***** DON'T FORGET... This coming week (and in every week until week 10) we are in the 'Return Fixture Phase' which means you are playing for a bonus point against each opponent. This rule change was voted in at the AGM. I have updated the 'Fixtures & Results' page to show the total points difference between each team when they met in Weeks 1 to Week 5. I noticed a couple of scoresheet errors and will note these up on the 'Scoresheets' page.*****

THIS WEEK'S ROUND-UP is below....

At least two of the results this week served to prove the theory that "in this league, anyone can beat anyone"...

At St Andrews the A team are generally renowned for being solid performers and so would have been favourites to beat Bradford Deaf Centre. However, after defeating table toppers Littlemoor (away) last week, they suffered their third defeat this season. I'm unaware of the playing order, but the scoresheet shows Ian Ford beat St Andrews newcomer John Rider 193-179, Gary Rogers lost 168-183 to Deaf Centre's Brian Robinson and Ijaz Hussain beat St Andrews A's Nigel Brayshaw. Graham Pearson though was a comfortable 200-144 winner over Jeremy Dixon. The scoresheet also shows breaks in the 20's for Ijaz, Brian and Ian; which clearly helped them to their wins. 

At Pudsey Congs, there was even more of a turn-up... the home team got off to a good start against Princeville with Phil Hirst comfortably beating Keith Tomlinson 200-165, but then they lost the next 3 games. Richard Bowes described the proceedings on the Facebook page as follows:- 

"Little to celebrate for us this evening after Phil’s comfortable win against Keith. I played possibly the worst game I’ve produced in the last five years and was 120 behind before dragging some hope out of the last 8 mins with the two breaks (31 & 39 in his 138-176 loss to James Butcher). Martin (Britton) then gave a masterclass in cigarette paper billiards producing some excellent thin shots (beat John Hirst 200-162) and Gareth (Kershaw) sealed the victory with some very steady and impressive scoring demonstrating a good grasp of half ball and run through hazards." (beating Dave Hirst 200-137 including a 27 break).

At Littlemoor, St Andrews B were the visitors and were sitting in joint second to the early league leading hosts. After suffering their first defeat of the season last week, Littlemoor were looking to quickly return to winning ways. First up were Littlemoor's John and Ralph Allan against Dave Smith and John Bedford respectively. Dave got off to a decent start and for quite a way John was playing catch-up. Once John got going he played his best billiards so far this season and with breaks of 33 and 20, he was soon clear and through to a 200-159 win. On the other table it was pretty much one-way traffic with Ralph running away with a 200-149 win. John B hardly ever gets any decent running against his regular opponent Ralph in the Pudsey and Bradford Leagues, and it was the same again this week.

Next up, it was Littlemoor's Dave Howarth and Graham Tudor against the two Steve's (Clark and Boocock respectively). I didn't really see anything much of the game on the other table, but I believe Graham got the best of the running to beat Steve B 183-175 in a close run affair. In my game, after a poor start and going a good 30 behind early, I gradually whittled the deficit down and eventually took the lead with some better running, with around 20 minutes left. My good running (and slightly improved play) continued and I managed to hold the lead and ran out 200-186 with around 5 minutes to spare. Although Littlemoor won 5-0, it wasn't as easy as the bare result suggests.

So, this week's results have had quite a profound effect on the league table. Littlemoor have extended their lead to 4 points. Last week Princeville were a full 5 points adrift at the bottom, but are now just 2 points behind. St Andrews B have dropped from second to fourth whereas St Andrews A are down from 4th to 5th, but Bradford Deaf Centre have jumped from 5th to 2nd.

This coming week, Littlemoor have a tough fixture at Congs, St Andrews B will host Bradford Deaf and St Andrews A will travel to Princeville. Good luck to all.

The Players Table is also now fully up to date. I hope you like the new format.

David Howarth

League Secretary

In last week's round-up, I had mistakenly written that Congs were at home to St Andrews A. However, they were in fact away to them. This week they found themselves back at the Robin Lane venue. This time to face their nearest rivals from last season, St Andrews B. After last week's win, Congs will have been hoping for a repeat... but they were soon 2-0 down after John Bedford beat Richard Bowes by a convincing 173-123 and then Norman Procter had a closer 195-180 win over John Hirst. John's son, Phil then got one back for Congs with a good 200-165 win over "Speedy Steve" Clark. Mick Hirst then beat St Andrews B's captain Steve Boocock 170-149, but it wasn't quite enough to nick the aggregate point for last season's champions. Richard Bowes commented on the Facebook page that Congs were "pleased to have salvaged the 2 points". The scoresheet shows a 20 break from John Bedford, a 35 by Mick Hirst and a 22 & 47 from Richard, which gets him back onto the highest breaks table.

