Four eight-ball clearances as title rivals share points

No less than FOUR eight-ball clearances were recorded as the two would-be title contenders slugged out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Cullybackey Road clubrooms.

Pat McAnally and Barry McLarnon, for the home side, along with Michelin's Alan Armstrong and Darren Gibson, all cleared the table in a single visit.

And to complete the drama, Michelin battled back from 3-0 down to secure a point and remain unbeaten in league pool this season.

The only other Premier Division match played saw Inn-Offs - another side who will hold genuine aspirations of winning the title - held to a draw at Social Cobwebs.

Fairhill Hustlers were awarded the two points as their scheduled opponents The Coach failed to field a team.

With the points from the first half of the season now scrubbed from the system, with all Premier Division teams starting from zero, that sends Hustlers to the top of the table.

The same scoring system is not in place, however, in Division One, where points gained in the first half of the season DO still count.

In last week's games, Knockeden Jokers beat Social Inbetweeners to go top on 13 points, along with Moat Aces, who had a walkover win due to the non-appearance of opponents Horse and Jockey.

There was also a rare win for Slemish Hotshots, against Social Sports, while Hardly Potters and Rolling Stoners shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

PREMIER DIVISION

Minnesota Eight-Ballers 3, Michelin Masters 3: Michelin, the only team to go through the first half of the league campaign undefeated, were staring down the barrel of a first loss as they trailed 3-0.

Minnesota had opened up that advantage without breaking sweat, thanks to straight frames wins for Pat McAnally, Gary Clarke and Barry McLarnon, against David Armstrong, Ricky McMaster and Drew Sloan respectively.

Alan Armstrong started the Michelin fightback with a straight frames win over Brian Hannaway and when Darren Gibson beat Alan Davidson, also by a 2-0 scoreline, the comeback was very much on.

And in keeping with the quality of the rest of the match, it was duly completed when Brian Hanna came from a frame down to beat Ryan Foster 2-1 and secure a point. MOM - Barry McLarnon.

Social Cobwebs 3, Inn-Offs 3: Inn-Offs led twice in this game yet in the end, were grateful to salvage a point.

Stewart Frew put the visitors ahead by Beating Neil Marrs 2-0 but almost immediately, they were pegged back by Stephen Holmes' win over Gary Neeson by the same score.

Brett McLaughlin restored the William Street men's lead by beating Darren Magee in three frames but Liam Erwin again squared the match for Social by beating Joe McNally in straight frames.

Cobwebs took the lead for the first time when Barry Kernohan defeated Dessie Cooper in straight frames and although Jimmy Knowles won the first frame to leave the home side just one frame from victory, Michael Wilson battled back to win the next two and grab a draw for Inn-Offs. MOM - Barry Kernohan.

DIVISION ONE

Knockeden Jokers 4, Social Inbetweeners 2: The meeting of two sides who narrowly missed the 'cut' to make it into the top flight resulted in a win for Knockeden.

They lost the opening frame, though, as Gary Ormandy beat Martin Craig in straight frames but Gareth Rowe levelled for Jokers by beating Colin Penny by an identical scoreline.

David Gillespie and Andy Burnside beat Robert Hargan and Derek Dunlop to put Knockeden on the cusp of victory at 3-1 ahead.

Chris Penny kept Social's hopes alive with a come-from-behind win over Carl Bruce but Raymond Lynn kept his composure to beat Barry Johnston and secure two points for Knockeden who, but for their dreadful start to the campaign, would probably be in the top division. MOM - Gareth Rowe.

Slemish Hotshots 4, Social Sports 2: It has taken Slemish just one game of the second half of the season to record as many victories as they managed in the first section.

They were well in control after Gary Rodgers and Dean Calderwood opened up with 2-0 wins over May Barr and Ross Hill and it was soon 3-0 to the Broughshane side when Gregory Shaw beat Lee Wright, after losing the first frame.

Mark Foster kick-started a mini-revival for Social with his win over Chris Adams backed up by Richard Campbell's straight frames win over Connor Graham but Damian Keenan wrapped up both points for Slemish when he beat Brian Boyd by a 2-0 scoreline. MOM - Gregory Shaw.

Rolling Stoners 3, Hardly Potters 3: The two bottom sides in the first half of the league thrashed out a draw in Cullybackey.

Alan Smyth put Potters ahead by beating Archie Simpson in straight frames, but back came Stoners as Jimmy McKeown dished out the same treatment to Johnnie Walker.

The next two games went Potters' way as straight frames wins for Ian Mulvenna and Chris McGaughey over Rodney Holmes and Shane Stirling assured the Dunvale side of at least a point.

However, they were unable to take the final step and wins for Jason Peacock - who beat Chris O'Neill in straight frames - and Ron Robinson, who came from behind to beat Niall McElroy, rescued a point for Stoners. MOM - Ron Robinson.

PLAYER OF YEAR

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

Premier: 12 wins - Ryan Foster, Darren Gibson, Stewart Frew; 11 - David Armstrong, James Millar, Gary Clarke, Brian Hanna; 10 - Brian Hannaway, Robert Graham, Ritchie Irwin.

Division One: 13 wins - Alan Rainey; 10 - Gary Ormandy; 9- Barry Weir, Damian Keenan, Jason Peacock.

FIXTURES

Tonight's (Tuesday) matches are:

Premier: The Coach v Michelin Masters; Social Cobwebs v Minnesota Eight-Ballers; The Inn-Offs v Fairhill Hustlers.

Division One: Slemish Hotshots v Moat Aces; Hardly Potters v Horse and Jockey; Knockeden Jokers v Rolling Stoners; Social Sports v Social Inbetweeners.