As you were at top of the McClean's League

Coach were favourites at home against an under strength Angler's who travelled with only seven players. First man to the table for Coach was Mucker McMullan who got the better of Barry Crossey. The second game was a slow process, Ivor McGrath reckoned this sort of tactic would unsettle his opponent, how wrong he was when Bert Donnelly cleared the table for another Coach win.

At two games down Angler's backs were against the wall. All of a sudden and completely against the run of play they produced three wins on the trot, pick of the bunch being Noel Tumilty who produced an outstanding finish.

Stevie Doherty drew the two side’s level with some excellent positioning of the cue ball which in turn led to a defeat for S.Bell.

The drawback of Angler's being a player short made the score 4-3 to Coach at the seventh. The disappointment of having to surrender the game without a ball being struck certainly didn’t put off their last player as in the eighth and last game S.Neeson got the better of R.Lyons to earn the visitors a draw. With this result Coach still remain top of the division, Angler's on the other hand are just positioned one above the bottom team.

Should results from other matches go their way and two previously postponed matches still to play they could well find themselves rocketing up the table into second place. In one of those matches Angler's travel to Higgin's on Tuesday 23rd February, the other match against Market Bar is in the process of being arranged.

Once again Banbridge Legion are in the points. They travelled to Higgin's with a full contingent of players eager to add more points to their increasing total. Even losing the first two games did not dampen their enthusiasm as they responded in style to win the next three through David Horner, Pete Dean and Bryan Dobbin. Higgin's levelled the match with a win for Chris McCordick. With two points still up for grabs Anthony Thompson put the visitors ahead.

Although Higgin's secured a point through Colly Wilton, the dropped point was an opportunity missed to close the gap on Coach. Legion on the other hand were delighted with the hard earned point.

Mulholland's have slowly but surely been climbing the table whilst remaining under the radar. Another two points were secured against a McGrath's team who have been travelling in the opposite direction. The Dromore side are now positioned joint third in the table. With all the top teams still to play each other, byes to be taken into consideration and postponed matches to be played the title race is by no means a done deal.

All teams will by now have received entry forms for The Eddie Fearon memorial doubles tournament sponsored by A.McLean Bookmakers. Entry forms must be returned to The Red Star accompanied with the entry fee of 6 to arrive no later than 4.00pm.

Once completed the draw will be posted and delivered.

Next Monday 22nd February is the final of the first division knockout cup. The final is to be played in the sponsor’s venue of Halfway House. Castle Tavern and Coach B take centre stage on what promises to be quite a night on what will be an immaculately prepared table in front of a packed house. A full report will follow.