Friday 17 May 2024

Colts get their biggest league win


In the Carrick & District Pool League, sponsored by SKC Gaming NI Ltd

Greenisland Colts were away to Whiteabbey Royal British Legion Branch and Club Limited Rockets To Be. The Rockets got off to a great start with a sterling performance by Mark Porter.
However unfortunately for them the remainder of the evening would prove to be a very good night at the office for the Colts with Captain Harry Warwick, Vice Captain Colin Beckinsale, Aarron Watters, Christopher McCurry, Joe Patton and Andy Galloway winning every frame thereafter making it a 13 - 1 victory
A few highlights included a break and dish by Colt McCurry, a reverse dish and a lovely doubled black finish by Colt Patton and it must be said a nice fizzy doubled black ball finish by Colt vice captain Colin Beckinsale.

We saw a repeat of the Harbour Cup match only a few weeks ago as once again the Railway Blues hosted the Bay City Bowlers in The Railway Bar & Steam Dining In what turned out to be a tense first half the Railway men won the first frame via Ryan Stewart. It looked as if Rab Carson had the frame wrapped up after potting his final yellow but the pace of the table just took the cue ball further than he anticipated to leave a hard cut in the middle.
Frame two turned out to be the longest frame of the night lasting some 20-25 minutes but Glen Colwell took the win eventually with some fantastic table craft to leave Robin Kerr feeling disconsolate in what was a marathon frame of pool. The next two frames both went to the Railway men Jackie Murdoch and Graham Cahoon. That doesn’t tell the whole story with both Bowlers having their chances in each frame and Ricky was sadly denied in a black ball shoot out. 3-1 down with 3 to play the Bowlers stepped it up a gear with Ryan, Ricky & Glen taking the final 3 frames of the half to give the Bowlers a narrow 4-3 lead at half time.
The second half began with both teams probably expecting a similar narrative to the first half but how wrong that would prove to be with the Railway men rattling off 6 frames in succession. Amongst these wins was a quite superb clearance from Craig Laughin who would deny Glen Colwell his third win in succession and guarantee the Railway Blues at least a point with that win. The Bay City Bowlers did get a late consolation win with an outrageous fluke from Rab Carson on his final colour to leave a straightforward black. The final result was a 9-5 victory to the Railway men in what was an enjoyable night with great camaraderie between both sets of players.

The Trojans took on the Cubs in QE2 Snooker Club, hoping for a win, following defeat at the QE2 club last November. The first half went well for the Trojans and although every frame could have gone either way, they were 5-2 up at the interval. The Cubs fought hard in the second half, with some excellent clearances, but on the night the Trojans were too strong, taking all 3 points. Best for Trojans were Stephen McLaughlin, Ricky Moulds, Stevie Quinn and Stevie Hamilton each with 2/3. Best for the Cubs was Riley Patterson with 2/3. Final Score Trojans 9 QE2 Cubs 5.

Second placed Scorpions were up against their Times Bar stablemates, the Tigers. Scott Pettigrew ripped out a lovely reverse dish in the first frame. Michael Wilson and Paul Kerr put the Scorpions 2-1 up before Davy Montgomery levelled and a great tactical frame. Scorpions began to pull away with wins for Chris Cason and Darren Whiteside before Jonny Eccles brought it to 4-3 at half time. Scorpions knew that only a win would do if they had any chance of keeping the league leaders within touching distance.
Michael Wilson and Paul Kerr stretched the scorpion lead but Tigers captain wasn’t letting his team go down without a fight as he won another epic tactical encounter to reduce the arrears to 6-4. Rafferty ripped out a fabulous finish followed by wins for Paul Kerr for his hat trick and a reverse dish for Chris Carson before Michael Wilson broke and dished for his hat trick in the final frame. Tigers 4 Scorpions 10 was the final score but on reflection a few of the frames could have went either way.

The Galacticos had four games left going in to Tuesday and four difficult ones at that. But if they are to hold off the challenge of the Scorpions they need 10 points to become champions.
The hosts entertained Rab and Big T's Rockets and got off to a nice start with Paul Harris, Ryan Marcus and Ali Wilson giving them a 3-0 lead. Evergreen Andy Arbuthnot pulled one back for the visitors with a sublime clearance but Roger Smyth and youngster Marcus scored the next two to make it 5-1 to the Greenisland Working Men's Social Club men. Captain and star man Rab "Bagger" Butler gave the Rockets hope taking the last in the session for a 5-2 half time score line.
Wilson scored again but Davy Blair took the next to keep the pressure on the hosts who responded with four on the trot, two from Gee Crawley, another from Smith and man of the match Wilson completing his hat trick. Arbuthnot took the last for the visitors as the hosts ran out 10-4 victors.
Next up for the league leaders is a tricky tie away to Knockagh Cup final opponents Spartans in what should be an enthralling match.

Q Club took the points as they hosted Spartans in an 8-6 win.