Report 12th October 2003

The Plough & Harrow from Bridge have drawn both games so far after a 3-3 draw against the Fitzwalter Arms A.  Mark Graves (5100) enjoyed an excellent win for the Fitz, before Keith Symes defeated Roger Oldfield 6360-3690, including a break of 5650.  Steve Lake (3600) restored the visiting Fitz lead in the final singles.  Lake & Oldfield scored 5770 to make it 3-1, but in the fifth frame Baz Symes just managed to pot the final ball as he and Ian Dennett beat Graves & Lake 3080-3050.  Keith Symes & Dennett scored 6120 in the final leg to force the draw for the Plough, but this has still been a superb start for the newly promoted Fitz team.

The Lion travelled to Deal and won 4-2 at the Magnet A to maintain their winning start.  Terry Lastlett (2080) put the Lion in front, but Mike Callanan snatched victory against Tim Hayes with an unfinished 1600 break and a 4370-4210 score to level the tie.  The Magnet A edged ahead as John Higgens beat Neville Potts 4260-3770 in the final singles.  In the doubles the Lion played consistently well to take all three legs and the match, as Hayes & Potts (5180) were the highest scorers.

Defending champions Chantry were pegged back to a 3-3 draw at home to the Royal Oak .  Alan Smith gave the Oak the lead in beating John Fullager 5940-2980, but Kevin Kay edged the next frame 3710-2890 to level the tie.  Stuart Richardson (4630) restored the Royal Oak lead in the last singles.  Kay & Fullager (5560) again made in 2-2 after the first doubles, before a close leg was won 3360-2890 by Smith & Richardson.  The final frame was taken by Mick Nichol & Kevin Kay after a 4690 score to force the draw.

In Sandwich , Market Inn A made it two wins from two after a 4-2 victory against pub compatriots the Market Inn B.   Dave Carliell took the first leg for the A, but only after John Skinner unluckily black-pegged when leading clearly with a minute to go.  Alan Farra beat Derek Latham 6750-2030 for 2-0, but Craig Carlson pulled a point back for the B after a 4490-3720 win over Gareth Butcher.  Carliell & Farra narrowly beat Carlson & Skinner 2530-2180, and then Farra & Butcher scored 6440 to secure match victory.  Latham & Carlson just beat Butcher & Carliell 2240-1880 for the B team's second point in the final frame.

 

The Plough & Harrow Tilmanstone lead the way in division two after a 5-1 win at home to the Butchers Arms.  Brian Carpenter (2700) put the Plough ahead, but Paul Collins levelled matters with a 2510-1910 victory over Karen Keen.  Ann Keen scored an impressive 6170 to take the final singles to regain the lead for the Plough.  All the doubles also went to the home side to give them the match.

The Alma maintained their excellent start with a 5-1 victory against the Magnet B.  Dave Howarth notched a 5250 score to put the Alma ahead, but Steve Philpott won the Magnet’s point early to pull the match level.  The Alma avalanche hit full momentum from then on as Bill Edwards fired 7550 in the final singles, and then partnered Rick Cowdrey to take the first doubles.  John Mitchell & Cowdrey (4910) took the penultimate frame comfortably, and the 5-1 win was wrapped up as Harry Pearson & Mitchell knocked another 5590 points.

The second all-pub match of the week occurred in Deal where the Brickmakers B defeated the Brickmakers A 5-1.  Simon Jones beat Paul Garlinge 3900-2610, and Nick Corck (2540) made it 2-0 to the B.  The A won their point in the final singles as Craig Lancaster needed the final ball to see of Ben Williams by just 20 points.  The first doubles was almost as close as Simon Jones & Simon Hart beat Ann Garlinge & Lancaster by only 80 points.  After Corck & Hart scored 4120 in the penultimate frame, victory was assured for the B.

The league’s two new teams met in Goodnestone where the Fitzwalter Arms B beat the Greyhound from Sandwich 4-2.  Lee Byford (1660) and Nigel Scott (3440) put the Fitz 2-0 up, before Daniel Jackson (2980) pulled a point back.  Carl Byford & Scott took the first doubles for a 3-1 lead, but again the Greyhound fought back as Daniel Jackson & Jim Jackson won.  In the final frame, Carl & Lee Byford defeated Jim Jackson & Dave McNeily by the margin of just 250 points to seal the match victory.