Shepherds go top in pool's First Division

Shepherds 5

SHEPHERDS took over the top spot in the McLean’s Bookmakers First Division with an impressive display away to the Legion.

This result also put a severe dent in Donacloney’s title claims. Russell Connell started the ball rolling for the Banbridge side but they were pegged back by the Legion as they won the following two frames through C Morton and Mick Wiltshire.

Mark Doolan levelled the match in the fourth frame but the Legion restored their slender lead in the fifth when P Brooker came out on top in his match. Shepherds then hit top form as the final three frames went their way all started by Paul Hanna and quickly followed by Stevie Shepherd and the points were secured by Neil Monaghan.

Hawthorn Rovers 5

Banbridge Golf Club 3

Well they have done it again! The Hawthorn are quickly showing that they are going to have a big say as to were the league title will finally sit this year and with Shepherds due to visit in the near future it could be a hat-trick of the top teams in the division that come up short in Annaclone.

The Golf Club got off to the perfect start when Trevor Woods won the opening frame but the Hawthorn hit back with interest through M Ward, Ken McKee and Paddy Byrne.

Rab Clydsdale pulled one back for the Banbridge side but the in-form Davie Armstrong restored the home sides two frame advantage in the next.

Wayne McAllister made sure that the Golf Club had something to play for in the final frame but James Christian played a fantastic frame of pool to secure the points for the Hawthorn.

Mulhollands 3

Coach B 5

After last week’s disappointing result the Coach have hauled themselves back into the race for honours this season and find themselves only two points behind Shepherds at the top of the table.

A Neill gave the Dromore side an early lead with victory in the first but the Coach then won three on the bounce from P McCahon, N Meara and S Blackwood to take a stranglehold on the match.

K Johnston pulled one back for Mulhollands and when N McMurray levelled the match in the next a tense final two frames were in-store for all concerned.

S Green settled the nerves for the Coach with victory in the seventh frame and the ever reliable Bert Doherty stepped up to the plate in the final frame to secure a hard fought win for the Banbridge side.

Halfway House 6

Anglers Rest 2

With the way results are going this season the Halfway House are far from out of the title race as this win leaves them just four points behind Shepherds in the division.

R Connell took the first frame for the Anglers but then the Halfway hit the ground running, rattling off four frames on the trot. B Taggart, A McCarten, D McAlinden and N McAlinden were all winners for the home side.

M Doyle gave the Anglers a glimmer of hope of taking a point from the game but that was quickly wiped out in the next frame by R Mulligan. D Mulligan finished off the night’s scoring.

Imperial Inn 4

Castle Tavern 4

Very little separates these two teams in mid-table and it showed when they clashed in a tight match on Tuesday night.

Derek McCreanor won the opener for the Imperial before Ryan Taylor levelled the match in the second. The Imperial then took the next two frames trough D Noble and C Chambers. James Lavery tightened the match up in the next.

The pressure was piled on the visitors when I McCreanor took the sixth frame to put the Imperial two up with two to play but they were well up to that pressure as Ronnie Weir and Roy Anderson both held their nerve to secure a well earned point.

Market Bar 4

Castle Bar 4

Another tight match with the points shared in Dromore.

A Moore gave the Market an early lead before R Harper and A Sweeney swung it around for the Castle. T Loughlin pulled the Market level in the fourth.

C McSherry restored the Castle advantage in the next frame. J Ferguson once again brought the sides level before P McKeverigan guaranteed at least a point for the Castle in the seventh and a point was achieved as M Jardine took the final frame of the night for the Market.

table Pld Pts

1 Shepherds 14 20

2 Banbridge GC 14 19

3 Coach B 14 18

4 Anglers Rest 14 17

5 Donacloney Legion 14 17

6 Halfway House 14 16

7 Castle Tavern 14 14

8 Castle Bar 14 13

9 Imperial Inn 14 12

10 Market Bar 14 10

11 Hawthorn Rovers 14 8

12 Mulhollands 14 5