Carrick & District Pool league sponsored by SKC Gaming NI, Week 3 Tuesday 17th September 2024
Greenisland Colts 4-10 Scorpions
Home team report
Let's face it the Greenisland Colts we're fully aware it was going to be a tough shift against the rightly well regarded and respected Times Bar Scorpions. The league leading Scorpions side took the first half of the evening a comfortable 5 – 2, however a couple of frames as usual cudda shudda went the other way! Greenisland Vice Captain Colin Beckinsale missed a black that he would have usually potted (one of those that would wake you up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about it) the same can be said though of Scorpion Colin Rafferty going in-off on a potted black ball!
The second half was the same 5 - 2 score line with the only Colt wins being that of Chris McCurry and Colt Captain Harry Warwick. Both teams being friendly yet obviously competitive as always made for an enjoyable night of CDPL pool.
Away team report
In a game of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ it was the league leaders, the Scorpions who prevailed in Greenisland. Colts had their chances in some frames and the score line could have been closer. Glen Burns was first to the black, but it was Lee McIlreevey, who converted, to give Scorpions the opener. Stephen Johnston made it 2 and a reverse dish from Darren Whiteside made it 3.
Vice-captain, Colin Beckinsale missed a black 2 inches from the pocket and Michael Wilson was relieved to mop up to make it 0-4. Joe Patton used all of his experience to overcome Aaron Leslie with a fine finish to get the Colts on the scoreboard. Like London buses, Glen Burns swiftly followed for Colt’s second after Colin Rafferty went in off the black. Davy Blair finished off the final frame of the first half with a pinpoint double to middle with screw and running side to land plumb on the black.
Aaron Leslie started the second half with a beautiful reverse dish. Stephen Johnston put Scorpions on the hill and Paul Kerr secured the points with a nice finish. Darren Whiteside extended the lead with another reverse dish before Chris McCurry took advantage of Colin Rafferty’s nappy leakage. Lee McIlreavey ripped out another for the Scorpions before Harry Harwick took the last frame of the night to restore some pride for his team. Final score Colts 4 Scorpions 10. This cements Scorpions’ spot at the top of the league before their bye next week when we expect to see a new league leader.
The Colts, having played a game less are in 12th place.
Q Club Titans 9-5 Galacticos
What an incredible night of pool at the Q club between the Titans and Galacticos. This one really was a clash of two titans which did not disappoint many of the onlooking spectators.
Reigning champions Galacticos travelled down to the Qclub not knowing what to expect from this newly formed team.
Up stepped Mark Millar for the Titans vs Galactico Aaron Rolston, with Aaron winning the lag only to break dry with Mark clearing the table for a reverse dish.
Next up was young Jack Carson vs Gary Wallace with Jack winning the lag then took out a fast but beautiful break & dish to leave the Titans leading 2-0.
But the Galacticos had other ideas with a great break & dish from Roger Smyth and Aaron Rolston levelling the score at 2-2.
With the Titans and Galacticos playing at such a high standard it was a just a matter of time before one slipped up; it was then the Titans really took advantage and rolled off the next 5 in a row making it 7-2 Titans, but the Galacticos were not going down without a fight and really showed a bit of class winning the next 3 with wins from Aaron, Chris and Gary score now 7-5!
With a potential come back on the cards the Galacticos had a little twinkle in their eye, maybe it was excitement, maybe it was ‘now we have a chance’. Only for Ryan Mckillop to end their hopes and dreams for the visitors.
And to finish a great night of pool off Rhys McLaughin reverse-dished Gary Wallace with Gary having an unfortunate in-off on the break!
The final score Titans 9-5 Galacticos lifts the Titans into second place in the league table with 8 points from their 3 matches, Galacticos are in 8th place but have only played 2 matches
Whitehead Trojans 5-9 The Grange
The Grange arrived in Whitehead with a very strong team. Whitehead Trojans won the first frame, then Grange won the next 5 frames including a Paul Shannon break and dish in frame 4.
Ryan Scott nearly had his own break and dish but missed his last red. This was the longest game of the night. Both players missed balls to win the frame, but Ryan came out the winner in the end. First half finished 5- 2 to Grange.
The second half started with another break and dish from Richard Kitson. The next frames were close frames, each team winning frames. The 10th frame Ryan had another go at a break and dish, but again missing his last red but still went on to win the frame. The final score was 5 - 9 to the Grange. Two players won 3/3 Trojans Gary Fitzsimmons and the Grange Jim Gilchrist and Ryan Scott 2/2
The result lifts the Grange up to 4th place in the table with 7 points from 3 games, while the Trojans are in 7th place
Golf Club 10-4 Q Club
The Golf Club earned their second victory of the season with a hard-fought win over the Q Club. The match was much tighter than the 10-4 scoreline suggests with several frames that could have gone either way.
A tight first frame went the way of the home team before Paul Cowan made it 2-0 with a fine break and dish. Rorie McAllister pulled one back after a great safety shot paved the way for an easy black. The home team extended to 4-1 before great finishes from Q club’s Jason Voorhees and Karl Crozier for the golf club left the score at 5-2 at half time.
Jason got very unlucky in frame 8 leaving a touching ball on his last yellow which led to an in-off. Alan Lunn finished to make it 6-2. Ciaran O’Toole made some great pots on his way to a comfortable victory over Freddie Williams. Paul Cowan came out on top in a cagey 10th frame that could have gone either way. Raymond Haggan doubled the black to edge frame 11 and Alan Lunn completed his hat-trick to make it 9-3. Another excellent finish from Ciaran O’Toole made it 9-4 before Paul Cowan won a tight final frame to also complete his hat-trick.
Final score 10-4 to the Golf Club, a result which moves them up to 5th place in the league, just above Q Club in 6th place.
Whiteabbey Legion 14-0 Pink Ladies
The other result of the night saw the Pink Ladies travel to Whiteabbey Legion in search of their first point of the season, however a 14-0 victory for the Legion left them rooted to the bottom of the table and lifted the Legion up to third with 8 points from their 3 games!
