In the Carrick District Pool League sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd we had some great matches in the sixth league match of the season.
Carrick Bowlers hosted Greenisland Colts. A fixture that both teams always look forward to once again delivered in a nip-and-tuck battle that went all the way to frame 14.
Frame 1 set the tone for the night, with a frame filled with drama right to the end, but it was eventually won for Bowler David Craig after Colt Colin Beckinsale rattled a black. Frame 2 followed suit, but this time Bowler Ian McMillan would jaw a black in the middle to leave a tap-in black for Colt Alan Harris to level it at 1-1. The Colts then went on to win the next three frames, with wins for Joe Patton, Andy Mackey, and John McClean, to lead 4-1. The Bowlers stopped the rot in Frame 6, with Ryan Ward stepping up and sinking a fine long black to seal his victory (2-4). The last frame of the first half was a tense affair, but Ian McMillan would seal the win with a brilliant black down the rail to make it 3-4 at the break.
The second half began with a repeat of Frame 1, with Bowler David Craig securing a win over Beckinsale again. This time, Craig pounced on an error to take out a superb clearance that ended with a good cut black into the middle.
At 4-4, it was all to play for, and Bowler Darren Clifford was in no mood to be denied, with a fantastic penultimate doubled red to make it 5-4 to the hosts.
The Colts weren't done yet, but in what was quickly becoming a topsy-turvy match of consecutive frames won on the bounce, the Colts stepped up to take the next three frames in determined fashion. Wins by Joe Patton, Alan Harris, and Dee Harris put them on the hill at 7-5. However, this game wasn't done yet, and Bowler captain Richard Topping stepped up for the Bowlers after a highly unfortunate in-off in his first frame to shake that off and secure the Bowlers at least a bonus point with one frame remaining.
Frame 14 would decide it all, and it saw the reliable and ultimately Player of the Match, Joe Patton, take on Bowler Ryan Ward to decide the outcome of a competitive match. In a frame where both had their chances, Patton's experience shone through, and he would deny the Bowlers a draw and secure the Colts a hard-fought victory.
BThe Bowlers would like to thank Captain Harry Warwick and all of his team for making this fixture go ahead after a delayed start and wish them every success going forward.
Stadium hosted Q Club and the Shankill men got off to a good start with a great performance for Lewis Neill for his first win of the night, Q club would fight back in the next making it 1-1, Jason Vorhees punishing Mark Millar Jnr after he missed his black for a B&D, Q club would then go ahead 2-1 with William Irvine taking out a lovely B&D not allowing Bryan Elwood to the table, Stadium captain Chris McCurry stepped up next and put his team back on an even playing field 2-2, a back and forth battle happened next between William McCullough and Ciaran O’Toole unfortunately for William his last shot to get onto the black left him with only a nasty bank shot to try and pot the black, Ciaran then punished him when he missed, Q Club back in the lead 3-2, Adam Crossett would then keep the stadiums hopes alive getting them back to level again 3-3, neck and neck going into the last game of the first half both teams both teams wanting to be the one going into the second half with the lead, it would be the Q club that achieved this with Jason stepping up and winning his second of the night in what was quite a long and technical frame, an inexperienced James Robertson failing to call full ball and fouling as a result give his opponent 2 shots and the advantage he needed to make a clearance and take the frame, Q club go into the break 4-3 ahead.
Back for the second half and Lewis would yet again get stadium back level with his 2nd win of the night, before Q club yet again firing back and retaking the lead, Mark Abram would win the next to extend Q clubs lead to 6-4 and claim at least a point, Mark Millar Jnr stepped up next taking out a nice finish to get Stadium back within 1, Chris up next got off to a flyer with what should’ve been a reverse clearance but unfortunately fouled on his last ball, with a lot of work for Marty Kane to do he chose the sensible option to snooker his opponent however Chris tried a ballsy shot and got probably the fluke of the century (sorry Marty!) getting his team back level and also making sure of a point 6-6, Bryan would step up next and put Stadium in the lead for the first time since frame 1 and securing at least the draw, with the everything to play for Lewis stepped up next for Stadium and looking like he was going to B&D to finish off a great quality come back and win for league new comers Stadium he unfortunately left himself horrible on his last ball and trying to pot it ended up potting the black instead ending the night 7-7, a well contended match and one that could’ve went either way ended up in a well deserved draw between the teams
Players of mention: Chris McCurry 2/2 and Lewis Neill with 2/3 for Stadium. Jason Voorhees with 3/3 and William Irvine with 2/3 for Q Club.
