WEEKLY UPDATE 23 FEBRUARY 2025 (expanded 24th)

Congratulations to Pudsey B, who were crowned champions this week, after a 4 - 1 win away to second placed Princeville C.

Richard Bowes was back in the Pudsey B team for a 4th appearance of the season, and put them in a virtually unassailable position with a 79 point win against Paul Devitt, actually scoring 246 points in the process and - according to the scorecard - without a break over 30. Things had got off to a sticky start for Pudsey B against their closest challengers, when Keith Tomlinson beat Graham Tudor by 36, to keep the hosts interested in winning the title. However, Richard pretty much secured the aggregate on the night, which ended Princeville C's title hopes, and with Pudsey A by now 2 - 0 down to Princeville A on the other table, their chance had gone as well. Deaf B were 2 - 0 up at home to bottom of the table Princeville B (which eventually became 5 - 0 ) but Dave Howarth now had only to avoid defeat by 44 or more against Graham Bentley to secure the title. As it turned out he won by 14, and in doing so also claimed the double aggregate - but only by 4 points.

In light of that, the other results this week were largely academic. Princeville A, having picked up only 3 points from their previous 4 fixtures, defeated Pudsey A 5 - 0, with Edward Lawson finishing on a massive 242, while Deaf Centre B inflicted another 5 - 0 defeat on bottom of the table Princeville B (their 6th of the season) but alas Deaf Centre B's charge had come too late, having been joint bottom with their opponents going into their 10th December fixture against them. Deaf Centre A inflicted a 4 - 1 defeat on Princeville D, who have been out of sorts recently - Steve Gatenby again being Princeville D's only winner.

All the tables have been updated, along with the Individual Merit and Pairs page - which now includes venues. It's uncertain whether the Deaf Centre repairs will be completed in time for any of these or later rounds, so I have agreed with the Deaf Centre players where their home matches will be played, in order to ensure that if the Deaf Centre is not available, there will be an equal number of games at both Princeville and Pudsey. The Preliminary Round match in the Pairs competition was played on Wednesday at Princeville, where visitors Richard Bowes and Ralph Allan defeated John Bedford and Steve Gatenby 400 - 382. Richard's report on Facebook says that Steve G set off really well, and aided by a break of 23 looked like winning at a canter, but Ralph staged an 'improbable' comeback to narrowly win the first game by 5. Richard comments that John was slow to get going and he failed to make the most of some early chances. Richard got himself 40 in front going into the final street (aided by breaks of 38 and 41), but while John then made some headway, it was Richard who prevailed by 18

After this coming week's final round of fixtures - which are the ones snowed off on 7th January - the Play Offs will start the following week (March 4th). Just a reminder that it will be 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd, 5th v 8th and 6th v 7th. Pudsey B, as champions, will be at home and Princeville B will be away as, even with a win this week, they can't get up to 6th for a home fixture. All the other teams are within 5 points of at least one other team, so a win (or loss) can affect their standing in the table. So still plenty to play for, as the Deaf Centre teams visit Princeville, where it will be A v A and C v B and the other two Princeville teams visit Pudsey, where it's A v B and B v D

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary