blurton. Cup success remains on the horizon though, meaning there is plenty still to play for, but Langtry’s will be hoping to improve their league form no doubt. Tom Sharman, Phil Ratherham and Justin Kirkham scored two frame wins each on the way to this dominant victory for #Jokaz.
Lamb Phall 2 Longton Snooker Club 6
When Graham Gilbert took the third frame to put his Phall side 2-1 up, things looked promising for the landlord’s side, but 5 in a row, including 2 for captain, Nick Backhouse, saw Longton Snooker home to a comfortable win. Liam Flaherty also won both of his frames for the victors, who will hope to build on this next week.
[box type=”info” ]This week’s matches saw potentially tricky away trips for The Lamb (to Moddershall) and Little Stoke (to Longton Snooker Club), which could mean it’s all change at the top once again. Full reports next week[/box]
