Welcome to the Leamington and District Pool League - Summer 2011 Season
Here is the latest Summer League news from the committee.
FINALS DAY REPORT - SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER '11
Sydenham Club were the hosts as the Summer Season came to a climax.
First up was the Doubles Semi-Finals and favourites Dave Lane and Pash Jugpal breezed past opponents Daz McMillan and Lee McNamara in quickfire fashion with some clinical finishing to secure their place in the final with a 4-0 whitewash. Brian Higgins and Loz Plant were expected to outgun opponents James Walsh and Will Desay but a nervy start from Brian and Loz as well as two excellent finishes from James gave the outsiders a 3-1 lead in the race to four, a miss from Will gave the opportunity for a comeback and the momentum had swung as Brian and Loz won the next three to go through 4-3.
Next up were the Singles Semi-Finals, race to five, Pash Jugpal took full advantage of early errors from Adam Prewitt to open up a 3-0 lead and despite Adam pinching the fourth a focussed Pash took the last two to win through to the final 5-1. Last year's winner Johnny McDaid was paired up against Brian Higgins, the break proving to be the deciding factor as Brian potted off every break whereby Johnny didnt make a ball of the break, two break and dishes helping Brian to a 5-3 victory.
The Three Man Team Final has been dominated by trio Dean Davies, Dave Lane and Adam Prewitt since it's inclusion in the league, yet again they were in the final but had a tough match against experienced potters Mark Smith, Billy Morton and Kev Robinson. The early frames were shared 2-2 as both teams made nervy starts to the final, Dave, Adam and Dean won the next three frames to secure a 5-2 victory and make it three successive wins in the event, commiserations to Kev, Mark and Billy.
The Supplementary Cup Final paired up Premier Division third placed finishers Holly Bush 'A' against First Division seventh placed finishers Heathcote Inn 'A', Holly opened up a 2-0 lead as Heathcote were made to pay for some early nerves, Heathcote then took advantage of some sloppy play from the Holly as they took the next four to open up a 4-2 lead in the race to six. Holly Bush finally found their concentration to quieten a boystrous Heathcote support as they won frames seven through to ten to secure a 6-4 victory and win the Cup.
2009 winners and favourites Dave Lane and Pash Jugpal lined up against Brian Higgins and Loz Plant of Frames in the Doubles Final, a couple of tactical frames went the way of Dave and Pash as they went 2-0 ahead, a simple finish from Loz made it 1-2, a missed ball in the middle from Loz proved to be a pivotal turning point as Pash cleared to lead 3-1, a clear up from Dave and a clinical finish from Pash in the sixth wrapped up the win as they strolled to a second win in the event in three years.
The Singles Final guaranteed a brand new winner of the event, Brian Higgins started the brighter as he opened up a 2-1 lead, Pash responded by making the most of a couple of errors from Brian to lead 3-2, a missed tough black from Pash in the sixth handed it to Brian as the match was tied at 3-3.
Both players had chances in the next few frames which could of gone either way, Pash nicking them both to be on the hill at 5-3. Pash had the chance to wrap it up in the ninth but cobbled the black over the bag with yellows close by, Brian had the chance to force a rerack but elected to force Pash to try and hit it, Pash somehow squeezing the white between yellow and cushion to pull off the shot of the match and claim his first singles title 6-3.
The Landlords Cup Final brought together Premier Division runners up Frames Club 'A' and fourth placed finishers Plough & Harrow, the Plough clearly confident after knocking out big favourites Hodcarrier 'A' in a tense semi final that went to a final frame eliminator. In the first two frames, the Plough's James Kerrane and Nigel Butterworth missing glaring chances to secure the frames, Frames Club 'A's Johnny McDaid and Dean Davies taking full advantage to open up a 2-0 lead, James Walsh put Plough on the board at 1-2 as he beat Mark Smith.
Adam Prewitt put Frames 3-1 up with a win over Keith Hewer, frame of the match came from Billy Morton as he gave Frames a 4-1 lead with a tremendous clearance over Robbie Butterworth, a long black potted up the rail from Rob Loveridge against Paul Walsh put Frames on the hill at 5-1, James Kerrane then stroked in the last few balls against Loz Plant to bring the Plough back to 2-5, Plough threw on their talisman Robbie Butterworth to retrieve the match and he had a chance but missed a doubled black to the corner, Frames captain Brian Higgins was left with a finish and he made no mistake as the Frames side claimed the Landlords Cup 6-2.
Congratulations to Matty Smith who won the flyer, beating Mark Smith in the final.
WEEK 22 LEAGUE REPORT - THURSDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
PREMIER DIVISION - Champions Hodcarrier 'A' end the season in style as they thump second placed Frames Club 'A' 9-1 in their own back yard, Hod win 145 out of 190 league frames to win the title at a canter by a clear five points, Ian Grindrod of the Hod clinches the averages title for a second successive season with his frame win, also two frame wins each on the night for Hod players Simon Cox, Dave Nash, Harj Dhesi and Matty Smith.
Holly Bush 'A' and Plough & Harrow had the final BYE's, they end their campaign in third and fourth place respectively.
Railway Inn 'B' finish the season in fifth despite beating sixth placed visitors Holly Bush 'B' 6-4, two frame wins each for Spenny Merritt(Holly), Roy Pontefract and Dave Easson(both Railway).
Bunch Of Grapes 'A' win 10-0 by default as Builders Arms 'A' failed to show, Bunch 'A' finish the season in seventh, Builders 'A' in eighth.
The Sun 'A' beat visitors Bunch Of Grapes 'B' 6-4 but were already relegated, match card still to be received.
FIRST DIVISION - Title winners Frames Club 'C' showed no mercy to their noisy neighbours Frames Club 'B' in their fight for survival as they run out comfortable 8-2 winners, Paul Bastock with two frame wins for the 'C' team. Myles Matthews of the 'B' team loses his first frame as the league averages title slips from his grasp.
Sydenham Club only needed a win at rivals Sunny Jet 'A' to clinch the other promotion spot but fell behind 3-0 and never really recovered as the Jet run out ready 6-4 winners to leapfrog them in the table and put them with a chance of promotion, congratulations to Kicksy Aulak of the Jet who wins the league averages title, he also wins two frames on the night alongside team mate Gaz Wright and Wayne Griffin of Sydenham Club.
With Sydenham losing, this gave the New Inn the chance to claim second place with any win at Heathcote Inn 'A', New Inn started the brighter going 4-1 up and John McDaid clinched promotion for them in the eighth frame as he made it 6-2 to complete his two frame wins, they eventually run out 6-4 winners, Brian Myers(Heathcote) and Dave Bromilow(New Inn) also recorded two frame wins.
Builders Arms 'B' crash 7-3 at home to Whitnash Tavern to confirm their relegation to Division 2, Simon Gelfs of the Builders needed to win his first frame to clinch the league averages title but unfortunately lost, Fred Harrington(Builders), Ben Brown and Andy Draper(Both Tavern) securing two frame wins apiece.
Kelseys fail to show up at Elephant & Castle, a 10-0 defeat by default and two penalty points relegates them to Division 2, Frames Club 'B' survive.
Radford Semele Club 'A' had the BYE and end their league campaign in eighth spot.
SECOND DIVISION - Hodcarrier 'B' had a simple task on paper to clinch the title, they needed a draw at home to St Patricks Club to pip Jolly Miller to the trophy.
St Patricks Club didn't read the script though as they opened up a 4-0 and 5-1 lead at the Hod, a brief comeback from the Hod to pull back at 3-5 before league averages champion Sam Hyatt of The Hod lost the ninth frame to Will Desay of St Pats, despite winning the last frame the Hod had lost 6-4 and therefore handed the championship to the Jolly Miller, two frame wins on the night for Will Desay alongside Paul Beaufoy of the Hod.
Wheatsheaf 'C' drew 5-5 at home to Sunny Jet 'B', the sides end their campaigns in eighth and seventh respectively, Dal Bening(Sheaf) and Ben Washbrooke(Jet) both winning two frames.
In a division decimated by withdrawals this season, the rest of the sides had BYE's.
THIRD DIVISION - Windsor Club 'A' cruised to the Third Division title as they overrun Windsor Club 'B' 8-2 in their derby match, Richard Smith and third division averages winner Iain McCafferty crowned a great season by putting the 'A' side 5-0 and 6-0 up respectively on the night to clinch the title, Kevin Hide and Jon Weemes also on target with two frame wins each for Windsor Club 'A'
Already promoted Murphys Bar could only draw 5-5 at fifth placed finishers Fusilier, even a 10-0 win wouldn't have given them the title.
Heathcote Inn 'B' nipped Hope Tavern 'A' to third spot after they beat their rivals 7-3 at the Hope, Simon Callender winning two frames for Heathcote, Hope 'A' finish the season in fourth spot.
Railway Inn 'A' have finished their second half campaign in good form and grabbed a sixth placed league finish with an excellent 7-3 victory at eighth placed finishers Grist Mill, James Fitzpatrick with a brace for Railway.
Joiners Arms win 6-4 at Radford Semele Club 'B', the sides finish their league campaigns in ninth and tenth respectively, Craig Ransford with two wins on the night for the Joiners.
Hope Tavern 'B' had a BYE, they finish the season in seventh place.