The Deaf Centre recorded the first 5-0 of the season over (an apparently lacklustre) Princeville. The scoresheet shows Jeremy Dixon won by a massive 82, Ijaz Hussain won by 46, but the next two were somewhat closer with Brian Robinson winning by 10 and Ian Ford by just 8.

At Littlemoor the league leaders, so far unbeaten this term, ended up suffering their first defeat. This looked unlikely at the half way point as home man Ralph Allan just managed to get in front of Neil Lee by 191-180 close to the bell, and on the other table once Dave Howarth got in front of St Andrews A's Gary Rogers at around the 25 minute stage, he managed to hold the lead at the bell by 197-168. Following that, there were then two very convincing wins for the visitors, the first by Nigel Brayshaw who scored at just about every visit to trounce Graham Tudor 200-160 and with well over 10 minutes left. It was a similar scenario on the other table where Graham Pearson played some good stuff to hand out another trouncing, this time to John Allan by 200-126 and along the way he recorded a 29 followed by a 24 very soon after. John commented afterwards that Graham played some "very clean shots" and that "he never really gave me a proper chance to get in". That game was done with a good 7-8 minutes remaining.

So, the league table is now looking much tighter with just 3 points separating five of the six teams. This coming week, all matches are in Pudsey, where St Andrews B will visit Littlemoor; the Deaf Centre will be at St Andrews A and at Congs, Princeville will be trying to reduce the 5 point gap that now exists between themselves and the two teams directly above them.

David Howarth

League Secretary

Despite more line-up changes, Littlemoor remain unbeaten this season. This week they were at Bradford Deaf Centre and arguably were in their most difficult challenge so far. First up were Jeremy Dixon and Littlemoor's Ralph Allan and on the other table were the Deaf Centre's Ian Ford against Sid Ash. Receiving 60 start from Jeremy, Ralph played well, to ensure the start he received was more or less maintained and ended up winning by a comfortable 41 points. On the other table, and off the same handicaps, last season's Individual Merit winner, Ian Ford ,was into his stride early and once in the lead was never headed. He ensured that the Deaf Centre were still very much in it with a 40 point win. So, with matters just about level at the break, this made for a very competitive second half. Home players Brian Robinson and Ijaz Hussain took on Littlemoor's Graham Tudor and Dave Howarth respectively. Conceding just 10 to Graham, Brian was soon dominating proceedings and this continued right through to 3 minutes before the bell, when he reached 200 with Graham well behind on 128. On the other table, it took Dave 3 or 4 visits to get into his stride, but once there, it was mostly one way traffic, with Ijaz having very little to go at. Knowing that Graham was struggling on the other table, Dave was spurred into taking full advantage of his own opponent's poor luck. With plenty of good running he was 200-114 up with a good 7 or 8 minutes still left on the clock. So, 3-2 to the visitors, with just 15 points separating the teams for the aggregate point.

At Princeville the home team were looking to secure a second win of the season. Here is James Butcher's match report of how that went...

A much changed lined up due to important meetings with corporate bosses and a double booking in the calendar. 

First up was the top two players (James v Dave) and (Steve G v John). 

It was a slow burn on the far table, as someone put one of the heaters on defrost mode. Dave took first initiative and began to accumulate points, even getting out of double baulks with a scoring shot. James looked off the pace and Dave had the opportunity to build a commanding lead. But uncharacteristic misses from Dave, probably owing to the cold air and lukewarm table, followed.  James found his way into the game with a leave and manoeuvred the balls for a 24 break. The deficit reduced from a peak of about 45 to 20. It was a case of who could find another gear in the 2nd half.  Dave momentarily replenished his lead, but James got back on the table and added a further 20 break to get in parity.  From there, Dave's scoring opportunities dried up whilst James continued momentum built a lead in the final minutes.

On the other table, John continued his good form on Tuesday, who soon reduced his deficit and built a lead approaching 30 against Steve G. During the 2nd half, Steve got into the game and reduced the deficit to single figures. The game got to the famous 190s and it looked interesting, but father time decided to halt proceedings. A good effort by Steve, after being elevated to 2nd board. 

Next up was Edward v Steve B and Keith v Steve C. Steve B started brightly against Edward and did not take long to get in front. Edward was left little to go at, with foul strokes creeping in. Steve B gradually built his lead further, whilst trying to find gears, but the far table quirks tamed any significant power scoring. Despite the balls opening up more for Edward, he could not get into any momentum and Steve B reached to 200 with several minutes left. 

