2018/2019 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE

For immediate release
Thursday, November 8th, 2018

LEGION A AND KING’S HEAD B SHARE OPENING DAY SPOILS

NEWPORT (Shropshire): The Newport Pool League got underway on Wednesday night with 12 teams, including new faces from the Lamb in Wrockwardine Wood and the absence of regular sides from the Pheasant and the Shakespeare following pub closures and management changes.

It was business as usual at the top of the table, however, and defending champions Legion A overcame a stubborn challenge from the Legion Yaks to join King’s Head B at the top.

Simon Walley got the champions off to a solid start against Chris Nolan, Mick Manning won a nailbiter against Kevin Genner to make it 2-0 and Mick Beech capitalised on a foul with the cue rest by Neil Perkins to clear and make it 3-0. George Allen sealed the points against Dean Smith in the fourth frame and the home side won both doubles racks with Ross Richards-Jones replacing Smith in the away line-up. Smith had the scant consolation of beating Allen in the Captains’ game that followed, much to the Shropshire A starlet’s annoyance.

King’s Head B showed that they mean business this season with a crushing 0-6 win at Junction A in Norbury. Lyndon Woodcock, Ian Swinnerton, Rich Sutton and Luke Carter did the damage for the away side with singles wins over Hyla Marklew, Sion Richards, Steve Roycroft and Gordon Sidebottom and the quartet prevailed in the doubles to seal the rout.

Three of the evening’s matches ended in a draw, but King’s Head A managed to edge a win over Junction B. Graham Tigwell sobered the home side when he lost the opener to Ryan Morris, but Irene Whittington hit back to beat Ruth Minton, only for James Morris to put the away side back in front at the expense of George Taylor. Edd Keenan muscled in to level with a win over Dave Blount and the introduction of Mick Collins in the last of the doubles’ racks helped the home side over the line in a tight contest.

Following the closure of the Horns, Gnosall’s team has moved to the nearby Navigation, but they stumbled to an unlikely draw against Legion B. Kyle Oldfield gave them a good start against Barry Smith, but Dave Withers, Callum Day and Kim Rigby hit back with wins over Dai Smith, Jamie Wright and Bailey Wright to put the Legion within sight of the promised land. The Navigation responded well to win the doubles’ racks after a costly error on the black ruined the Legion’s chance of snatching the win.

The Wheatsheaf held the Lamb to a 3-3 draw in Chetwynd Aston. Nigel Sandbrook and Ant Heathcote gave the home side the perfect start against Matt Roberts and George Stokes, but Mark Ball and John Stanley hit back to level with wins over Al Harvey and Paul Skitt. Eileen Stanley joined the away side in the doubles where honours were shared.

Matt Cowap gave the Sutherland Arms an early lead over the Haberdashers Arms by beating John Mason in Tibberton. But Janet Lane levelled against Jon Bailey. The home side responded well with further frame wins for Jack Nagington and Karl Hanmer over Ayla Mason and Nathan Shepherd, but the visitors claimed both doubles racks to seal the points after Gareth Thomas had come into the home team in the final frame.

2018-2019 Marston’s Newport & District Pool League @ 08/11/18

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
King’s Head B	1	1	0	0	6	0	2
Legion A	1	1	0	0	6	0	2
King’s Head A	1	1	0	0	4	2	2
Haberdashers	1	0	1	0	3	3	1
Lamb WrockWood	1	0	1	0	3	3	1
Legion B	1	0	1	0	3	3	1
Navigation	1	0	1	0	3	3	1
Sutherland Arms	1	0	1	0	3	3	1
Wheatsheaf	1	0	1	0	3	3	1
Junction B	1	0	0	1	2	4	0
Junction A	1	0	0	1	0	6	0
Legion Yaks	1	0	0	1	0	6	0

Week 1 results:

Wheatsheaf v Lamb Wrockwardine Wood, 3-3
Legion B v Navigation Gnosall, 3-3
Junction A v King’s Head B, 0-6
Sutherland Arms Tibberton v Haberdashers Arms, 3-3
Legion A v Legion Yaks, 6-0
King’s Head A v Junction B, 4-2

Ends

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