2008/2009 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Thursday, April 16th 2009
SHAKE SHOCKER FOR HIGH-FLYING AUDCO A
NEWPORT (Shropshire): The Audco A steamroller spluttered on low-grade red diesel at the Shakespeare and enabled the chasing King’s Head to close to within three points at the top of the Newport & District Pool League.
The unbeaten Audco ‘galacticos’ were held to a 3-3 draw by the Shakespeare A at Upper Bar, in a result that puts the mid-table side in a good frame of mind heading into this week’s Neil Clark Memorial Cup semi-final against Lilleshall Sports Centre.
A sensational clearance by Don Brenan stunned Mick Beech and put the home side 1-0 to the good, although a returning Anthony Heathcote left the sofa behind to claim a useful win to level the scores.
Dave Marshall left last year’s player of the year, Andy Lycett, totally stumped as the Shakespeare went 2-1 up, but Colin Pink steadied the ship by beating Laura Baker. Honours and the points were shared in the doubles, but it was a bad night at the office for the league leaders. “We missed Paul Trevor on the night,” admitted a team spokesman. “We play like a dream when he is here.”
The King’s Head kept up the pressure with a 5-1 home win over the Navy Club. “Wey-hey! The title race is back on,” said a delighted Mick Collins of the King’s Head. “Bring it on!”
The Railway Tavern continued their climb up the league table with a 5-1 demolition of Navigation B at Gnosall. Ben Clewes, James Searles, Andy Richardson and Gary Owen won all four singles matches against Peter Dickinson, Anthony Cox, Steve Taylor and John Gibbons, but Cox and Gibbons restored some pride for the home side with a doubles rack win over Clewes and Owen.
Lilleshall Sports Centre took advantage of the home venue’s new speed cloth and recorded their biggest win of the season so far by beating the Shakespeare B, 5-1. “Our table’s gone from one extreme to another,” quipped skipper Dave Price.
Price and Neil Perkins put the home side 2-0 up, but Ben Longstaff missed a straightforward black and could only watch as an inspired Kim Rigby cleared her remaining balls to give the away side hope.
Greg Heathcote settled home nerves by seeing off Hazel Ford-Lewis and Lilleshall cleaned up in both doubles matches to begin their climb back up the table.
Wrockwardine Wood Football Club won a tense encounter, 4-2, against the Wheatsheaf in Telford and Junction A maintained their quest for a top three finish by beating the Navigation B, 4-2, at Norbury.
In the final match of the evening, Audco B maintained third place in the league with a 4-2 victory over lowly Junction B. “We are back on the right track after our recent blip,” enthused skipper Luke Jones.
Could the nine teams who have not paid their annual fees, please arrange for monies to be left with Ian Roberts at the Railway Tavern, as the league co-ordinator needs to begin arranging end-of-season awards and cup final trophies.
All match forms are to be delivered to Ian Roberts and/or Dave Wilkinson at the Railway Tavern in Newport and match results sent immediately by text message to 07831 123153.
2008-2009 Newport & District Pool latest league table @ 15/04/09
Team P W D L F A Pts
Audco A 15 13 2 0 72 18 41
King’s Head 16 12 2 2 68 28 38
Audco B 17 10 2 5 56 46 32
Junction A* 15 9 2 4 52 38 29
Wrockwardine FC* 16 8 4 4 55 41 28
Railway Tavern 16 9 1 6 55 41 28
Lilleshall SC 14 6 5 3 44 40 23
Navigation A* 17 6 3 8 47 55 21
Wheatsheaf* 16 5 5 6 46 50 20
Shakespeare A 16 4 6 6 41 55 18
Navy Club 15 3 4 8 36 54 13
Junction B 15 3 1 11 34 56 10
Shakespeare B 16 2 1 13 26 70 7
Navigation B* 16 0 2 14 29 67 2
* denotes league fees paid
Week 19 results:
Shakespeare A v Audco A, 3-3
Junction A v Navigation A, 4-2
Audco B v Junction B, 4-2
Lilleshall Sports Centre v Shakespeare B, 5-1
King’s Head v Navy Club, 5-1
Wrockwardine Wood FC v Wheatsheaf, 4-2
Navigation B v Railway Tavern, 1-5
Ends