2007-2008 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Sunday, February 17th, 2008
KING’S HEAD ROCKED BY THE BOAT
NEWPORT (Shropshire): The Boat put a small dent in the King’s Head’s title challenge by holding the league leaders to a gutsy 3-3 draw at Gnosall. The result means that the Chetwynd End side are still in touching distance for at least four of their rivals as a fascinating league heads into the half-way point.
The shock of the night was a sensational 5-1 victory for the lowly Navy Club at the Wheatsheaf. Alan Pritchett got the away side off to a superb start with a fine win over Al Harvey and Dennis Holland made it 2-0 with a shock win over the in-form Nigel Sandbrook. Things got worse for the home side when Jez Price edged out Chris Cooper and the ‘Sheaf found themselves on the rack.
Paul Skitt kept his nerve to keep the match alive by beating Norman Riley, but Gerry Nunn and Pritchett wrapped up the points for the Bellman’s Yard team by beating Ian Trevor and Sandbrook in the doubles. Riley and Holland wrapped up a memorable night for the Navy Club with a sixth frame against Skitt and Harvey. It was the Navy Club’s second win of the year and the Wheatsheaf’s second defeat.
The Audco leap-frogged LSC into third place with a crushing win over former title contenders Junction A at Bellman’s Yard and did their championship aspirations no harm at all.
The match attracted several spectators from other teams who had a bye that evening and there was a tense atmosphere at the Audco as the match progressed. Tom Sayce, Paul Trevor, Anthony Heathcote and Andy Lycett put the home side into a 4-0 lead with wins over S Richards, the in-form K Rogers, S Roycroft and I Mason and Heathcote and Trevor got the better of Rogers and Mason in the fifth frame.
A priceless bonus point was on the cards until the final rack, but a vital error under pressure by 2006 Newport Open champion Trevor handed the final frame to the Junction side. Chasing a three-ball clearance, the hapless Albion fan knocked a ball too close to the black for comfort and the match-deciding ball fell into the pocket. “It was a careless mistake,” said a disappointed Heathcote. “The extra point was there for the taking.”
Audco must now win their game in hand against the Boat to move into second position. The massive second-half showdown between the King’s Head and the Audco could go along way to deciding the outcome of the league title.
In the fourth match of the night the Sutherland Muxton continued their recent form with a 5-1 victory against a struggling Junction B side to move back into sixth place in the league table.
Would teams ensure that all match forms are returned to the Railway Tavern after games to ensure that league tables and player statistics are as accurate as possible. Please also text the result to 07831 123153.
2007-2008 Newport & District Pool latest league table @ 17/02/08
Team P W D L F A Pts
King’s Head 8 6 2 0 34 14 21*
Shakespeare 8 5 1 2 30 18 17*
Audco 7 4 3 0 26 16 15
Lilleshall SC 9 4 2 3 31 23 15*
Boat Gnosall 7 3 2 2 20 22 11
Sutherland Muxton 8 3 1 4 24 24 10
Wheatsheaf 8 2 4 2 23 25 10
Junction A 6 3 0 3 18 18 9
Navy Club 8 2 0 6 17 31 6
Junction B 7 1 1 5 15 27 4
New Inn 8 0 2 6 14 34 2
* denotes bonus point awarded for 6-0 wins
League matches still to be played to date.
Junction A v King’s Head
Audco v Boat Gnosall
Boat Gnosall v Junction A
Junction B v Navy Club
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com