This week saw a return to the league competition. One of the outstanding Individual Merit matches was also played, in which Jeremy Dixon beat Neil Lee 200-170.

Up to the end of 2023, the league competition looked to be simply a two-horse race between Pudsey Congs and St Andrews B. Congs, particularly, looked like they would run away with it, especially when they beat St Andrews B 4-1 at the end of November, when that put them 7 points clear. Although they still lead the table, things below them are now beginning to change quite dramatically.

This week, closer to the foot of the table, St Andrews A beat Princeville comfortably, allowing their opponents just half a point. That was a 161 each score between Neil Lee and Princeville's Brian Haigh. In the other 3 games, Nigel Brayshaw beat James Butcher 186-165, Graham Pearson beat John Bedford 199-172 and Gary Rogers overcame Martyn Britton 200-180. That win put St Andrews A six points clear of Princeville who are now looking strong wooden spoon candidates.

***Further update to the above paragraph - I didn't mention above that Neil Lee made a 34 in his game against Brian Haigh. So, as promised Neil, here's the mention. That 34 now replaces his previous  highest break this season, which was a 24 and is a new entry on the highest breaks table. Well done to Neil***

At Congs, the home team suffered a rare 3-2 defeat to Bradford Deaf Centre. Richard Bowes (with breaks of 52,54 and 66) made the following comments on the match on our Facebook page:-

"Things didn’t look good for us early doors as I managed only 22 points in the first 20 minutes until I made the first 50 when already 150 behind. Jeremy (Dixon) went into his shell and started trying to protect his lead which allowed me some leeway and I managed to get in my stride. Perhaps the defining moment of the fixture came at the end of the second game when Brian (Robinson) (against Phil Hirst), needing 18 and on 11, attempted a double baulk but went in off leaving the red over the middle pocket for a regulation 6 shot to run out. Mick (Hirst) and Ihjaz (Hussain) then played out a grim game in which neither of them had clear cut scoring opportunities (I counted only five chances for Mick) and both recorded a high break of only 18. John (Hirst) got off to a flyer against Ian (Ford) establishing a lead of around 40 but this was chipped away and they entered the last street neck and neck where John once again got in front by a handful but just shy of gaining us the aggregate point."

So, two and a half points is now just the difference between Congs and Deaf Centre, but Congs do have a match in hand on them.

Finally, at Littlemoor, the home team have had a good run of wins in 2024. They followed up again this week, with a 3-2 win over now third placed St Andrews B. First up were Littlemoor's John Allan and Graham Tudor against Dave Smith and Norman Procter respectively. A lot of Littlemoor's improvement in recent weeks coincides with Graham's recent good form. He beat Norman comfortably 200-155. John made a very well worked 35 break in his 191-156 win over Dave. Next up, Littlemoor's Ralph Allan and Dave Howarth faced the two Steve's Boocock and Clark respectively. Steve B raced away from Ralph and got between 40 and 50 in front at one stage. However, Ralph staged a good fight back, but at the bell he was just 4 short 199-195. That was only a second defeat for Ralph this season and both have been against St Andrews B. In the other game Steve C and I had a rather more "nip and tuck effort" in which Steve had the best of the running at the crucial stage to beat me 191-179. Thanks to Graham's big win, Littlemoor claimed the aggregate point. That defeat for St Andrews B now leaves them 4 points adrift of Congs and a point and a half behind the Deaf Centre. The postponed match between Congs and St Andrews B, from the other week, still needs to be re-arranged. We have been (and are still are!) working on getting that one played at the earliest opportunity.

This coming week, there's another interesting derby at St Andrews, Littlemoor will visit Congs; and in Bradford, Princeville will be calling at the Deaf Centre.

The Players Table is now up to date.

David Howarth

League Secretary

Two Thursday's ago, when the snowy weather was against most of us, just the one Individual Merit match was played. John Bedford managed to brave the journey from Normanton to Pudsey Congs to play Richard Bowes - his Facebook comment actually said "What snow?". Richard. making breaks of 38 and 34, was enough to see John off back home to claim an (apparently) comfortable 200-153 win. To be fair, I think the weather was quite a bit worse in the afternoon than it was a bit later on in the evening. Anyhow, since then, three other Individual matches have been played... Of those, possibly the most surprising result was at the Deaf Centre, where 7th in the Players Table, Ian Ford beat top of the table Ralph Allan 200-171. Also at the same venue, Brian Robinson beat his pairs partner Ihjaz Hussain 200-164 and at St Andrews, Nigel Brayshaw lost 200-149 to Dave Hirst. Well done to them and thanks for getting them played in good time. If you haven't already arranged to play your outstanding Individual Merit match with your opponent, please do so as soon as possible.

