2009/2010 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Thursday, December 17th 2009
KING’S HEAD AND SHAKESPEARE CRASH
OUT OF NEIL CLARK MEMORIAL TROPHY
NEWPORT (Shropshire): All four King’s Head and Shakespeare teams were sent crashing out of the first round of the 2009/2010 Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – Newport Pool League’s annual cup competition – in a night of pre-Christmas drama.
The hotly-tipped King’s Head A side lost on a tie-break to Steve Whitlock’s Navigation in Gnosall and a nervy tie-break defeat against NRBL also cost cup holders Shakespeare A their chance to retain the title.
Without Andy Lycett, Colin Pink and an injured Mick Beech, NRBL were always going to struggle, but they made a positive start when Jon Mason beat Laura Brennan. Laura’s husband Dan equalised against Colin Farge, only for Paul Trevor to edge passed Dave Marshall and put the home side 2-1 up.
Anthony Heathcote looked to have put the home side on their way to the second round after beating Andy Potter in a close frame, but the Shakespeare A team won both doubles racks to level the match, with the injured Richard Young returning to the fray in frame five. Potter had his chance to win the match in the deciding frame, but the experienced Trevor prevailed to prevent an NRBL upset.
The Shakespeare B team played through the haze, only to fall to a crushing 5-1 home defeat to a raucous Railway Tavern team. Louis Fudge, Ben Clewes and Kim Wan Loi put the visitors into a 3-0 lead, although Kim Rigby pounced to beat Anthony Winfield and give the home side hope. The Railway lads won both doubles racks to seal their place in round two.
Winless Lilleshall Sports Centre managed to squeeze past King’s Head B on a table that was more akin to the 18th green at St. Andrews. The visitors donned Santa outfits to get into the pre-Christmas spirit, but there was no Christmas generosity from LSC once Lucy Hennessey had beaten Dave Price fair and square in frame one.
Neil Perkins, Ben Longstaff and Neil Haseley set LSC on their way to a first win of a woeful season and the quartet also prevailed in the doubles, despite some useful potting by Tash Pugh, Lyn Woodhouse and Chris Perry.
The Sutherland Arms were taken to a seventh-frame decider by the Wheatsheaf at Tibberton. Nigel Sandbrook put the visitors 1-0 up against Matt Mansell, only for Wayne Dodd to level with a win over Al Harvey. Ian Trevor again put the ‘Sheaf in front, but Gary Bolton levelled the match heading into the doubles frames.
Chris Cooper and Sandbrook put the Wheatsheaf within sight of the finish line in rack five, but Tom Fisken and Dodd forced a tiebreak frame. The tension was paramount, as Dodd sealed the final black to break Trevor’s and Wheatsheaf’s hearts.
The Navy Club also earned a thrilling tiebreak victory against the Junction B, while the Audco youngsters continued their impressive run of form by beating the New Inn 4-2. In the final match of the night, Junction A sealed their first victory of the season by beating the Swan 5-1 at Norbury.
Second round matches are to be played on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010. Teams are requested to remember the contents of the second draw and add them to the original fixture list where appropriate.
2009/2010 Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – round 1:
Navy Club v Junction B, 4-3
Audco v New Inn, 4-2
Sutherland Arms v Wheatsheaf, 4-3
LSC v King’s Head B, 5-1
Junction A v Swan, 5-1
Shakespeare B v Railway Tavern, 1-5
NRBL v Shakespeare A, 4-3
Navigation v King’s Head A, 4-3
2009/2010 Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – round 2 draw:
Junction A v Sutherland Arms
Railway Tavern v NRBL
Navy Club v Audco
Navigation v LSC
Ends
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