2013/2014 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE

For immediate release
Thursday, December 5th, 2013

FAVOURITES MARCH ON IN NEIL CLARK POOL COMPETITION

NEWPORT (Shropshire): Newport Legion, LSC at the Tav, the Stag in Market Drayton and King’s Head A made it safely through the opening round of the Neil Clark Memorial Trophy.

The team knockout competition runs in conjunction with the Newport & District Pool League and is held in memory of two-time league winner Neil Clark, who passed away in October 2006.

The tie of the round pitched unbeaten LSC at the Tav in an away clash against Pheasant A. The match went to a tie-break frame after LSC frame wins for John Williams and Greg Heathcote had cancelled out wins for Anthony Allen and Colin Smith in the singles. Honours were shared in the doubles, but Heathcote hit top form in the decider to pip Allen and put the defending champions into the quarterfinals.

King’s Head A overcame the Railway Tavern in Upper Bar. Mick Collins and Graham Tigwell made it 0-2 to the away side, but Stu Morrey got the better of birthday boy Ed Keenan to pull a frame back. Ross Goodchild made it 1-3 and Dan Owen and Irene Whittington secured the King’s Head place in the last round in rack five.

Pheasant B reached the last nine with a 2-4 win over Junction B in Norbury. Simon Walley and Paul Parton were gloating after setting the away side on their way and, despite Stu Till and Ryan Morris pulling two frames back for the Staffordshire side, Walley, Parton, Liam Matthews and Tom Sayce prevailed in the doubles.

Market Drayton’s Stag pipped Junction A by the odd frame to reach the last eight and Gnosall’s Horns got the better of Shakespeare B, despite Russ Woodhouse beating Martin Holford in frame one and Barry Smith and Jess Hilditch winning frame five.

Newport Legion coasted into round two with a comfortable 1-4 win at King’s Head B. Wayne Dodd blotted his copybook against Lyn Day, but skipper Mick Beech and Colin Farge secured the win in the first doubles rack.

Wheatsheaf reached the quarterfinals after beating Haberdashers Arms 4-2 at Chetwynd Aston. Navigation reached the last nine with a 4-2 win over the Royal Navy Veterans in Gnosall and Royal Navy Seals overcame Shakespeare A at Bellman’s Yard by a similar score line.

The losing nine teams, less the team that was highest in the league on Wednesday night (as per the regulations – Pheasant A) will take part in a new Neil Clark Consolation Cup competition that will run alongside the Neil Clark Memorial Trophy.

The draw for the interim second round qualifier and the second round will be made at 20.00hrs at the Shakespeare on Wednesday, December 18th, prior to the league match between Shakespeare A and Newport Legion. Second round matches will take place on Wednesday, January 29th.

Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – round 1 results:
Navigation Gnosall v Royal Navy Club Veterans, 4-2
Royal Navy Club Seals v Shakespeare A, 4-2
Pheasant A v LSC at the Tavern, 3-4
Shakespeare B v Horns Gnosall, 3-4
Railway Tavern v King’s Head A, 2-4
Junction B v Pheasant B, 2-4
Stag Market Drayton v Junction A, 4-2
King’s Head B v Newport Legion, 1-4
Wheatsheaf v Haberdashers Arms, 4-2

Ends

For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com

Published On: 5 December 2013