2008/2009 NEIL CLARK MEMORIAL TROPHY
For immediate release
Friday, December 19th, 2008
LAST YEAR’S FINALISTS SAFELY INTO SECOND
ROUND OF NEIL CLARK MEMORIAL TROPHY
NEWPORT (Shropshire): Teams in the 2008-2009 Newport Pool League took a week off the league fixtures to take part in the first round of the Neil Clark Memorial Trophy or Newport Teams’ Cup, won last season by Audco.
The defending champions took just 20 minutes to complete a 4-0 demolition of Navigation B at Gnosall and last year’s beaten finalists, Lilleshall Sports Centre, completed a similar score line at Upper Bar by beating Shakespeare B in around 45 minutes.
Dave Price continued his good start to the season to put LSC 1-0 up and Neil ‘Hurricane’ Hazeley made it 2-0. Ben Longstaff returned to form to make it three and Neil Perkins beat Shakespeare landlady Hazel Ford-Lewis to wrap up the match, although the ‘gals’ earned scant consolation by beating Stuart Weeden and Price in the first doubles rack, Kim Rigby playing particularly well.
Shakespeare A overcame Junction B with a 5-1 win at Norbury. Laura Baker put the away side 1-0 up, although Mick Ashforth pulled a frame back for the home side. Andy Potter and Don Brennan put the Shake back in command and Carl Fletcher joined the rout in the doubles to put the Upper Bar side into round two.
Both the King’s Head and the Navigation A needed tie-break frames to beat the Junction A and Navy Club, with Ian Perry holding his nerve at Norbury to win the tie of the round, 4-3, and give the King’s Head a tricky away tie at Audco B in round two.
The Audco B and Wrockwardine Wood Football Club received byes into round two, but the Wheatsheaf became the last team into the second round hat with an excellent 4-2 win over the Railway Tavern at Chetwynd Aston. They will face Lilleshall Sports Centre, while defending champions, Audco A, travel to Telford to face Wrockwardine Wood.
Normal league action in the 2008-2009 Newport Pool League resumes after the Christmas break on Wednesday, January 7th.
Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – 1st round results:
Junction A v King’s Head, 3-4
Junction B v Shakespeare A, 1-5
Navigation A v Navy Club, 4-3
Lilleshall Sports Centre v Shakespeare B, 4-0
Navigation B v Audco A, 0-4
Wheatsheaf v Railway Tavern. 4-2
Byes: Wrockwardine Wood FC and Audco B
Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – 2nd round draw
Shakespeare A v Navigation A
Wheatsheaf v Lilleshall Sports Centre
Audco B v King’s Head
Wrockwardine Wood FC v Audco A
All 2nd round ties to be played as per pool schedule on Wednesday, February 11th, 2008.
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com