HEADLINES
AS YOU WERE FOR TOP 4 ~ MONKSTOWN UP TO 5TH ~ SCORPIONS PREPARE FOR CUP SEMI FINAL WITH BIG WIN
Rockers 11-3 Teddy Bears
Scorpions 11-3 Greenisland
Barbarians 6-8 Eastway
MSC Trojans 3-11 Spartans
Pirates 12-2 Valkyries
Whitehead Trojans 6-8 Monkstown
Alpha 1-13 Castle
Pirates 12-2 Valkyries. Pirates pre match plan was to score heavily as frame difference could be crucial, come the end of the season. That turned out to be the case, but the result could and should have been closer, especially in the first half. P.McCaffery put the hosts 1-0 up and C.Carson doubled it against an unfortunate J.McIlroy. McCaffery made it 3-0 with when he got the rub off the green against A.Galloway. H.McMurtry and C.Carson made it 5-0 before the experienced McIlroy registered the visitors first point. A.Corrigan completed the first half scoring with a fine clearance for Pirates as they now led 6-1. McCaffery got the better of Galloway again for 7-1 and Corrigan with his 2nd made it 8. H.McMurtry added to the rump with a cheeky black to the centre pocket in off his opponents colour before brother and Team Captain Roy McMurtry piled on the agony. Valkyries registered their 2nd and final frame of the night with Galloway getting onto the scoresheet but further wins for R.McMurtry and C.Carson gave Pirates the 3 points and the improved frame difference they desired.
Whitehead Trojans 6-8 Monkstown. Newcomers Whitehead Trojans pushed Monkstown all the way. seasoned campaigner S.Hamilton opened the scoring, but Sara Greenberg's Monkstown team came storming back with 3 on the trot through P.Charles, P.Henderson and R.Henderson. A.Matthews stopped the rot for Trojans and G.Fee levelled proceeding at 3-3. But the away side took the last frame before the interval with another win for the consistent R.Henderson. Back came Trojans again with R.Baird getting on the scoresheet for 4-4, but Monkstown moved up a gear with S.Walker and P.Henderson opening up a 2 frame advantage as the match neared the business end. Gordon McCormicks Trojans were'nt going to go down without a fight and Matthews won again for 5-6 with 3 to play. But then as they have done so many times, the Henderson brothers of Robert and Paul got Monkstown over the line with a brace to secure the 3 points which moves them up to 5th in the table. Hamilton won the final frame of the evening for the hosts.
MSC Trojans 3-11 Spartans. Spartans were apprehensive about this fixture against the MSC Trojans on the tight Monkstown Club table. So Manager Tommy Maguire brought a very strong squad up to take on Rab Browns lads. R.Hawkins edged the opener for Spartans, as did E.McDowell in the 2nd. A.Mackey finished well to bring the Trojans back to 1-2, but McDowell with his 2nd point restored the away sides 2 frame lead at 3-1. Although Trojans came back to 2-3 through J.Murdock. the visitors led 5-2 at the break courtesy of wins for E.Martin and S.McWhirter. A long black by N.McKelvey increased the lead as did a tidy finish by McDowell. Spartans were on the hill and the 3 points were soon in the bag when McKelvey cut a wafer thin 8 ball into the corner pocket for 8-2. McWhirter and Martin increased the lead to 10-2 before the experienced D.Montgomery pulled one back for the hosts. Hawkins won the final frame of the night for the visitors, as Spartans stay top of the League table by 2 points.