This week, the Individual Merit's last 16 matches were all played. All 8 matches were effectively won by the "home" player... 

At Pudsey Congs, Dave Hirst was a comprehensive 200-134 winner over Littlemoor's John Allan and Richard Bowes must have overwhelmed the Deaf Centre's Ian Ford by 200-155... and in doing so, he recorded breaks of 36, 47, 49 and 54. Well done to him!

At St Andrews, John Bedford managed to sneak past the Deaf Centre's skipper, Brian Robinson 200-197. John's Facebook comment reads "Brian played very well and was very unfortunate to lose 197-200". In the other two matches there, firstly in an even closer finish, the A team's Neil Lee edged out his team mate Graham Pearson 200-199 and then the B team's skipper, Steve Boocock, beat John Rider 200-172.

At Littlemoor, Jeremy Dixon had offered to play Ralph Allan there, instead of at Windhill Cricket Club. Ralph willingly accepted and took full advantage to win 200-173. Although Jeremy outscored Ralph, he just wasn't able to get himself nearer than 20 adrift. At the same time, on the other table, Peter Allan was taking on Stephen Kershaw. Conceding 100 to Peter, and playing on table that is now notoriously quirky, was never going to be a straightforward match for Stephen. From what I heard, Peter had a fair bit of running and some good fortune mixed in with quite a few good shots, and (apparently) was never really threatened, to win by 200-113. In my own match against St Andrews A's Nigel Brayshaw, I took the lead at around the 120 mark, but always felt I was in a battle. Neither of us played particularly well, and the good fortune I have had, just about all season so far, was still with me and saw me home 200-175. The score-line suggests it was quite a comfortable win, but the reality is, it was quite a bit closer than that.

This coming week, we will see the quarter-finals of the Pairs. Last season's winners, Littlemoor's John Allan and Graham Tudor have been drawn away to play Jeremy Dixon and Ian Ford - presumably this will be played at Windhill, as yet I haven't heard anything different. Myself and Sid Ash will also be travelling to Bradford to play father & son Trevor and Gareth Kershaw, as will Neil Lee and Nigel Brayshaw, to play recent previous winners, Stephen Kershaw and Ed Lawson. In Pudsey, at Congs, Dave and his big brother Mick Hirst, will take on Ihjaz Hussain and Brian Robinson. Good luck to all involved.

The next round of the Individuals and Pairs are not until April, so the next league meeting will be held on the 28th March 2025 at St Andrews.

By David Howarth

League Secretary