Results from Tuesday 14th December

Castle 5-9 Rockers
Carrick & District League had been looking forward with anticipation to this titanic upcoming battle between 1st and 2nd for weeks now. A home win or a draw would keep the League title race very much in the balance, an away win would open up a very healthy 5 point gap for the Rockers. A long opening frame saw J.McClean edge out P.Roberts and when J.Johnstone beat Castle debutante D.Cooper the Rockers had a 2-0 lead. And it got even better when A.Arbuthnot made it 3. The next 2 were shared, T.McCorry for Castle and S.Carson for the visitors. With the interval approaching Rockers were in danger of getting out of sight, but a D.Irwin win and a fine break and dish from McCorry brought it back to 3-4 and still anyones game. Frame 8 saw the Leagues top 2 players matched against one another but Irwin couldn't influence the game as R.Butler broke and dished for 3-5. And when S.Carson ran out a finish in the next, it was looking ominous for Castle at 3-6. Cooper was unlucky in frame 10 as he hung the black to let Rockers Captain, McClean in to put his team on the hill. And the 3 points were assured when yet another break and dish, this time from Dn.Whiteside gave Rockers an uncatchable 8-3 lead. McCorry and Roberts won the next 2 for Castle and Butler took the last for the visitors to leave the final score at 5-9. Rockers have now played 10 and won 10 and it would take a brave man backing against them clinching this years League Crown. Best performer on the night was T.McCorry of Castle on 3/3.

Spartans 11-3 Dolly Mixtures
The Ladies took a surprise lead down at Sparta, through new Northern Ireland Ladies Champion Mary McCourt. It was very nearly 2-0 as Clare Webster played some good tactics against E.McDowell only to juggle her last colour and let McDowell pot an easy black. S.Hamilton, D.Lowe and S.Burns were solid as Spartans took a 4-1 lead. Jean McIlroy very nearly outgunned R.Hawkins who had to pot out of a snooker to steal the frame. But the Dollys got their just rewards with another win, Karen McCormick finishing well against K.English. Further wins after the interval for Hawkins, English, Kane, McDowell and Burns put the result beyond doubt, but Clare Webster finished well to put another point on the board for the Ladies. D.Lowe rounded the evening off for The Spartans with his 2nd of the night.

Monkstown 5-9 Barbarians
Eastway 7-7 Bees
Pirates 4-10 Scorpions
Greenisland 7-7 Alpha