On the other table. Steve C soon got into his stride, but Keith kept tabs and both players were near level on 160. But Steve C found another scoring run and then onto 200, leaving Keith stranded.

A not so good night for Princeville, that could have been worse.

Thanks for that James. 

At St Andrews, their A team welcomed regular league title holders, Pudsey Congs. I'm unaware of the order of play, but the scoresheet shows a comfortable 4-1 win for the visitors. I presume the first game will have been Neil Lee against Congs Richard Bowes. That one finished 200-131 to Richard. The scoresheet showing just the one high break of 33 from Richard. Congs Dave Hirst beat Graham Pearson 200-140 and John Hirst beat St Andrews A's John Oyston 200-167. The only winner for the home side was Gary Rogers, over Phil Hirst 200-175. Well done to all four winners on reaching the 200 before the 50 minute bell!

This coming Thursday, league leaders Littlemoor will be back at home to St Andrews A. There'll be a battle for second, or possibly even top spot, at Congs when St Andrews B will be making their way to School Street and at the Deaf Centre there'll be an all Bradford affair when Princeville will be making a shorter journey.

I will try to update the Players Table page between now and next Sunday in the coming days.

David Howarth

League Secretary

Apologies for the late round-up of this week's action. I have been very busy with quite a few things and just didn't find the time to do this write-up. Hopefully, you will have seen that I have updated the Fixtures & Results and League Table pages. I have also brought the highest breaks so far up to date. That is showing below the League Table.

As you will have seen from the results, holders Pudsey Congs got back to winning ways with a 4-1 home win over the Deaf Centre. Despite losing 173-139, Jeremy Dixon still managed the highest break of the evening with a 43, and in fact that is the highest break so far this season in the top category. Richard though recorded 4 breaks into the thirties, which were enough to win him the game. John and Phil Hirst also won for Congs. The only winner for the Deaf Centre was Ijaz Hussain by a close looking 192-185 over Dave Hirst.

Taking advantage of the encouragement to get matches played early should there be foreseen player shortages, St Andrews A & B played their first derby match of the season last Monday. The A team registered their first win of the season by 4-1. Neil Lee, Nigel Brayshaw and Gary Rogers were their winners, over Steve Boocock, Steve Clark and Norman Procter. The B team's winner was their newbie John Bedford.

Early leaders, Littlemoor visited Princeville and with a changed side, still won quite comfortably, again by 4-1. In the absence of John Allan and Dave Howarth, Graham Tudor made a welcome return and Sid Ash made his Pudsey League debut. It was a winning debut for Sid also. James Butcher has sent me the following match report:-

Attached is the scorecard between Princeville and Littlemoor in what was a night of thrills. 

First up was the two captains and Keith v Sid. From a casual observation, Sid didn't take long to get in front and often kept his lead between 20 and 40.  Keith did enjoy some table time, but lacked a consistent rhythm and Sid was up with a few minutes to spare. 

On the other table, it took 5 minutes for the first scoring shot to be registered, largely with the balls falling in no mans land. Ralph made the first initiative and extended his lead to 70pts.  Soon James was granted an opportunity to spend time at the table and reduce the deficit with a 22 break.  Ralph's opportunities became very limited, whilst James had momentum and constructed another 30 break to get within parity and gain a 3 to 4 scoring shot lead.

Ralph made full opportunity of scoring shots in the final 10 minutes, whereas James lacked the requires precision when it mattered.  It was anyone's game right until the final seconds, but Ralph was on the table at the right time.

Next up was Peter v Martin and Ian v Graham. It did not take long for Peter to reduce his deficit and even gained a lead towards 20pts.  But Martin kept tabs and grew into the game, eventually regaining the lead and led by a handful on the final furlong.  However Peter finished the game with a bona fide exhibition shot. 

On the other table, Graham was first off the blocks and often led.  But Ian made good use of opportunities when they presented itself to keep in parity and sometimes enjoy a couple of shot led.Graham was on the foot front in the final minutes and led by 15pts with 92 seconds to go, but left Ian with a regulation in off red and the yellow ball in play. Ian worked his way back into the play, clinching a crucial link up cannon at 7pts and another one at 13pts. He ran out with a 19 break to keep the whitewash firmly in the storage cupboard. 

Thanks for that James. This coming Thursday (unless something early is already arranged!) Congs will visit St Andrews A, Princeville will be at home to St Andrews B and at the Deaf Centre, it will be bottom against top (Littlemoor).

David Howarth

League Secretary