Times Tigers v Whiteabbey Legion
Legion started off like a house on fire, racing to a 6 nil lead with wins for Andy Arbuthnot, Tristan Scott-Heyes, Gareth Robinson, Rab Butler, Darren ONeill and Dessie Robinson. Sam Sloan won the last frame of the first half to give the Tigers a little bit of hope! Andy Arbuthnot soon quenched those hopes winning against John Fulton to put the legion 7-1 up. A little bit of Tigers fight back continued with fine wind for Stephen Simpson and Johnny Eccles, before man of the match Rab Butler won his second of the night to secure the win for the Legion. Score at this stage 8-3. Wins for Tom McGurk and John Fulton have the Tigers hope of a losing bonus point bringing the score to 8-5 but that man again Rab Butler won the last, his third of the night, to leave the score 9-5 to the legion.
A great night, a great performance from the Legion and especially that hallion Butler! He was already in great form given Man Utd’s win on Sunday, tonight’s hat trick might just put him on the beer again for another few days!!
Times Bar Scorpions travelled down to Whitehead Glasgow Rangers Club to face the Spartans hoping for a win to keep their title challenge on track. They did just that, comfortably winning both sessions 5-2 for a 10-4 victory.
Lee McIlreavy set the tone breaking and dishing against Robert Hawkins followed by wins for David Blair, Paul Kerr and Stephen Johnston (another break and dish) as Scorpions raced into a 4-0 lead. Thomas Fleming and Kenny English steadied the ship for the hosts but Paul Kerr won the last frame in the first session for the visitors. David Blair took out a reverse dish against the unfortunate Billy Pawson who only got one shot (break shot) in his two racks played. Spartans won two more frames courtesy of the experienced yet fortunate Alan Johnston and Robert Hawkins, but wins by Darren Whiteside, Paul Kerr, Aaron Leslie and Stephen Johnston with another break n dish kept Scorpions top of the League table on frame difference from Andy Quinn's Q.Club Titans.
Titans v Trojans
First up to the table was Aaron Wright for the titans with a great battle against Chris Hobson which some would say was tighter than a star table's pockets which seen Aaron first on the black only to miss and leave chris a great opportunity to take the frame only to play a great cut on the black and run the white into the corner pocket making the score line 1-0 Titans quickly followed was wins from current top of stats Stuart kelly and northern ireland seniors champion brian crilly /riley patterson and dean mcdonagh making score line 5-0 but it was the crafty pensioner stephen hamilton that would kick the Trojans off with their first frame with a win over Alan Corrigan, 5-1 with the Seniors champion (Crilly) take the next in fine fashion also stuart/riley and dean making score 9-1 but yet again stephen hamilton pulled out the stop sign with a strong performance and win over Aaron wright 9-2 again wins for stuart kelly and riley patterson 11-2 with last frame still to play seen gary fitzsimmons take the last of the night making score line 11-3 Titans.
Galacticos v Granges
Galacticos hosted Granges and it was the Ballyclare men who took first blood with Gary Neeson edging out a scrappy frame but Gary Wallace equalised for the home team with a pinpoint clearance.
Gee Crawley put the Galacticos 2-1 up with a nice clearance before Jackie Murdock levelled after another tactical frame.
Jack Carson regained the lead for the Greenisland men, capitalising on a hung black but Uel Wallace equalised again for the Ballyclare men but Gary Wallace gave the home team a 4-3 half time advantage with a patient frame.
Paul Harris put the defending champions two frames ahead with a delectable positional shot on the black before Chris Carson put the Galacticos 6-3 up.
Jack Carson and Wallace guaranteed the three points for the Greenisland men with the next two frames.
Paul Harris furnished us with finish of the week next ripping out a magnificent reverse dish.
The Carsons rounded off an 11-3 win with a couple of crispy finishes.
Railway Blues had a convincing 13-1 over Pink Ladies.