Colts had chances in the opening couple of frames however Davy Blair put the visitors 0-1 up. Colt’s John McClean was on a reverse dish to level the match at 1-1 taking out all seven reds only to see the final black hang in the jaws of the pocket and let his opponent in. The Scorpions’ Darren Haddock rose to the challenge and potted all seven yellows and a tap in black that was over the corner pocket.
L McIlreavy and P Kerr extended the lead before Colt’s A Watters pulled one back to 1-4. Scorpions won the last two frames of the first half giving them a 1-6 lead at the break. Once again missed chances from the Colts in the next two frames saw the Scorpions increase their lead 1-8 to secure all three points,
J McClean got the Colt’s Second frame 2/8 beating Scorpions Paul Kerr. The eleventh frame went to Darren Haddock, his third of the evening. Joe Patton got the Colts third frame of the night. Scorpions won the last two frames of the evening to complete a convincing 3-11 victory.
Best on the night were D Haddock & D Blair both with hat tricks of wins. Times Bar Scorpions remain top of the table.
The
new world masters champion, Rhys McLaughlin, faced Aaron Rolston. It was
Rolston who kept his cool and took the first frame of the night for the
visitors. Brian Crilly showed his class and levelled up for the Titans. Riley
Patterson and Dean McDonagh added to the home side’s scores. Aaron Rolston stopped the rot with a clinical
break and dish in the sixth frame giving hope of getting some momentum back for
the champions. Stuart Kelly, Brian Crilly and Ryan McKillopp took the score to
7-2. Ryan Marcus took the next frame with a great finish and a superb long red.
Crilly and Harris had a great tactical battle in the 11th frame for Crilly to
pull out the finish of the year to take the match and frame 8-3. Kelly, with a
clinical break and dish, saw the match reach 9-3 before Ryan Marcus and Chris
Carson took the last two frames.
Players of the night: Crilly 3/3 Kelly 2/2. This home victory moves Titans to second place in the league table.
Times Tigers vs Stadium
The
Tigers welcomed league new boys, Stadium to the Times Bar. Lewis Neill got the
visitors off to the perfect start with a win over Stephen McWhirter, but wins
for Tigers’ Johnny Eccles, Scotty Pettigrew and Kye Robinson put the hosts 3-1
up. The Stadium responded with wins for Blain Jordan, Willy McCullough and John
English to leave the score 4-3 at halftime.
The
second half started just like the first! Lewis Neill got his second victory
over McWhirter and Kye Robinson got his second win of the night for the Tigers.
Score at this stage 5-4 to the Stadium. Captain for the evening John English
then hit his second win to extend the Stadium lead before Scotty Pettigrew once
more beat Bryan Joseph to reduce the deficit, and leave the Stadium winning 6-5
with 3 frames to go. Tom McGurk edged a win to get the sides level. Both sides
hoping for a win or at least a draw at this stage but knowing at least a bonus
point was secure! Frame 13 saw 2 unbeaten players on the night go head to head,
with Kye Robinson and John English meeting, both having won 2 out of 2. A great finish from John put the Stadium on
the hill. Last frame between Scotty Pettigrew and Kyle Robertson was an edgy
affair with both players having chances on the black. Ultimately Kyle held his
nerve and came out on top to secure the win for Stadium moving them into the
top half of the table. Final Score Tigers 6 Stadium 8
Players
of note, John English with 3/3, Lewis Neill with 2/2 for the Stadium.
Trojans vs Railway Blues
The
Trojans welcomed the Railway Blues to Whitehead with both teams looking for
their first win of the season with the Trojans drawing their first 2 league
games and Blues losing their first two games. The Blues got off to great start
with Ryan Stewart winning the first of the night. The next frame was won
by Trojans’ Stephen Hamilton with a great 8 ball clearance and frame 3 was also
won by the Trojans Gordan McKinty. Railway Blues then kick into gear and took
the next 3 frames via Josh McIlroy, Matthew Hagan and Rab Brown. Last frame of
the first half was won by Matt Thompson of the Trojans to make it 3- 4 to Blues
at half time.
The second half started with the Blues taking the first two frames (Ryan Stewart, Wes Smith) to take a commanding lead 3 - 6 but the Trojans were not prepared to lay down and won next two frames (Stephen Hamilton, Maroof Balogun). The 12 frame was a very close game with Blues Robert Craig winning it for the Blues taking them one frame away from their first win of the season. Game 13 was one of the quickest games of the night with Rab Brown put the black ball into the middle pocket far too early and losing the match. So the Trojans need to win the last frame for another draw and the Blues for their first win of the season. After some great pool by both players (Trojans’ Gordon McKinty and Blues Gareth Curlett) Gordon took out a great finish to win and give the Trojans another draw. Top players for Trojans Stephen Hamilton 2/2 and Gordan McKinty 2/2. Top player for Blues Ryan Stewart 2/2.
In other matches, where home team captains chose not to send in reports...
The Pink Ladies remain at the foot of the table after a 1-13 tanking from Q Club Larne.
Grange continue their rise up the table with a 9-5 victory of a decent Spartans team.