As the season is progressing towards its natural conclusion, things have slowed down quite dramatically for a good few of us. However, those still left in the Individuals and Pairs and the KO Cup final still have something to play for, before we fully wrap things up next month.

This week, I agreed to referee the top board game in the long awaited, and previously postponed league match, between St Andrews B and Pudsey Congs. It wasn't possible for this match to be played on the 1st February and we have been working hard to try get it played ever since. However, due to other league matches, the Individual Merit and Pairs comps "getting in the way", combined with un-availabilities; it's still not fully concluded. Crucially, where the league title will be going does hinge on this match as well. So, it's far from a dead rubber. A start to bring it to a conclusion was made on Wednesday evening, when St Andrews B's Dave Smith took on Richard Bowes. 

On a table that although Richard has warmed to very well this season (he made an excellent break of 126 on it earlier on this season), this time he seemed to struggle a fair bit... he miscued 3 times and despite a well worked 33 break in between, he wasn't able to stop Dave from scoring regular double figure breaks. Richard never really got going and wasn't able to reduce the huge handicap difference. Dave therefore won quite comfortably 166-114 when the 50 minutes was up. So, although Congs required just half a point to claim the title, that is still in abeyance... The remainder of this match will be concluded at St Andrews on Monday the 8th April. 

Straight after that, Richard and Dave Hirst proceeded up to Congs where they played their Individual Merit match (one night early). The only details I have from that match is on the Facebook page and that Richard made a 76, but again this can't have been enough to reduce another large handicap difference as Dave won this one 200-149. So, it was a good evening if you're called Dave, but not if your moniker is Richard!

In the last of the four Individual Merit quarter finals, that went to James Butcher as a walk over as I believe Graham Pearson had transport difficulties and wasn't able to get to Princeville and so conceded. The other two matches were played early last week. The semi finalists are therefore Dave Hirst, James Butcher, Mick Hirst and Ian Ford. The semi-final draw will be made later this month.

Next Thursday will see the semi-finals of the Pairs. Both matches are at Princeville, who have a strong home contingent against two equally strong Littlemoor pairings. Stephen Kershaw and Edward Lawson have won this competition for the last two seasons and so ought be strong favourites to beat Ralph and Peter Allan. Princeville's John Bedford and Peter Turner will also be taking on John Allan and Graham Tudor. Good luck to all involved. I will more than likely be there as your "roving reporter" and will do my best to be impartial!

FURTHER UPDATE TO ABOVE PARAGRAPH (Sunday morning) - I am advised that the match between Stephen & Ed against Ralph & Peter will be played earlier on Wednesday as Stephen is venturing off to Ireland to play in a couple of tournaments there. We wish him a pleasant and successful trip.

The Players Table will be updated once the St Andrews B v Pudsey Congs match has been fully concluded next week.

David Howarth

League Secretary