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