WEEKLY UPDATE 17th FEBRUARY 2024

Champions Pudsey A suffered a rare defeat, in the final round of league fixtures, away to Princeville B It didn't look like it was going that way when Peter and Ralph Allan picked up the first two points against Peter Turner and John Bedford respectively. However, in the last game I had breaks of 40 and 32, in my best performance of the season, for a big win against the visitors captain John Allan, which claimed not just the one point for Princeville B but both aggregate points as well, for a 3-2 win. It has to be said though that conditions were quite challenging for those who had been sat down for most of the evening, as on arrival it was discovered that one of the heaters had burnt out, so there was a distinct chill in the air. This result ensured that both teams picked up a home match in the upcoming play offs.

There were nine breaks over the 30 this week  - the highest number of the season - and at the Deaf Centre Gareth Kershaw recorded his first 30 break in this league - congratulations to him. It was not, however, enough to hold off Peter Wood who still came out on top for Deaf Centre B. Peter O'Connell had already picked up a point for the home team against Edward Lawson but Trevor Kershaw - not to be outdone by his son - recorded a 35 break, for a 30 point win against Ihjaz Hussain to prevent Deaf Centre B from recording a whitewash. On the other table, bottom of the league Princeville C were not so fortunate, despite fielding what looked like a strong team. Ian Ford and Brian Robinson beat the Graham Bentley and Brian Haigh before Jeremy Dixon and Paul Devitt traded 30 breaks, with the home man coming out on top to secure 5 - 0 win Deaf Centre A, and with it a second place finish and a home match in the play offs

In the other game at Princeville, home man Steve Gatenby edged out Graham Tudor by 5, in a game which seemed to have spectators saying 'good shot' to both players on a fairly regular basis. Dave Howarth then restored equality for Pudsey B, with a good 19 point win against Mick Cockcroft, and then in the final game Richard Bowes breaks of 45 and 31 looked like he might have done enough to overcome Chris Jarvis, but a 30 break by the home man  meant that he finished 33 in front, with Princeville D taking the aggregate point on the night and the double aggregate going to Pudsey B by a single point. A real close one this.

So in two weeks time (February 27th) Pudsey A and Deaf Centre A have Qualification play offs against Princeville D and Deaf Centre B respectively, with winners going into the semi finals and losers to the quarter finals, while in the Elimination Play offs Princeville B are at home to Princeville C and Princeville A visit Pudsey B. Winners into the quarter finals and losers eliminated

This coming week (February 20th) is reserved for the preliminary round of the Billiards Pairs and with only nine entries this year, there is only one match. New pairing John Bedford and Peter Turner (who had a fine win in Pudsey League pairs competition last Thursday) take on serial winners of this competition Richard Bowes and Ralph Allan at Princeville 

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary