The
Market Inn A are top of the table after a 4-2 win at home to
the Fitzwalter Arms A.
Mark Graves (1880) put the Fitz in front despite
black-pegging twice to his opponent Dave Carliell’s one
black peg, and
Steve
Lake
(1900)
ended Alan Farra’s 100% record to put them 2-0 up.
The
Market
Inn
A
fight-back started with a close 1990-1520 victory for Gareth
Butcher against Roger Oldfield.
From there the Market took control of the doubles
winning all three, their best score coming in the final
frame, 4470 for Farra & Butcher.
The
Lion beat the
Royal Oak
4-2,
thereby moving ahead of the Oak in the table. Alan
Smith beat Wack Sampson 3890-3030 in the first leg to give
the
Royal Oak
the lead.
The second frame saw Neville Potts score 7320, including a
6180 break, to pull the match level. Tim Hayes put the
Lion ahead as he rattled away 12490 points, including breaks
of 7320 and an unfinished 4970. Paul Smart & Potts
also took the first doubles, before Stuart Richardson &
Alan Smith pulled a point back for the Oak with a 6070
total. Potts & Hayes notched 6090 in the final
frame to claim the match victory.
The Chantry Club soundly thrashed the
Market
Inn
B
6-0 in
Canterbury
.
John Fullager (5560) took the first singles, followed
by wins for Mick Nichol, whose 9610 score included a 5000
break, and Kevin Kay who managed a 4720 break in his 6620
score. The doubles continued in similar fashion, the
highest score being 7270 for Fullager & Kay in the
penultimate frame. The Chantry may have started the
season slowly, but on this form will be challenging to
retain their title by the end of the season.
The Plough & Harrow from Bridge travelled to Deal and
beat the Magnet A 5-1, inflicting the Magnet's worst defeat
of the season. Paddy Maher (3630) gave the Plough the
lead, before Mike Callanan won a nail-biter 3060-2840
against Ian Dennett to level matters. Keith Symes
(4930) restored the Plough lead, and from there the visitors
took control in the doubles, their best win in the final
frame, 5870-3040 for Dennett & Baz Symes against Mike
& Lin Callanan.
In division two, the Plough & Harrow from Tilmanstone
beat the Brickmakers A 5-1 to stay top. A close first
leg was won by Brian Carpenter, 3040-2620 against Paul
Garlinge. Karen Keen (2450) and Ann Keen (2070)
wrapped up the singles to put the Plough 3-0 up. Alan
Holmwood & Paul Garlinge won a close doubles 2250-1980
against Carpenter & Ann Keen for the Brickies point, but
the Plough re-established their authority to take the two
remaining frames.
The
Alma
won 4-2
at the Fitzwalter Arms B to maintain the pressure at the top
in what has become a two-horse race already. The first
two legs were close last-ball finishes as first Rick Cowdrey
beat Lee Byford 1620-1560 for the
Alma
, and then
Carl Byford edged Harry Pearson
1370-1140 to level the tie. John Mitchell notched 7930
to put the
Alma
back in
front. The first two doubles also went the way of the
Alma, as Dave Howarth & Bill Edwards (4880) and Mitchell
& Edwards (2530) were successful. The final frame
saw the Fitz second point as Carl Byford & Nigel Scott
scored 2960 for their win.
The
battle for third place has hotted up after fourth place
Magnet B won 4-2 at the team in third, the Brickmakers B.
All the singles went to the Magnet as Steve Philpott
(3180) won, followed by an excellent 3330-2970 victory for
Rob Robertson against Simon Jones, and finally Tanya
Philpott (2160) took her leg.
Simon Jones & Nick Corck rattled 5260 points in
the first doubles for the Brickies, and Simon Hart &
Jones won a last ball game against Robertson & Steve
Philpott to further reduce the deficit.
Chris Gent & Steve Philpott, however, claimed
match victory by taking the final doubles.