WEEKLY UPDATE 17 JANUARY 2026

Wins for the top two teams, one of them against the team who are third, means that Deaf Centre A and Princeville A remain well clear in the race for the title - ahead of them facing each other at the Deaf Centre this coming week.

Deaf Centre A, who led the table going into this round of matches, were off to a strong start away to third placed Princeville C, when they found that the home teams top board man Chris Jarvis was missing and Jeremy Dixon took advantage with a 40 point win against John Bedford, who had moved up to fill the vacancy. Princeville C fought back however, as Michael Cookson edged out Brian Robinson by 13 and reserve Dave Bowers beat Ian Ford by 10. The aggregate thus went the Deaf Centre's way and with a lead of 104 from the reverse fixture, they ran out 3 - 2 winners.

Meanwhile, Princeville A took all 5 points against a badly out of form Deaf Centre B, who have only picked up 5 points from their last 6 fixtures. Edward Lawson set Princeville A on their way, with a 13 point victory over Peter O'Connell, before Gareth Kershaw beat Ihjaz Hussain by 18 and Trevor Kershaw made the most of his handicap advantage to beat Richard Bowes by 38, so 5-0 to Princeville A, who now lead the table by half a point, with Princeville C a further 4 points behind.

Over at Pudsey, Princeville had another top board man missing, in Paul Devitt of the D team. However, Brian Haigh stepped up one place in the order and beat Dave Howarth by 39. As it turned out though, he was their only winner, as Graham Tudor and Sid Ash both had comfortable wins against Steve Gatenby and reserve David Walker. A good win in the reverse fixture meant that Princeville D picked up the double aggregate leaving Pudsey B with a 3 - 2 victory on the night. Pudsey A had a better, 4 - 1 win against bottom of the table Princeville B, Peter Allan getting them off to a flying start with a massive 68 point win against Don Hardcastle, who had had 3 wins out of 4 prior to this setback. Graham Bentley got the visitors on the scoresheet, with a 52 point win against Ralph Allan, but John Allan then ensured no further upsets with a 47 point win against the League Secretary. So no close games in this one.

As already mentioned the top two face off at the Deaf Centre this coming week, while third placed Princeville C visit Deaf Centre B, who are now bottom of the table. At Princeville, the D team face Pudsey A, who remain fourth, while Pudsey B play Princeville B, who have reached the heady heights of seventh (out of 8) which they have only reached once before all season

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary