***** 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