Q Club welcomed the Bay City Bowlers to Larne for week 4 of the Carrick & District Pool league sponsored by SKC GAMING NI Ltd
After last week’s cup heroics in Whiteabbey, Q Club were able to utilise their squad depth to replace Brian Crilly with Andrew Ferguson in 1 change for the hosts. The Bowlers themselves had a 7-man strong panel.
It was a blistering first session for Q Club as they seized control of the match limiting the chances and table time to the visitors. Highlights included a Ryan McKillop break and dish.
After a 10-minute half time break the Bowlers kept the match alive by taking the first 2 frames of the second session to keep alive hopes of a comeback. This was dashed by Alan Johnston who steadied the ship and put the Larne boys on the hill. Ultimate pool’s Ryan Scott sealed the 3 points in an entertaining 11th frame.
Overall, a relatively straightforward win for the Larne lads with headlines being the impressive form of Tyler McKee and Ryan McKillop continuing in the league with a hat trick and a double respectively. Star man for the Bowlers was Rab Carson who had his own impressive double with 2 well taken finishes.
Next week sees the Bowlers host League favourites, the Galacticos, and Q Club travel to the QE2 Cubs.
Railway Blues 3-11 Scorpions
The Railway Blues started well with a win from Ryan Stewart! The class and experience then shone through from the scorpions with 6 frames on the trot, wins from Darren Whiteside ×2, Paul Kerr, Michael Wilson ×2 and Chris Carson!
The second session started well for the blues, Craig Laughlin winning his first frame. However, the comeback was short lived as Colin Montgomery and Michael Wilson put scorpions over the line. A break and dish from Chris Carson took the scorpions further ahead. Keith McKee got a conciliation frame for the blues. Paul and Chris won the last two frames to give the scorpions an 11-3 victory.
Galacticos 10-4 Trojans
The Galacticos entertained the Trojans, fresh from their emphatic cup victory over the Scorpions, and the visitors had another victory in mind.
Arron 'Farrohneex' Farr started off well for the visitors with a precise reverse dish before Gee Crawley patiently toyed with his opponent to draw level. Rolston and Harris put the home side ahead and they looked set for another rampant victory. The away side had different ideas though as Alan Corrigan, Stevie Hamilton and Ricky Moulds took out some quality finishes to have the visitors ahead at half time.
The Galacticos headed to the jukebox and, with the assistance of Patti Pabelle and her unique brand of 80s funk, rattled out a 7-0 second half rout to take the match 10-4.
A match that the Galacticos would probably have lost last season ended up with a flattering scoreline for the home side. Adding Crawley, Wilson and Smyth to their ranks to compliment last season's stalwarts seems to have given the Greenisland man an extra depth this season.
Spartans 6-8 QE2 Cubs
Whitehead Spartans took on the Cubs at the QE2 Club in Carrick. The match was a close affair, and the Spartans lead for most of it. The Cubs showed great character by taking the last 3 frames to win 8 - 6. Players of the night were Rhys McLaughlin and Jake Quinn who won both of their frames against experienced opponents.
Special mention goes to Jake Quinn who produced a classy break and finish just before the interval to keep his team in touching distance when they were behind.
Tigers 7-7 Rockets To Be
Controversy alert!!! to come later!!
The Tigers welcomed league new boys Rockets to be to the Times bar, hoping for revenge after a play-off defeat in last week’s knock out cup. Rockets to be got off to the best possible start though with Stevie Campbell edging a close frame over Steven Simpson. John Fulton levelled with a good finish over Mark Porter. Chris McCurry won his first of 3 frames v Tom McGurk with an exquisite bank shot and then John Lainey thought he had put the Rockets to be even further ahead only to go in-off the black v Johnny Eccles. 2-2
Wins for Ian McMillan and Darren McFarlane put the Rockets 4-2 up and then skipper Davey Montgomery reduced the deficit at half time to 4-3 with a win over Ricky Hill.
