2010/2011 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
NRBL SLUMP TO CRUSHING DEFEAT AT WHEATSHEAF B
NEWPORT (Shropshire): NRBL’s hopes of retaining the Newport & District Pool League title were hanging by a thread this weekend after they crashed to a shock 4-2 defeat to Wheatsheaf B on a night where Shakespeare C lost their unbeaten record and King’s Head A extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Liam Matthews got the Chetwynd Aston side off to a splendid start to dismiss Antony Heathcote and Jack Jones silenced Mick Beech to put the ‘Sheaf into a shock 2-0 lead. Luke Haywood ousted Tom Sayce to restore NRBL’s faith but Luke Jones got the better of Colin Pink to put the away side on the rack.
Sayce and Mike Jones failed to contain Heathcote and Luke Haywood in frame five and the Legion looked set to grab a point, but Pink and Charlie Hayward crumbled under the pressure and Luke Jones and Dave Haynes sealed the new side’s biggest ever scalp.
The table-topping King’s Head A shattered Shakespeare C’s unbeaten record and moved seven points clear at the top of the table. It took inspired play from Jamie James to seal the match for the away side in the final frame after the King’s Head had squandered a 3-1 lead.
Mick Collins, Graham Tigwell and Irene Whittington had done the damage for the league leaders by beating Ben Clewes, Gary Bolton and Ade Darrell, but Anthony Winfield beat Phil Emery to give the Shake hope. The home side also sealed the first of the doubles racks to set up a grandstand finish, but James and Whittington prevailed against Clewes and Ray Talbot to seal the vital three points for Collins’s side.
The Sutherland Arms at Tibberton were unable to capitalise on the demise of the NRBL and Shakespeare C and were held to a shock draw by the Junction B at Norbury. Mick Ashforth’s home side came from 1-3 down to seal an excellent draw and send Tom Fisken’s villagers packing.
The Junction A maintained fifth and their two-point advantage over Shakespeare A with a 4-2 victory over the Navigation. Alan Smart and Scott Podmore had put the Gnosall side into a 0-2 lead with wins over Sion Richards and Keith Rogers, but the Junction hit back with a vengeance and Ian Mason and Steve Roycroft levelled the match. Rogers and Mason combined to win rack five and Hyla Marklew joined forces with Richards to seal the three points.
Shakespeare A crushed their B team at Upper Bar to maintain their useful run of form.
LSC at the Tav kept the pressure on the Junction A and Shakespeare A with a hard-earned 4-2 victory over the Railway Tavern in their derby match. Ian Roberts snookered himself to enable Greg Quinn to make a good clearance and put the Tavern 0-1 up. Greg Heathcote hit back with a five-ball clearance of his own to level the match and Ben Longstaff survived black ball jitters against Rob Hill to put LSC back in front.
Andy ‘dead rubber’ Miles made a superb clearance to seal at least a draw for the home side, but Heathcote again wilted under pressure in frame five and a miscue gifted Quinn and Hill with the frame. But Ian Roberts produced a sensational three-cushion escape to pot the black against Adam Stone and Diddy Bristow and send partner Miles and the LSC’s army of fans into raptures.
Honours were shared in the matches between the Royal Navy Club and the Wheatsheaf A and the contest between the King’s Head B and the Plough at Woodseaves.
Results should be sent as soon as possible after matches on Wednesday evenings to 07831 123153.
2010-2011 Newport & District Pool League – @ 09/03/11
|
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
King’s Head A |
14 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
64 |
20 |
40 |
|
Sutherland Arms |
14 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
62 |
22 |
33 |
|
Shakespeare C |
14 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
53 |
31 |
31 |
|
NRBL |
14 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
56 |
28 |
30 |
|
Junction A |
14 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
55 |
29 |
26 |
|
Shakespeare A |
14 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
48 |
36 |
24 |
|
LSC at the Tav |
14 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
46 |
38 |
23 |
|
Wheatsheaf B |
14 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
41 |
43 |
19 |
|
Navigation |
14 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
42 |
42 |
17 |
|
Plough Woods’vs |
14 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
33 |
51 |
14 |
|
Railway Tavern |
14 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
35 |
49 |
13 |
|
Wheatsheaf A |
14 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
35 |
49 |
12 |
|
Junction B |
14 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
32 |
52 |
11 |
|
Royal Navy Club |
14 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
29 |
55 |
8 |
|
Shakespeare B |
14 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
23 |
61 |
8 |
|
King’s Head B |
14 |
0 |
3 |
11 |
20 |
64 |
3 |
Week 14 results:
Shakespeare B v Shakespeare A, 0-6
Navigation Gnosall v Junction A, 2-4
Junction B v Sutherland Tibberton, 3-3
Royal Navy Club v Wheatsheaf A, 3-3
LSC at the Tav v Railway Tavern, 4-2
Wheatsheaf B v NRBL, 4-2
Shakespeare C v King’s Head A, 2-4
King’s Head B v Plough Woodseaves, 3-3
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com