The second half of the league season started this week, but only two of the three games were played... We took the weather forecasters seriously and as their predictions of heavy snow were so bad for late on Thursday, we took some drastic measures... As Pudsey Congs B is made up of mostly players from the Rochdale area, the decision was taken to cancel their home match against Princeville. Having just the one table would have meant travel problems later on. We also decided to start the other two matches an hour early, to avoid any potential difficulties later on in the evening. As it turned out, the predicted bad weather simply didn't arrive here, or just over the Pennines either... Ah well, all agreed though that it was better to be safe than sorry. Thanks to all involved for making the two matches happen an hour early... A big thank you also goes out to Dave Smith, who made sure John Bedford got home safely, by taking him all the way back to Normanton! Arrangements are already underway between James Butcher and Mick Hirst to get the cancelled match played in the near future... so well done to them also.

At Bradford Deaf Centre, the home team beat Congs A comfortably, with only regular reserve, John Rider, bringing a single point back to Pudsey. The Deaf Centre's winners were Ihjaz Hussain, Jeremy Dixon and Brian Robinson who recorded breaks of 24 and 20. 

At Littlemoor, it was bottom against top; and the end result certainly reflected that. There were wins for Dave Smith, John Bedford and Steve Clark. Only Graham Tudor troubled the scorer for the home team, inflicting a rare defeat on St Andrews B's Steve Boocock by a surprising margin of 68 and with nearly 15 minutes to spare. Those results meant that Steve Boocock was replaced at the top of the Players Table by his own team mate, John Bedford!

St Andrews B have started the new year very well and are now a significant 9 and a half points clear of Congs B, who have a match in hand. Littlemoor are now four points adrift of 6th placed Princeville... Amazing how last season's double winners are now struggling to avoid the wooden spoon!

This coming week, St Andrews A are on the road to Princeville, whereas St Andrews B are at home to Bradford Deaf and Littlemoor will host Pudsey Congs A.

By Dave Howarth

League Secretary