After leaders St Andrews B's huge 6-0 win last week, this week it was their turn to sit out. Their nearest rivals, Pudsey Congs B, were at home to basement dwellers Littlemoor. With 6 points available, this was Congs B's chance to get as near as possible to the table toppers, or even overtake them. A win from Roy Denson over Littlemoor's sub, Peter Allan, was a good start. However, last season's champions, Littlemoor, hit back twice with wins from Graham Tudor and then Ralph Allan. This left Sid Ash with (some would say) not such a difficult task (this season) to beat yours truly, to ensure Congs B the win. Sid was always in front and was the more regular scorer. He was still over 20 in front as the 50 minutes drew closer. At that point, I knew things were close in terms of the aggregate point, but that the bonus point was impossible. With one second to spare, I hurriedly played my ball at the red and white, which were apart, but reasonably close... I'm not sure whether I played at it just before the bell, on the bell, or just after it... I'm not even sure whether my ball was still slightly in motion when I hit it... Anyhow, my ball missed both the white and the red... the referee called "foul"... and 2 points were awarded to Sid. If I hadn't hurried, and the bell had definitely beaten me, the total scores on the night would have been level, and instead of Congs B winning 4-2, it would have been 3.5-2.5! So, the 4-2 win for Congs B got them back to half a point behind in the race for the title!

At St Andrews, their A team suffered a 5-1 loss to in form Bradford Deaf. Jeremy Dixon, Brian Robinson and Ian Ford were the visitors winners. A 34 break from Ihjaz Hussain wasn't enough to stop Graham Pearson recording St Andrews A's only point on the night. 

At Princeville, it finished all square (3-3), with Pudsey Congs A's winners, father and son, John and Phil Hirst. James Butcher and Graham Bentley won by enough to claim the aggregate point on the night for Princeville, but with +94 from their previous fixture, this was enough for Congs A to claim the bonus point. 

At Littlemoor on Tuesday, in one of the the Pairs semi-finals, Peter Allan and myself beat John Oyston and John Rider 400-347. Peter's 32 point win meant my task of beating John Rider was made a bit easier. On the night, the running was definitely with us... not a lot more I can say on that, except that the Littlemoor flag is still flying in the Pairs and the Individual Merit as we are now guaranteed a place in both those finals. 

As this coming week is Maundy Thursday, it's shown as a free week of fixtures. However, I'm advised that the other Pairs semi-final will be played on that evening at Pudsey Congs. I'm not sure when the two Individual semis are being played, but I'm sure arrangements to get them done will happen soon. 

By Dave Howarth

League Secretary

Before this week's round up, I must advise you all of the sad news concerning the recent passing of St Andrews B's former player, Norman Procter. He needed to put his playing on hold a couple of years ago, due to his wife's ongoing illness. But more recently, his own declining health meant he had to retire from billiards. Norman will be sadly missed by all of us, and our condolences go out to his family and friends. As soon as I receive details of the funeral arrangements, I will post them here and to the Facebook page...

As the end of the league season draws closer, things are really hotting up at the top of the table. Last week, St Andrews B were clinging onto top spot by just half a point, and after winning only two of their previous eight, they really needed to re-discover some of their earlier good form... And, "re-discover" it they certainly did, with a massive 6-0 win over visitors Princeville. Dave Smith, John Bedford, Steve Boocock and Steve Clark all came good on the same evening to claim maximum points. 

And, to make things so much better from St Andrews B's point of view, their nearest rivals, Pudsey Congs B, suffered a rare defeat (4-2) away at Bradford Deaf Centre. Mick Hirst and Sid Ash were Congs B's winners over Jeremy Dixon and Ian Ford respectively; but Ihjaz Hussain's win over Trevor Smith and Brian Robinson's win over Roy Denson were enough to ensure four points were secured for the home side. Those two results now give St Andrews B a four and a half point breathing space at the top. However, this coming week will be their turn to sit out, whereas Congs B will be looking for a big win against joint bottom, Littlemoor. 

At Littlemoor this week, the home side faced St Andrews A, Being without top board, John Allan, his son Peter stepped into the fray, and was in fact Littlemoor's only winner. St Andrews A recorded three wins from Neil Lee, Nigel Brayshaw and Graham Pearson, who recorded the highest break of the week with a 31, so well done to him.

This coming week, Littlemoor are at Pudsey Congs B; Princeville will host Pudsey Congs A and Bradford Deaf will visit St Andrews A.

By Dave Howarth

League Secretary

I have now received the scoresheet from the St Andrews B v St Andrews A match played last week and have updated all the appropriate tables. As I am time restricted this week, I can't do a full write-up on this page before this week's round of matches on Thursday.

If you want to see all the  scoresheets from last Thursday they are on the appropriate page.

