2007-2008 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Thursday, March 13th, 2008
AUDCO HIT THE TOP AS KING’S HEAD CRASH AT HOME
NEWPORT (Shropshire): The Audco cruised to the top of the Newport Pool League for the first time this season, courtesy of a 6-0 demolition of the Navy Club and the shock news that the former table-topping King’s Head had crashed to a 4-2 home defeat to the Junction A.
The Audco’s victory was far from straightforward though: Norman Riley had a couple of shots on the black to secure the first frame, only to see Tom Sayce recover his composure and clinch the vital pot. Dennis Holland threatened Paul Trevor for a few anxious moments and Andy Lycett survived a couple of scares before seeing off Gerry Nunn in his ‘banana skin’ frame in front of several hostile members of the third-placed LSC side watching from the sidelines.
Anthony Heathcote completed the singles’ rout with a hard-earned frame win against the in-form Alan Pritchett and the doubles matches went with the form guide, as the Audco clinched their first bonus point of the season. “Alan played well in the singles match, but I was awesome in my doubles match tonight,” boasted Heathcote. “I played my own game and finished it in style.”
The Audco duly opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table thanks to the Junction A’s stunning 4-2 victory at Chetwynd End. The Junction won all four singles matches, before being pegged back in the doubles’ racks. The defeat was the King’s Head’s first of the season and leaves them chasing the Audco’s coat tails over the remaining games. “Fair play, the Junction played like legends,” admitted a dejected Matt Collins of the losing side.
The Shakespeare have struggled in recent weeks, but they maintained fourth place with a hard-earned 3-3 home draw against a stubborn Boat side. Dave Lakin missed a golden chance on the black before seeing off Matt Hester and the Gnosall side made it 2-0 when Nigel Sandbrook edged the frame against Richard Young.
Ben Clewes restored home supporters’ faith with a vital frame win over the in-form Dave Rogers, but the Shake were again on the ropes when their captain Mick Andrews fell to Mark Changa. Clewes and Hester made amends by ousting Rogers and Changa in the first of the doubles matches and Young and Carl Fletcher edged a scrappy final frame against Lakin and Sandbrook to seal the draw.
The Sutherland Muxton had hoped to maintain their winning streak, but were held to a 3-3 home draw by the Wheatsheaf. Kim Worrall and Charlie Hayward got the home side off to a winning start against Nigel Sandbrook and Al Harvey, but Luke Hayward came a cropper against Ian Trevor. Dave Worrall made it 3-1 to the home side with a win over Paul Skitt, but the Wheatsheaf dug deep and managed to win both the doubles matches, with Harvey, Skitt, Sandbrook and Chris Cooper doing the damage.
The match between Lilleshall Sports Centre and the New Inn was postponed.
Would teams ensure that all match forms are returned to the Railway Tavern after games to ensure that league tables and player statistics are as accurate as possible. Please also text the result to 07831 123153.
Results – week 17
Sutherland Muxton v Wheatsheaf 3-3
King’s Head v Junction A 2-4
Navy Club v Audco 0-6
Shakespeare v Boat Gnosall 3-3
Lilleshall SC v New Inn – postponed
2007-2008 Newport & District Pool latest league table @ 11/03/08
Team P W D L F A Pts
Audco 11 8 3 0 46 20 28*
King’s Head 10 7 2 1 41 19 24*
Lilleshall SC 11 6 2 3 39 27 21*
Shakespeare 12 6 2 4 39 33 21*
Junction A 10 6 0 4 31 27 18
Sutherland Muxton 11 5 2 4 35 31 17
Boat Gnosall 9 3 3 3 25 29 12
Wheatsheaf+ 11 2 5 4 29 37 11
Navy Club+ 10 2 0 8 19 41 6
Junction B+ 9 1 1 7 20 34 4
New Inn 10 0 2 8 16 44 2
* denotes bonus point awarded for 6-0 wins
+ denotes annual fees paid
League matches still to be played to date.
Audco v Boat Gnosall
Boat Gnosall v Junction A
Junction B v Navy Club
Junction A v King’s Head
Boat Gnosall v Junction B
New Inn v Navy Club
Lilleshall SC v New Inn
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com