Champions win clash of pool league title contenders

Moat Bar A, L-R,David Nicholl, Ryan Stewart, Gary Rainey, Barry Weir, Darren Campbell. INBT 46-172CS

Minnesota Inbetweeners took another big step towards defending their Ballymena Towers Pool League title last week.

The Cullybackey Road side overcame fellow title contenders Fairhill Hustlers to remain in top spot in the table.

Latest results are:

Michelin Masters 1-5 Connolly’s: Connolly’s got off to the perfect start with a brace of 2-0 wins in the opening games there winners being Gary Clarke and Pat McAnally who defeated Brian Hanna and David Armstrong. Don McKeown increased the lead with a hard fought 2-1 win over Rick Mc Master. Ryan Foster and Alan Davidson made the match score 5-0 for Connolly’s with wins in straight frames over Alan Armstrong and Bobby Carson . In the final game Jimmy Knowles avoided the whitewash for Michelin with a 2-1 win over Ian Boal. POM - Ryan Foster.

Minnesota Inbetweeners 4-2 Fairhill Hustlers: George McCullough got the Hustlers off to a good start with a come from behind 2-1 win over Wayne Lewis. Marc Higgins levelled the match score with a 2-0 win over Sean Brannigan. Gary Ormandy then put the Inbetweeners ahead in the match with a 2-1 win over Richard Campbell. Clem Howard then made the match score 3-1 to the Inbetweeners with a 2-1 win over Glenn Mairs. Dessie Cooper increased the lead further with a 2-1 win over Rab Graham. In the final game Ritchie Irwin had a 2-1 win for the Hustlers against Philip Houston to earn the Ahoghill side a second point.

Social Club 3-3 Moat B: Mark McMullan got the Social Club off to a good start with a 2-1 win over Adele Rutherford, in the next game Neil Weir levelled the match score with a 2-1 win over Eddie Fleck. Dean Robinson made the match score 2-1 to the Moat B with a win in straight frames over Ross Hill. Then back came the Social Club with Albert McBride levelling the match once more with a 2-1 over William Wilson. Alan Agnew then put the Social Club ahead once more with a 2-0 win over Eddie Maxwell only for Aaron Browne to secure the draw for the Moat with a win in straight frames over Keith Agnew. POM - Albert McBride.

Moat A 4, Coach 2: Barry Weir had a 2-1 win over Cliffy Allison to put the Moat in front but back came the Coach in the next two games with wins for Aidy Rouke who had a win in straight frames over Ryan Stewart and Jason Moody who defeated Jason McKay 2-1 to make the match score 2-1 for the Coach. Darren Campbell levelled the match score with a 2-0 win over David Carlisle and Alan Rainey put the Moat ahead with a 2-1 win over Frazer Young. In the final game David Nicholl secured the win for the Moat with a win in straight frames over Robert Artt.

Fairhill Rockets 1-5 Towers Tavern: The Towers got off to a perfect start with Drew Sloan and Shane Moody having 2-0 wins over Alastair Lowry and Stephen Worthington. Ian Dewar then reduced the deficit for the Fairhill with a 2-1 win over Dean Greer. James Millar and David Millar then had 2-0 victories for the Towers against Barry Kernohan and Gary Allen to put the Towers Tavern 4-1 ahead in the match. In the final game K.D. Crabbe lost the first frame but fought back to win 2-1 for the Towers against Nigel McMaster and this left the final match score at 5-1. POM - David Millar.

TABLE

Inbetweeners. played 10, points 45; Connolly’s 9-42; Fairhill Hustlers 11-42; Towers Tavern 9-36; Michelin Masters 9-34; Moat A 9-27; Coach 11-25; Moat B 11-22; Fairhill Dreamers 10-16; Social Club 11-11.

PLAYER OF YEAR

Latest standings in the race for the Player of the Year title are:

Nine wins: Gary Ormandy (inbetweeners), Alan Rainey (Moat A).

Eight wins: Robert Graham (Fairhill Hustlers); George McCullough (Fairhill Hustlers); Philip Houston (Inbetweeners); Drew Sloan (Towers); Pat McAnally Jnr (Connolly’s).