Irish A open up big gap in BVPA while Breakers D edge Side Club

In the Premier League, Breakers D regained top spot from Side Club despite being on the wrong end of a 9-3 mauling from Irish B. Both teams now have 129 points, but Breakers D’s better win ratio makes them the higher placed team.

On Saturday the BVPA and Breakers staged the inaugural ladies’ singles competition.

The round robin groups saw Jamie Leigh Kirtley and Sarah Jane Perry dominate group two and qualify for the semi-finals.

Group one was a much closer with only Sandra Dugdale winning all her matches. Going into the final round, four players were in with a chance of qualifying. On the first table Kim Wilson needed a 3-0 result, but won 3-1 and missed out, Tinka Hinson on table two needed a win and came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and sealed her place in the knockout stages after Donna Holmes Bingham lost the opening frame in her final game.

In the first semi-final, Perry won a tense final frame against Dugdale. The other semi-final was more one sided with Kirtley winning 3-0.

In the final, Perry took her chances and secured a 4-0 victory.

Super League

Bedlington Station 6 Annitsford Irish A 6

In the standout game in this week’s fixtures, Irish were 4-1 down after the first singles set against their bogey team but staged a great comeback to tie the match. Chris Gill and Gary Spooner broke and dished the final frame to tie the game. Ayton Stewart was Station’s star man with two from two. Irish A continue their run at the top of the Super League with 156 points and a 23-point lead over their nearest rivals. Station are third on 117 points.

Breakers A 5 Breakers F 7

A close fought Bedlington derby at Breakers saw the F team winning by the narrowest of margins to seal their sixth win of the season, which sees them in fifth on 104 points. Breakers A are sixth on 102 points in a competitive mid-table. Breakers F captain Mark McCann was on fire with a 100 per cent record from his three games including a break and dish. Dean Reay and Lee Cook were both two from three for the F team as were the A team’s Trevor Brewis and Will Mason.

Comrades B 7 Sports D 5

Comrades B took the first set 4-1 and the second 3-2 to seal the win, but Sports D won both doubles to seal a good comeback after trailing 7-1 at one stage. Sports D’s Brandan McCann was the man of the match with three from three. Kevin McGarry and Steven Foggett each had two singles wins for the home team. Stevie Spears was two from three for Sports D. Highlights included first visit clearances from Spears and Foggett. Comrades B are still second on 133 points, whilst Sports D are eighth on 91 points.

Wharton Arms 8 Comrades A 4

Wharton Arms finished third in last season’s Premier League, but are outshining the other teams promoted with them as they moved up to fourth on 105 points after their sixth victory of the campaign. Comrades A are tenth on 82 points. Freddy Chambers and David Young shared the man of the match honours with a hat-trick of wins apiece. Teammate Mark Chapman was two from three on the night. A highlight was a clearance from a dry break by Comrades’ Brian Ord.

The Seahorse teams sat out this week’s fixtures with byes and both teams dropped places. Seahorse A are ninth on 88 points whilst Seahorse B are seventh on 102 points.

Premier League

Annitsford Irish B 9 Breakers D 3

Irish B were in form as they put a dent in Breakers D’s title hopes with a 9-3 home victory. The win was Irish B’s tenth of the season and they are fifth on 113 points. Despite the defeat Breakers D regain top spot with 129 points due to their greater win ratio over Side Club, who had and are also on 129 points. Man of the match honours went to Brian Wakenshaw for Irish B with a hat-trick of wins, teammate Paul Johnson chipped in with a brace from his three games.

Breakers B 2 Bank Top 10

Bank Top produced the biggest win in this week’s BVPA fixtures. Their eighth win of the season saw them climb to seventh on 108 points. Breakers B are sixth on 110 points in another competitive mid-table battle. Four Bank Top players recorded 100 per cent records on the night, Alex Thain and Rory Mander were both three from three and shared the man of the match honours. Ant Simpson and Dan Patterson were both two from three. Top scoring for Breakers was Cameron Wintrip with two from three.

Breakers C 9 Phoenix 3

Breakers C sealed their ninth win of the campaign with a 9-3 victory over the Phoenix and they are now third on 120 points. Phoenix are tenth on 57 points. Chris Scott and Mac McPherson were in top form, smashing in three from three, teammate S Bowman helped secure the match with two from three.

Kings B 6 Breakers E 6

Kings B were favourites, but Breakers E upset the form book and the league placings to secure a respectable draw. Kings B are fourth on 116 points, whilst Breakers E are ninth on 83 points. Kings B captain had to share the man of the match honours with Breakers E’s Nial McLaughlin after both hit a hat-trick of wins on the night.

South Beach had their bye this week and are eighth on 100 points.

Next week will see teams playing in their respective Knockout Cup quarter-finals looking to book their places in the season ending Festival of Pool night.

Super League KO Cup: Station v Sports D; Breakers A v Irish A; Comrades B v Seahorse A; Seahorse B v Breakers F. Premier League KO Cup: Breakers B v Side Club; Breakers C v Irsh B; Kings B v Breakers D; South Beach v Phoenix.