Cobwebs won't be swept aside

While no-one will be surprised that one of those two teams is reigning champions Minnesota Eight-Ballers, few would have expected their nearest challengers at this stage to be Social Cobwebs.

The Slemish Drive team moved on to eight points after an excellent 4-2 win at Michelin Masters, whose season has totally imploded after three successive defeats.

Eight-Ballers continued their lengthy unbeaten run by hammering Fairhill Hustlers 5-1.

In Division One, there were wins for leaders Moat Aces, Knockeden Jokers, Social Inbetweeners and Rolling Stoners.

PREMIER DIVISION

Michelin Masters 2, Social Cobwebs 4: Stephen Holmes started off an excellent night for Cobwebs with a 2-1 win over Ricky McMaster, only for Darren Gibson to level the match when he beat Neil Marrs in straight frames.

Darren Magee restored Cobwebs’ lead with a 2-0 win over David Armstrong and when Liam Erwin came from behind to beat Donald Alexander and make it 3-1 in Social’s favour, the situation was looking bleak for Michelin.

Alan Armstrong kept Masters in the game with a come-from behind win over Jimmy Knowles but there was no denying Michelin the win as Barry Kernohan defeated Brian Hanna by a 2-1 scoreline. MOM - Darren Magee.

Minnesota Eight-Ballers 5, Fairhill Hustlers 1: A comfortable win for the champions against Fairhill, who couldn’t repeat their previous week’s heroics.

Pat McAnally put the home team ahead when he beat Bryan Logan in straight frames but George McCullough levelled when he defeated Gary Erwin by the same margin.

Ryan Foster, the Eight-Ballers captain, gave them the lead for a second time when he defeated Robert Graham 2-1 after losing the first frame, and Brian Hannaway and Gary Clarke secured the two points with straight frames wins over Ritchie Irwin and Justin Kilpatrick.

Minnesota also had the insurance of a walkover win for Barry McLarnon as Hustlers only had five players. MOM - George McCullough.

Standings: Minnesota Eight-Ballers, played 5, points 8; Social CObwebs 5-8; Inn-Offs 5-7; Fairhill Hustlers 5-4; Michelin Masters 5-3.

DIVISION ONE

Social Sports 1, Moat Aces 5: Lee Wright’s straight frames win over Darren Gilmore put Sports ahead in the first game - but that’s where the good news ended for the Social Club team.

George Crothers levelled the scores when he beat Ross Hill 2-1, while Moat won the final four matches without dropping a frame through Alan Rainey, Barry Weir, Jimmy Duffy and KD Crabbe, who beat May Barr, Brian Boyd, Richard Turtle and Mark Foster. MOM - Lee Wright.

Knockeden Jokers 4, Hardly Potters 2: Knockeden recorded this win the hard way, coming from 2-0 down after Johnny Walker and Niall McElroy had put Potters in a commanding position with wins over Carl Bruce and Gareth Rowe.

But the tide turned completely as Jokers won the last four games 2-0 through Michael Craig, Jamie Magill, Raymond Lynn and David Gillespie, who overcame Alan Smyth, Amy Lynn, Kevin McCrudden and Martin Ward. MOM - Niall McElroy.

Slemish Hotshots 0, Social Inbetweeners 2: Slemish suffered the ultimate humiliation of losing all six matches without winning a single frame - and all on their own tables.

Barry Johnston, Gary Ormandy, Fintan Long, Robert Hargan, Chris Penny and Derek Dunlop fired Social to a double-quick win over Jake Burnside, Dean Calderwood, Damian Keenan, Gary Rogers, Rodney Fleck and Chris Adams. MOM - Barry Johnston.

Horse and Jockey 2, Rolling Stoners 4: Stoners took the lead through Shane Stirling, who defeated Rodney Barnes 2-1 but Mark Gillespie restored parity when he beat Archie Simpson in straight frames.

Stoners captain Jason Peacock restored the lead by beating Philip Houston in straight frames and Jimmy McKeown increased the visitors’ advantage by beating Gary Hillis by the same score.

Horse and Jockey stayed afloat thanks to Ricky McNeill’s comeback win over Rodney Holmes but Ron Robinson’s 2-0 win over Jason Steele ensured both points headed back to Cullybackey. MOM - Ricky McNeill.

Standings: Moat Aces, played 17, points 19; Social Inbetweeners 17-17; Knockeden Jokers 17-17; Slemish Hotshots 18-13; Rolling Stoners 17-12; Hardly Potters 18-11; Social Sports 18-10; Horse and Jockey 18-7.

PLAYER OF YEAR

Latest standings in the race for Player of the Year are:

Premier Division: 16 wins - Ryan Foster; 15 - Stewart Frew; 14 - Darren Gibson.

Division One: 16 - Alan Rainey; 13 - Gary Ormandy.