Dave Howarth

League Secretary

As I still haven't received a scoresheet from the St Andrews B v St Andrews A match this week, I won't be doing a website update. Only the Fixtures and Results page is updated with the 2 scoresheets I have received.

David Howarth

League Secretary

League leaders, St Andrews B, suffered another surprise defeat this week. In their last five matches they have now won just the one... against lowly Littlemoor. This week's defeat was a 4-2 at Bradford Deaf Centre. The two Steve's - Boocock and Clark both won for the leaders, but for the Deaf Centre, Jeremy Dixon and Ihjaz Hussain were the winners. The star of the show was Ihjaz with a very good 60 break, which gets him onto the highest breaks table. Both the aggregate and bonus points were taken by the home side. As Pudsey Congs B didn't have a match this week, it still leaves St Andrews B in front, but now by just two and a half points.

At St Andrews, the A team fought out a 3-3 draw with Princeville. and this was despite the fact that the visitors had just the one winner in Brian Haigh (by 35 points). The scoresheet shows St Andrews A on 743 and Princeville 746, but in fact it was even closer and should read 745-746. As Princeville won the aggregate in their previous corresponding fixture, they also took the bonus point to make it 3-3. St Andrews A's 3 winners on the night were Graham Pearson, John Rider and Nigel Brayshaw.

At Pudsey Congs, their A team also suffered a surprise. They set off really well though with Richard Bowes, beating John Allan 188-101 and in the process knocking in two fantastic breaks of 67 and 84, proving that, in this league, he is in a class of his own. Graham Tudor then played well to beat Congs Phil Hirst 200-141; and I then managed to just get the better of John Hirst 187-172. That preceded another good win on the night for Littlemoor when Ralph Allan took advantage of some good running and an off-night from Dave Hirst with a 200-140 win. The bonus point was claimed by Congs A. 

This coming week will see two derbies... at St Andrews and Pudsey Congs. For the bonus point, St Andrews B have a strong 127 point lead on their stablemates; whereas Congs B's advantage over their A team is by a much closer 16 points. Two very interesting fixtures, where I am sure there will be absolutely no quarter given. Littlemoor will be at home to Bradford Deaf, and with both winning 4-2 last time out, this should also be a close one.

Dave Howarth

League Secretary 

St Andrews B snatched back the lead at the top of the table this week in defeating basement dwellers Littlemoor with a 5-1 home win. That lead though is only by a slender half a point, as Pudsey Congs B also recorded their 13th win of the season with a 4-2 win at 6th placed Princeville.

Firstly though, at Pudsey Congs, their A team took on Bradford Deaf. Congs A won this one 4-2, to make it 4 wins on the trot. Richard Bowes recorded 3 breaks, with one of 47 and two 30's in a big win over the visitors Jeremy Dixon (185-99). Congs had one other winner in Phil Hirst, and although Bradford Deaf also had 2 winners (Ihjaz Hussain and reserve, John Rider); it was Congs A who claimed the aggregate point and the bonus point, but by a very slender 2 points! That win for Congs A puts them third, but they are still 10 points behind second placed Congs B. Could they now continue their good form and pose a threat to the top two? Time will tell.

At Princeville, it was a similar situation, where both teams had 2 winners, but the aggregate and bonus points both went one way - to Pudsey Congs B. League Chairman, James Butcher looks to have been in very good form in defeating Mick Hirst 170-154 and in the process recording 3 breaks in the 20's. Steve Gatenby doesn't play in this league every week for Princeville, but when he does, he usually wins. He didn't disappoint again with a 190-154 win over Sid Ash. That win keeps him top of the Players Table, but the question has to be asked - will he play enough games to qualify him for the Players Table winner's trophy? Congs B's winners were Trevor Smith (over Graham Bentley) and the now very reliable Roy Denson with a 200-152 win over Gareth Kershaw. But, the crucial aggregate and bonus points, were taken back to Pudsey.

At St Andrews, it was top against bottom, and as per this season's form, the result was pretty convincing. However, initially, Littlemoor's John Allan continued his good form with a big win over Dave Smith... an excellent 47 break (equalling Richard's highest this week) saw him to a 200-147 win. But, for Littlemoor, it was down hill from there... John Bedford, Steve Boocock and Steve Clark all had wins over Ralph Allan, Graham Tudor and the league secretary to make it 5-1 to the home side.

This coming week, Congs B will have to sit out and will be hoping that Bradford Deaf can do them a big favour when they will welcome St Andrews B. Littlemoor will make the short trip to visit Congs A and St Andrews A will host Princeville.

At the league meeting on Friday, we drew the Individual Merit and Pairs semi finals and in addition, we drew the first round of the Team Knockout competition, which starts towards the end of next month. Bradford Deaf were the lucky recipients of a bye through to the semi-finals. The Individual Merit, Pairs and Team Knockout pages are all now up to date.

Dave Howarth

League Secretary