International Rules SSSC E stun league leaders Silktown Snooker A with an 8-3 away win, and not only the first loss of the season for the defending champions, but an end to their unbeaten run of 17 league matches. It looked as if it was going to be business as usual, as Silktown A opened up a 3-1 lead with an 8 ball clearance from Adam Stevens in the 3rd frame. But SSSC E captain Dave Cobey turned the tide with an 8 ball clearance of his own in the 5th frame, and the team never looked back. Silktown A are still surely favourites for the league title, sitting 33 points ahead of Weaver B in second and a possible 39 points up for grabs in the remaining 3 matches - bonus points notwithstanding. But given the two 8 ball clearances from Matt Furnival and Adam Downing for the Weaver B this week in their 9-2 win over SSSC D, bonus could make all the difference by the end of the season. The B league title race continues to be fiercely contested with Nags Head A and Silktown Snooker C moving into joint 1st place, as previous leaders Silktown Snooker E fall to 3rd, slipping up with an 8-3 home defeat to bottom of the league Ivy Leaf C. George & Dragon A moved one step closer to the C League title with a convincing 10-1 win against Puss in Boots B. Meanwhile Silk Trader A drop from 2nd to 3rd with a 6-5 defeat to Silktown Snooker D as Spinners C 6-5 win moves them a point ahead. Super Cup International Rules league action takes a break this week, as the concluding fixture of the Super Cup group stage is played out on Wednesday 18th January. Leaders in all groups are still mathematically vulnerable, so won’t be taking anything for granted as they look to secure top spot and progression to the knockout stage. All other teams will be battle hard on every frame, since 2 spots in the knockout stage are up for grabs for the best two runners up making each point vital. Macc Rules All change once again in the A League, as a 4-3 home defeat for the Ivy Leaf A at the hands of the Railway View A allowed Flower Pot B C/Rd. to move into top spot with a 5-2 win over Silk Trader B.
Silktown Snooker survived a close call against Plough B as they took them all the way to a 3-3 decider, fortunately merit leader Rick Podmore was able to secure the win for his team and keep them 17 points clear at the top of B League. Bruce Arms A are looking strong favourites for the C league with yet another win, beating George & Dragon B 4-3 with an 8 ball clearance from Chris Armstrong for a bonus point. A 5-2 defeat for second place Brewers C at the hands of Old Millstone X making the job of catching the leaders all the harder. In the C League Brewers A are now tied for points at the top of the league alongside Weaver A, the former closing the 2 point gap with a 6-1 win over Flower Pot B H/R. Another league likely to be contested right down to the final match. International Rules An air of invincibility is gathering around Silktown Snooker A as they complete a 10-1 demolition of SSSC A to kick the New Year off with a bang. Andrew McKie & Adam Stevens were able to pick up a bonus point for the leaders with an 8 ball clearance in the scotch pairs. The defending champions are now 42 points clear at the top of the table with only 4 games remaining in the season. Weaver B and SSSC E are the closest chasers, both tied on 73 points. The B League on the other hand remains wide open, with Silktown Snooker E leaping from 4th to 1st. An 8-3 victory over previous leaders Silktown Snooker C plus an 8 ball clearance from Dave Kimpton for a vital bonus point sends them flying up the table, as Nags Head A and George & Dragon D both lost 5-6. Only 2 points separate the top 3 teams in a contest which looks set to go down to the wire. Silk Trader A cut the deficit to C League leaders George & Dragon A to 11 points with a 7-4 away win to the Lord Byron A including an 8 ball clearance for Ash Rigby, as the George & Dragon A falter with a 5-6 loss to Bruce Arms A. Macc Rules Ivy Leaf A keep their noses in-front at the top of the A League, despite losing 5-2 to SSSC. Andy Warner’s 8 ball gives them a bonus point to keep them top of the league by a single point. Flower Pot B C/Rd. are chasing them hard - a 4-3 away win against Queens X keeps them in striking distance.
Silktown Snooker maintain top spot in the B League with a 5-2 win against Flower Pot X C/Rd., with a bonus point to boot from Rick Podmore’s 8 ball clearance. He now ties Lee Smith in the 8 ball competition, both having made 3 in Macc rules so far this season. Bruce Arms A now have fresh air between them and second place in the C League as they beat Silk Trader A 6-1, with chasers Brewers Arms C losing 5-2 to the George & Dragon B. Brewers A close the gap in the D League with a 5-2 away win to Lord Byron X as leaders Weaver A are edged out 4-3 against Broken Cross A. international rules Silktown Snooker streak continues as their A team post a convincing 9-2 against Weaver C and move 33 points clear at the top of the A League. Captain Mike Tomlinson commented after the victory “Fantastic standard from the lads tonight! But especially Gordon Leonard with two classy clearances! Settled right into the team now! Five to go!” as they look to defend the A league trophy unbeaten. Sunderland Street Sporting Club E (SSSC E) are best of the rest, beating SSSC F 7-4 with an 8 ball clearance and bonus for captain Dave Cobey. In the B league Silktown Snooker C keep their noses in front with a 7-4 away win against St Dunstan, despite a spirited 8 ball clearance in the scotch pairs for the home duo Paul Dean & Joe Whalley. Nags Head A keep themselves in touching distance 6-5 win against an in form Flower Pot B C/Rd who earnt two bonus points with 8 ball clearances from Lee Anderson and captain Dave Leishman. An 8-3 for George & Dragon A keeps them in first place in the C league, against Silktown Snooker D who are still in search for their first win of the season. 8 Ball Clearances Dave Cobey (SSSC E) Dan Burgess (SSSC D) Shaun Sweetmore (SSSC A) Dave Leishman (Flower Pot B C/Rd.) Lee Anderson (Flower Pot B C/Rd.) Paul Dean & Joe Whalley (St Dunstan) Macc Rules League leaders Ivy Leaf A take 6 points with a 4-3 away win against Weaver Z, but Flower Pot B C/Rd. close the gap by a point beating Three Crowns 5-2 at home as the title race continues.
In a clash between the top 2 teams in the B league it is the chasers George & Dragon C who come out on top with a 4-3 away win against Silktown Snooker. Both teams have now won 9 from 11 and are only separated in the table by frames and bonus points. The C league also saw the top two placed teams face off as the Bruce Arms A travelled to the Brewers, and it was the visitors who came out on top of this tie once again. Brewers C will be sure to chase them all the way though, with their only 2 defeats of the season coming at the hands of the Bruce Arms A. In the D League Weaver A continued their impressive form with a 4-3 away win against the Flower Pot A H.Rd. Elsewhere Brewers A upset Queens Z to leapfrog them and move to second place in the league before the Christmas break. 8 Ball Clearances Josh Crumplin (Chester Rd. Tavern) James Wills (Queens X) |
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