Step up Mr Controversy!!! The second half started with John Fulton going head-to-head with Ricky Hill, a frame which Ricky won. However, unknown to both teams, no player can play 2 frames consecutively, even either side of the H/T break, so Ricky had to later forfeit the frame.
The great start to the second half continued for Rockets to be with a fine clearance by Mark Irvine over Davey Montgomery and another great bank shot for Chris McCurry over Tom McGurk, and then a second win for Stevie Campbell over Steven Simpson. Score at this stage was 8-3 to the Rockets to be, or so we thought!!
Last 3 frames of the night saw wins for Davey Montgomery, John Fulton and Tom McGurk, to leave the score at 8-6, and a losing bonus point for the Tigers, and it was only then we were made aware of the controversy above, which changed the result to 7-7. Unlucky on the Rockets to be who had played really well on the night and had done enough to secure their first win. No doubt both teams, young in experience as they are, will learn the rules as we go and learn from the experience.
Rab & Big T’s Rockets 9-5 Colts
The Greenisland men travelled to Whiteabbey with a sense of purpose and determination! The evening began with Andy Galloway and JJ placing bets on the Colts getting 4 frames. I believe Andy took a £20 bet on the visitors reaching 4, then proceedings began.
The Colts came out swinging, with their eyes on the prize and Andy’s eyes on the £20, Andy had a battle with JJ in the first frame. JJ kept trying to hide the white and Andy repeatedly escaped while promoting his balls, which were diminishing as the frame went on! After a tense frame of to and fro and lots of snooker attempts from JJ, once known as “best safety player in Carrick”. But JJ gave away 2 shots to give Andy the opportunity for the finish. However JJ couldn’t bear the thought of watching Andy potting the black, so re-enacted the infamous scene of Rab Mac in the Regal, swiping balls with his cue and taking his disappointment out on the table. 1-0 Colts. (The pair reserved their rights to decline a gentleman’s handshake.)
Fortunately the cloth remained intact, and we continued with Buff facing Joe Patton. This was a similar frame with no signs of a finish in sight, so after some more cautious pool, Joe managed to take the frame and in a kind and loving manner the pair shook hands like gentlemen. 2-0 Colts.
Up stepped the two Captains, Big T and Harry Warwick faced each other. In a frame that wasn’t overly pretty, the nervy T managed to pull a frame back. 2-1 Colts. Then Aaron Watters stepped up and took the next frame against our favourite vision blocker, Stuart McClean. Buff turned to Big T and said, “Ah well mate, sure the pool’s not pretty to watch so far anyway, let’s just watch the footy instead.” 3-1 Colts and JJ looked at me with a glint of worry in his eyes.
Fortunately Rab, the Rockets Manager stepped up next with a good win, followed by Kevin Mullan, against Colin Beckinsale and Andy Galloway respectively. 3-3.
Aaron Watters took the last frame beating wee Buff, culminating in the first half score being 4-3 to the Colts!
The second half was a different story, starting with a great finish from Big T against Harry, levelling the score, 4-4.
It was then Rab, JJ and Stu beating Colin, Joe and Andy, putting the home side on the hill, 7-4 Rockets.
Big T up against Aaron next. T saw an opportunity early in the frame. Taking out another super finish to get the team over the line, he secured another hat trick for the much improved, clean and sober Captain. And before anyone asks, Big T claims that there was no pool table in rehab, and I believe him. Along with his old habits, it seems he has almost ditched his trademark twitch too, improving his game massively. 8-4 Rockets. (He commented afterwards, “Ian Brown knew, The Drugs Don’t Work.”)
The last two frames went one a piece, Harry beating Rab to give the visitors a chance at the bonus point, but Kev beat Joe in what can only be called a very strange frame. Don’t know how the hell Kev won, when Joe had complete control, but hey, that’s pool.
End result, 9-5 Rockets.
Man of the match was Big T with his hat trick, 2nd week in a row. I expect big things from the big man this year!