An early website update this week... The final of the Individual Merit competition brought the playing season to a conclusion at Littlemoor Sports Club on Thursday. Trophy presentations were also made to all this season's winners. Sandwiched between these events was a pie and pea supper, which was well received by all in attendance.

The Merit finalists Ian Ford of the Bradford Deaf Centre and Mick Hirst of Pudsey Congs both took a while to get going on the neutral table. Conceding 50 on the handicap to Ian, and needing to score just 105 to win, meant that Mick would need to score early and consistently if he was going to score the 155 he needed to win. Ian played in his usual style of giving the balls a bash, which often means some unexpected scoring can happen...and it did, but there were also some pretty good shots mixed in with them. Mick also adopted his usual considered and measured approach, which brought him good success when knocking out three very good players on his way to the final. It was always going to be a battle of the different styles. 

Ian mostly maintained the handy lead, but eventually Mick whittled it back and made a good 18 break (he admitted afterwards it should have been more). That 18 got him to just ten behind. However, Ian was able to hit straight back with a 12 which took him into the last street. He then threatened to run out with a double figure break, but then needing just two to get him to the 200; his brief break ended with the red hanging over a baulk pocket and his own ball also behind the same line. Mick was in hand, and so was forced to try pot the baulked red to stop Ian from winning with his next shot. The shot of the match then followed from Mick, going up the table, over the blue spot, and sank the hanging red. But his good efforts to stay in the match were short lived, and Ian was able to soon score the two required to claim the title by 22 points. Well done to Ian on his deserved win and consolations to Mick who didn't exactly get a lot of good running... maybe next season Mick?

We have the AGM booked in for Thursday the 4th July 2024 but that is currently subject to change. I'll post more details on that nearer the time.

David Howarth

League Secretary

Sorry for the late update today folks, I've been taking advantage of the (long awaited) good weather we had.

I'm sure the ones of you that have seen the league's Facebook page will already know the results of the Individual Merit semi-final matches that were played on Thursday... For those of you who haven't, the finalists this year will be Ian Ford and Mick Hirst. Ian hasn't won it before, and from the records I hold, I don't believe Mick has won it either... he was a bit uncertain whether he had or hadn't, and as we have some years that are blank in the records, we aren't one hundred per cent certain. The blank years are 1991/2 and 1984/85, so if there is anyone out there that can help me with those, then get in touch - see the 'Past Winners' page.

I only have the bare result from the Deaf Centre and can advise you that Ian (with home advantage) beat James Butcher 200-164 and so I presume Ian's 65 point start meant that he was always in front. 

At Congs, I turned up only a few minutes after the start, but as I walked in, Mick was just finishing off a very good break of 30. Giving his younger brother Dave just 10 start, this excellent early score got Mick nicely into the lead. Following that, he never really looked back. He scored quite regularly at most of his visits, whereas Dave struggled to find very much at all to score from and commented afterwards that he nearly always felt "in between" with only half chances available a lot of the time. Mick's win was therefore a comfortable 200-138 (but very well deserved) playing confidently throughout and if he can carry that on into the final this coming Thursday, even though he'll be giving 50 start to Ian, he will still be a handful for the big man from the Deaf Centre. 

Mick and Dave told me they had practiced together the day before (in a bit of a dress-rehearsal) and in that one Dave actually beat Mick (bizarrely, by exactly the same score 200-138). That's just the nature of the game though, isn't it? Sometimes, we can have a good game where nearly everything drops right for us, and then on other days we never seem to get any real chances!

So, hopefully, we will see you at Littlemoor this coming Thursday, when we will watch the Individual Merit Final, followed by a pie & pea supper (with some veggie alternatives) and then we will make the presentations to this season's winners. So far, we are aware of how many are coming from Pudsey Congs, the Deaf Centre and Littlemoor, but we still need to know from Princeville and St Andrews as to how many are likely to come, so that we know how much food to purchase. If Princeville and the St Andrews A & B captains can get in touch with me, to let me know in the next couple of days, that would be helpful. Thanks.

David Howarth

League Secretary

Apologies if you have seen this message on Facebook & WhatsApp, but just a brief request for Team Captains to let me know how many are likely to attend Littlemoor Club on Thursday the 9th May 2024 to watch the Individual Merit final and take part in the annual trophy presentations. This is so that we can estimate how much food to purchase - the Club will be putting on pie and peas, plus some veggie alternatives.

If you could send me a text, WhatsApp or call me on my mobile, or answer on Facebook, that would be helpful.

Thank you & we hope to see you there.

David H