On Thursday this week, thankfully, all the scheduled Pairs matches were played. On what seems to have been a busy evening at the Deaf Centre, Ian Ford and Jeremy Dixon suffered a heavy defeat against the new Princeville pairing of Peter Turner and John Bedford. Peter beat Ian 200-164 and John beat Jeremy 400-318. Brian Robinson and Ihjaz Hussain then lost 400-348 to Ralph and Peter Allan. At Littlemoor, John Allan and Graham Tudor defeated Mick and Dave Hirst 400-346.

At Princeville, the holders for the last two seasons, Stephen Kershaw and Edward Lawson, welcomed Littlemoor newcomer Sid Ash and myself. In the first game, it was Sid who was the most consistent scorer between himself and opponent Edward. He ran out the 200-178 winner. Receiving 85 on our handicap difference, plus the 22 advantage Sid had won by, handed me quite a handy start over Stephen. However, making a good 43 break Stephen reduced the deficit by almost half very early on. He eventually caught me up around the 365 mark with a 20+ break and and although I battled away right to the end, I just wasn't able to locate my recent good form, and so wasn't able to stop my opponent claiming a very good 400-376 win. Well done to Ed and Stephen. Will any other pair be able to stop them from claiming a hat-trick of Pairs titles? Only time will tell.

This coming week sees a return to the League programme with all three matches being played in Pudsey. Leaders Pudsey Congs take on second placed Bradford Deaf Centre, Littlemoor are at home to St Andrews B and Princeville will visit St Andrews A. At the time of writing, I am still trying to establish when the postponed match between Pudsey Congs and St Andrews B can be played. I'll be contacting St Andrews B again today/tomorrow. Hopefully, that match will be played in the next week or two, rather than being left until the end of the season.

David Howarth

League Secretary

 

A rather belated update today, despite the fact that there are only the 2 matches to report on. (We've been busy this weekend celebrating our grandson's birthday.)

The top two in the table, Congs and St Andrews B were due to play in what could be their title-decider, but unfortunately, due to illness and unavailability, the latter were unable to raise a team. So, the match has had to be postponed until further notice.

At Princeville, Littlemoor, who were two points above them last week; played out a match that confirmed the visitors recent good form, after what was a lack-lustre league season (mainly in 2023). A fairly straightforward 4-1 win to Littlemoor was a replication of the score between these two when they met back in Pudsey at the end of November. Keith Tomlinson's poor form this season continued with a 188-174 loss to Littlemoor's Graham Tudor. On the other table Dave Howarth took advantage straight away when Princeville's John Bedford unusually fluffed the break-off. He made 18 off it, putting him 33 in front immediately. Although John later made a well-worked 25 break to get him to within just a handful of points from Dave, it was his opponent who had most of the good running, to win 177-159 at the bell. Ralph Allan, with a 15 point handicap advantage over Princeville's Brian Haigh, also confirmed why he is still at the top of the Players Table with a comfortable 183-151 win. On the top table, Princeville's James Butcher had a close-run, but low scoring 153-139 win over John Allan. A 27 break from James was probably the difference between them. Littlemoor have therefore extended their winning run to four.

At the Deaf Centre, the scoresheet shows that, as opposed to the match at Princeville, almost all four games went to 200. It was just the game between St Andrews A's Neil Lee and Ihjaz Hussain that ended 197-179 to Neil, at the 50 minute bell. The other three games all went to 200 and all three resulted in wins for the home team with Ian Ford beating Gary Rogers to 153, Brian Robinson defeating Nigel Brayshaw to 162, and Jeremy Dixon had the biggest win of the evening with a 200-144 win over Graham Pearson. No breaks of over 20 were recorded and so I presume there was plenty of regular scoring opportunities, at least for the home team anyway!

So, the effect those two matches have had on the league table, whilst we go into the next phase of knockout matches is that St Andrews B have been displaced from second by Bradford Deaf Centre (maybe just for now) whilst Littlemoor's recent good form has been rewarded with a clear fourth place, but they still remain six and a half points behind St Andrews B who now have a game in hand  on them.

This coming week sees the first round proper of the Individual Merit which is now down to sixteen but had an encouraging 20 entrants before the preliminary round. Amongst the matches to be played, last season's victor, Peter Allan will face Graham Pearson who will definitely be looking to make his vast experience pay off. John Allan and James Butcher will have a replay of last Thursday's game but this time it's John who has home advantage. Pairs partners Ihjaz Hussain and Brian Robinson will "face-off" at the Deaf Centre. Please remember that in this competition, there is no 50 minute time limit. The away player has the choice of who breaks off and will play with the yellow ball. As always, the handicaps go on the scoreboard from the start and the first to reach 200 is the winner. Good luck to all of you who are involved.... Me? I'm (sadly) out already, but will likely be at Littlemoor doing a stint or two of refereeing.

The Players Table is also now up to date.

Dave Howarth

League Secretary