Wednesday 12 October 2011

Results from Tuesday 11th October

HEADLINES -- Castle Rock the Rockers -- Teddy Bears have a picnic -- MSC Trojans all at sea

Rockers 5-9 Castle
Spartans 6-8 Teddy Bears
MSC Trojans 2-12 Pirates
Barbarians 7-7 Trojans
Greenisland 7-7 Monkstown
Alpha 4-10 Scorpions
Valkyries 3-11 Eastway

Greenisland 7-7 Monkstown. The visitors got off to a good start courtesy of a P.Henderson win, but a four frame burst from the GI's through the in form G.Burns (2), S.Lennon and P.Akehurst settled the home teams nerves. The next two were shared, P.Charles for Monkstown and Lennon with his second for Greenisland to give an interval score of 5-2 for the hosts. Burns with his hat trick made it 6-2 before Monkstown brought the score back to 6-5 through the Henderson trio of Paul, Robert and new signing Ryan. Greenisland were guaranteed at least a point when D.Harris finished well but the spoils were shared on the night at 7-7 with another double from the Hendersons, Paul and Robert.

Rockers 5-9 Castle. Castle Manager Derek Whiteside told his players before kick off "WIN or we can't win the League, even after only 4 matches into the new season" A tall order indeed against the League Champions, the team that Castle just can't seem to beat recently. So it was little surprise when Rockers Captain J.McClean capitalised on a P.Roberts missed clearance to put the home side 1-0 up. More Castle misery as T.McCorry couldn't really get in to his swing and A.Arbuthnot made it 2-0. But then Castle new boy A.Toner pulled one back with a pinpoint finish after the usually reliable R.Butler missed his. It was soon 2-2 when Castle talisman D.Irwin defeated Darren Whiteside. Clem Howard unluckily went in off to the middle whilst trying to unblock a pocket but that didnt worry P.Harris who cleared to put The Rockers ahead again at 3-2. Castle levelled again at 3-3 with a sublime frame from Irwin and an unbelievable clearance from T.Whiteside put the visitors 4-3 ahead at the half time interval. Howard then gave Castle a two frame advantage with a nice black off the cushion but the Champs rallied again and kept it just a frames distance with a fine Darren Whiteside clearance against Toner. Up stepped McCorry in the next for Castle, with a trademark 90 seconds break and dish to put Castle into a 6-4 lead and the visitors were guaranteed at least a point as Irwin notched up his hat trick of wins. The honours of achieving the 3 vital points went to Toner with another good finish. Arbuthnot pulled one back for Rockers against P.Roberts but T.Whiteside finished the match off with a delightful clearance culminating with a breathtaking black. A long awaited win for the Castle lads and proof that this seasons title race will be exhilirating and full of drama.

Spartans 6-8 Teddy Bears. What a match beteen these two Rangers Supporters Clubs. The experienced successful Whitehead Spartans against new boys the Teddy Bears from Carrick who although unbeaten were expected to crumble at Sparta where the hosts have a very strong home record. But Brian Flemings lads did not read the script at all, they came down the 5 mile coastal trip and made their mark, leaving with all 3 points and not only that, they are top of the League. After a pulsating first half, Spartans led 4-3 at the break then 5-3. But after that it was the Carrick lads who ran the show as they took 4 out of the next 5 frames to lead 7-6 with one to go. It all looked hopeless for the pending hero of the hour, veteran D.Millar, with his last 4 colours seemingly not in a clearing position, but he pulled out a super finish to seal the match much to the delight of all his team mates as they heard the news that with The Rockers loss at Castle, the Teddy Bears were top of the League.

MSC Trojans 2-12 Pirates. The Pirates are now full sail ahead in the League this season. After a first match reverse to League Champions The Rockers, Roy McMurtry's shipmates have won 3 in a row, none more convincing than this demolition of MSC Trojans. It looked like it was going to be a tight match all the way after the first 4 frames were shared at 2-2, A.Corrigan and J.McMurtry on the board for the visitors and J.Murdock and D.Montgomery for the hosts. But an amazing 10 frames in a row  gave Pirates the 3 points and left the MSC Trojans reeling. C.Carson started it off with a 6 ball clearance in the first of his 3 wins which also included a tidy break and dish in the last. Further wins for R.McMurtry, S.Carson (2), P.McCaffrey, J.McMurtry and A.Corrigan wrapped up a splendid nights work for the Pirates but gave Rab Brown a lot of thinking to do before his MSC Trojans host Whitehead Trojans next Tuesday.