WEEKLY UPDATE 21 NOVEMBER 2025

Once again, last week's top 4 teams remain the same, with Princeville A and C strengthening their positions with wins, while the two Deaf Centre teams both made 2 -2 draws at Pudsey. I've also noticed that in the 3 remaining matches before the Christmas break, the top 4 teams all play one another, while the bottom 4 will do the same. What impact with this have on the league table at the half way stage of the season?

At Princeville, the A team beat the B team 4 - 0, but with only 34 points in the aggregate scores, as their 3 winners were by 9, 9 and 16, the winners now being only 1 point behind the league leaders, while the losers sink to the foot of the table. Fine margins!!. Princeville C's 3 - 1 win against Princeville D saw them draw level with Deaf Centre A, at the top of the table, and featured the week's only break above 30 as Chris Jarvis recorded 34, despite being the C teams only loser, as Paul Devitt picked up his first win of the season for the D team

At Pudsey, both games ended 2 - 2, and in both instances the Deaf Centre teams single winner was by enough to secure the aggregate point. In the first game Pudsey A's Peter Allan sneaked a 2 point win, against league leaders Deaf Centre A's Ian Ford, and Ralph Allan secured another win for Pudsey A, by 14, but Jeremy Dixon then road to the visitors rescue with a 44 point win against John Allan to take the aggregate point (the pair met again on Thursday in the Pudsey League, where the result was reversed thanks to a 41 break from John - which I had the doubtful privilege of observing!!).

Deaf Centre B kept their interest at the top of the table intact, thanks to Peter O'Connell's big win against Graham Tudor, which sandwiched small losses for Ihjaz Hussain and Dave Bowers - who was guesting for the Deaf Centre in the absence of Richard Bowes.

Only 3 points then between the top 4, ahead of this week's fixtures, which see the Deaf Centre teams visiting Princeville (A v A and C v B) and Pudsey entertaining the other two Princeville teams, where it's A v D and B v B

Handbooks are out at least, and anybody who hasn't yet got one should be able pick one up at Tuesday's matches, while Wednesday is the closing date for entries to the Individual Merit and Pairs competitions, with preliminary round draws being made at the League Committee Meeting that night, at the Deaf Centre starting at 7.30pm. Get your entries in before the meeting

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 16 NOVEMBER 2025

The teams in the top four places in the league table last week all won this week, so maintaining their positions. Deaf Centre A are the early pace setters after beating a depleted Pudsey B 3 - 1, but Princeville C remain in second place, after beating Princeville B by the same score line. Deaf Centre B improved their position, in third place, with a 4 - 0 win against Pudsey A, while Princeville A are level with them in third place after a first win of the season, to accompany their two previous draws. Three of the four defeated teams are level, on 4 points each,  with Pudsey A slipping to the foot of the table a point behind them.

Pudsey B's Graham Tudor attended the wrong venue, leaving Dave Howarth to play twice at the Deaf Centre, and he maintained his unbeaten record in his first game against Brian Robinson, but then lost it in his second, against the also undefeated Jeremy Dixon, who racked up a total of 190 in the process (off a handicap of minus 5, so 195 in all). On the other table the prolific Richard Bowes actually scored 212, to give him a score of 162, which was enough to beat John Allan by 20, and with Ihjaz Hussain securing a first win of the campaign (by 12 against Ralph Allan) and Peter O'Connell beating Peter Allan by 24, it was a clean sweep for Deaf Centre B against Pudsey A

At Princeville, improving newcomer Michael Cookson made a 22 break to lead the chase for 85 handicap and above highest break prize, and in doing so had a comfortable victory over Peter Turner, to go with an earlier win for the so far undefeated John Bedford, meaning that Princeville C had a 3-1 success against Princeville B despite my victory over Chris Jarvis. On the other table Steve Gatenby made his first appearance of the season for Princeville D, and defeated Edward Lawson, but Gareth and Trevor Kershaw both won, to ensure that Princeville A took 3 points to the D teams one

This coming week teams will be in the same company, but against different opposition, as at Princeville it's B v A and D v C, while the Deaf Centre players will be heading for Pudsey, where the home venues A and B teams will play the visitors A and B's team respectively

Entry forms are out for the Individual and Pairs competitions, and the closing date is Wednesday next week (26th November) when there will be a League Committee Meeting at the Deaf Centre at 7.30pm

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 2 NOVEMBER 2025

The opening week's league fixtures saw only Princeville A and the two Pudsey teams with the same personnel as last season - Princeville C and D both fielding completely different line ups from last term.

