Home & Away Cup Quarter Finals 1st Leg
Spartans 7-7 Castle
Pirates 7-7 Scorpions
Rockers 9-5 Greenisland
Barbarians 10-4 Whitehead Trojans
Barbarians 10-4 Whitehead Trojans. Only a point seperated these 2 teams in the League so a tight Cup tie was expected. But Michael Lowry's Barbarians had other ideas as they raced into a 6-1 interval lead with wins for H.Regan (2), M.Porter (2), Lowry himself and G.Harrington. Trojans sole point was scored by T.Scott-Heyes. Regan with his 2nd successive hat trick made it 7-1 before the visitors dragged themselves back into the tie with a brace from Captain G.McCormick and the experienced S.Hamilton. But 3 in a row from Harrington, Lowry and P.Akehurst put Barbarians well in control of the tie. The 14th and final frame was won by G.Jones to give the Whitehead team a glimmer of hope in the 2nd Leg. Barbarians will approach the 2nd Leg in a professional manner without complacency, but they are definitely looking good for Semi Final spot on the strength of this performance.
Spartans 7-7 Castle. The Leagues top 2 teams were paired against each other in the Home and Away Cup Quarter Final. R.Hawkins won Frame 1 to get the hosts off to a good start, but T.McCorry and A.Toner soon had Castle in front with 2 fine finishes. K.English levelled the match at 2-2 with a long black before Castle again edged in front with Toner notching up his 2nd. The next 2 were shared, E.Martin for the home side and D.Irwin for the visitors to give Castle a 4-3 interval lead. Martin won Frame 8 to make it 4-4 but a Castle brace from Meredith and McCorry opened up the first 2 frame gap of the evening. A great finish from English gave Spartans hope but yet again Castle replied, McCorry getting his hat trick with a superb 8 ball clearance to ensure Castle would go in to the 2nd leg with at least a draw. But Tommy Maguire's team have been digging deep this season when needs be and English finished superbly to mark his hat trick and bring the scoreline back to 6-7. It looked like Castle would take the honours though as Irwin was on for a break and dish, but a horrendous kick on his 6th colour let in Hawkins who typically grinded his way back into the frame. He got badly out of position on the black but to his team mates relief he sunk it from distance to leave it all to play for in the 2nd Leg in Greenisland.