Richard Bowes was in Deaf Centre B's team, following his season long loan from Pudsey, and he immediately put down a marker for the highest break prize, with a break of 69. I suspect, however, that neither he, nor his opponent Brian Haigh, would have expected to be in opposition. In Paul Devitt's absence, Brian was promoted to number one and was supported by David Walker , who before the end of August had only played billiards once in his life, and Don Hardcastle who turned 94 the previous day. Consequently all three Princeville players had massive handicap advantages and while Brian lost by 20, the other two hung on for slender wins, but nevertheless by sufficient to secure a surprise 3 - 1 victory. On the other table Deaf Centre A had a more routine 3 -1 win against Princeville B, with Ian Ford making the highest score of the day with 243 - his opponent Peter Turner also reaching 200

At Princeville, the home teams both got off to good starts against the Pudsey teams, Edward Lawson beating Peter Allan by 47 for Princeville A and John Bedford beating Graham Tudor by 50 for the C team. Dave Howarth picked up a point for Pudsey B, as last season's champions lost 3 - 1, while both John and Ralph Allan both secured wins for Pudsey A, but not by enough to stop Princeville A hanging on for a 2 - 2 draw, with just 8 points in the aggregate.

This coming week the Deaf Centre will be at Princeville and Pudsey will entertain the same two Princeville teams - but in both instances the teams in opposition will be different. Princeville B v Deaf Centre B, Princeville D v Deaf Centre A, Pudsey A v Princeville C and Pudsey B v Princeville A

The H Kershaw Memorial Trophy competition, delayed from last season, will be played at Princeville on Wednesday 12th November, with a 7.15 start. The invited players are C Jarvis, S Kershaw, J Dixon, P Devitt and J Allan. Spectators will be welcome.

S Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 6 NOVEMBER 2025

After a second round of league fixtures, five of the eight teams are on 3 points, and therefore amazingly share bottom spot in the league table. One point better off with 4, are Princeville A, who are still without a win having drawn both matches 2 - 2. Early leaders Deaf Centre A have 7 points, after a 4 - 0 win this week, while Princeville C are second with 6 points from two 3 - 1 victories.

Like Princeville A, Princeville B also picked up a draw this week, at home to Deaf Centre B, although this looked unlikely going into the final game. Deaf Centre B were leading 2 - 0 and by 86 points but in an amazingly one sided game, where the running never seemed to change, Graham Bentley took full advantage to beat Ihjaz Hussain by 91 and thus secure the aggregate point for the hosts. There was almost a mirror image on the other table, where it was Jeremy Dixon who took full advantage, to beat Paul Devitt by 103 - but with Deaf Centre A already 2 - 0 up and 92 points ahead on aggregate, this simply resulted in the season's first 4 - 0 score line for early table toppers Deaf Centre A. Earlier in the evening Deaf Centre B's Richard Bowes made two breaks of 37 and one of 32, with my solitary 31 not sufficient to prevent a 40 point win for Richard in a fluent high scoring game, which was closer than the final score line suggests. (I would say that wouldn't I).

Deaf Centre's Ian Ford topped 200 for the second week in a row, a feat also achieved by John Bedford for Princeville C at Pudsey. With newcomer Michael Cookson also topping 200, it was a second 3 -1 win for Princeville C ,who are now second. Princeville A had a draw in week one, with one big winner and two small losses, but this week it was the other way round, as 2 small wins and one bigger loss got them another 2 - 2 draw. Dave Howarth being Pudsey B's hero.

This coming week it's derby day at Princeville with A v D and C v B, while Pudsey visit the Deaf Centre for A v B and B v A.

It' seems that last week's update didn't publish - although the management pages say it did. I've no idea why but James Butcher will be taking  a look at it for me and hopefully it will appear soon. In the meantime I'm hoping for better luck this week

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary