Tag: GortonPoolApril2025

Gorton & District Pool League Team Ko Header Image
by Wil

G&DPL – Team Ko – Last 16 Review/Preview

Last week 1st leg matches certainly gave us a mixed bag, three draws, two 6-2’s, two 7-1’s and two dishes.
There is everything to play for, and chances for all who will be in the Champions Draw and who will be in the Europa Draw?

The Sidings (1) vs (7) Gorton Con Club
First and foremost, it is great to see Dan Savery back on that baize.
The result, though, probably wasn’t what he wanted on his return to the captain’s chair. Neither team has started the season as they would have wanted and needs to get a run of results under their belts.
Coming off the back of two losses, Gorton started as well as they could, with Scott Livingston taking the first and league stalwart Frank Cheffings taking the second. Danny and Harry Mallender took the first doubles with wins, followed by Mark Beresford, and Neil McEwan and a second doubles win from Mark Turner & Dave Stanley. Gorton found themselves in a commanding position at 6-0.
Their only loss of the match came the way of the Sidings’ ever-reliable Jan Zalud beating Stuart Ingham in the seventh frame before Jay Gallacher took the last to take a 7-1 lead to the Sidings for the 2nd leg.
If one thing the history of the Gorton league does prove, though, is that you never write a team off.
The Sidings have some very strong and consistent players in their ranks and will need to look to everyone to bring their best games to the table. 
Can they do it?
Without a doubt, they have the players, but they will be looking to take it frame to frame, dig in and chip away at that ever-overlooking 7-1 scoreline.
Gorton, on the other hand, can’t be in any way complacent, and knowing Neil, he certainly won’t be. They will be looking to get it done early and inject more confidence into the team going back into league matches next week.

Holdsworth WMC (2) vs (6) Waggon & Horses
There aren’t many mirrored matches in this league, but here we have the exception: the same results as the first meeting of the year, down to which frames were won and lost.
As with the first meeting, Chris Birbeck led the Holdsworth out, securing a tight win to gain the early advantage. This advantage was short-lived, however, as the Waggon took the next three frames. Nerves likely rattled in the Waggon camp, but Holdsworth captain Lewie stepped up, continuing his unbeaten season and bringing the score to 3-2 with three frames left, setting up a tense finish. Ultimately, the Waggon maintained their home advantage, winning the final three frames for a solid 6-2 result going into the second leg.
The second leg is going to pose a few questions for both captains. The Waggon looked to have a few players missing from the 1st leg. Will Ian stick with the team that performed in the first leg, or will he twist with other players available to him? With the season starting to gain momentum, we can see that the Waggon has got strength and is now showing depth. Surely a convincing win here could tee them up nicely for a good run of results, but a loss could equally have the opposite effect.
Lewie and his Holdsworth team or on the hunt for a first win of the season, and we know it will come, but will it be this week?
The results so far certainly don’t reflect the potential of the Holdsworth; their players, individually, are all capable of winning frames. The question now is, can Lewie pull them together and turn a four-frame deficit to take a huge win for the team?

Prince of Wales (6) vs (2) Steelworks Tavern
A match that has the potential to swing either way in the results stakes, with the first half of the match proving just that, but could the Steelworks use their well-known home advantage to push the swing their way?
In short, no!
With wins for the Steelworks from Cody Chapman and doubles team, Mark McCann & Jamie Fletcher and the Prince’s Andy Robinson and Terry Townley, the match was poised at 2-2 at the half-time mark, but the Steelworks couldn’t push their home advantage.
Lee Acheson won the first of the second half with a doubles win from Scott Armstrong & Chris Ingham, followed by Thomas Leavy and Sharif Ghoorahoo singles wins, the Prince wrapped up a 6-2 advantage to take home for the 2nd leg.
The Steelworks need to start strong and can’t allow the Prince to get any foothold in the match. That said, Steve Christy [captain for the Prince], has steered a team to four out of the last five leagues, including one being undefeated and will not be looking to rush the match. He only needs two to win, but they still need to be won!

Clayton Con Club (4) vs (4) Studio Bar
What can be said here?!?
I am sure Clayton would have been an underdog to most, luckily for them, they didn’t feel that way, I know the layman would look at the match being a drawn result, but, as a lot of teams know, a draw at the Studio, especially when they have two dishes in the mix most certainly feels like a win.
Back to it, though, it is just that, a draw, and not a win.
Captain Martin returned this week for Clayton and was certainly refreshed and ready, taking the first frame, and most certainly, cheers from the away team. This was quickly answered in short with a dish from Liam Power, who unfortunately didn’t carry the win into the doubles match alongside partner Kev Kelly, which followed, losing to Alan Hardman and Bill Owen, swinging the advantage back to Clayton 2-1.
Studio captain Chris Eccleston, inopportunely, couldn’t carry on the swinging match back to the Studio with Steve Scholes taking the score to 3-1 in Clayton’s favour. The Studio’s second dish of the night, though, coming by way of Chris Wilson, stopped the momentum and set up a three-frame run and the score back in their favour, 4-3.
It was Alan Hardman who took his second win of the evening, the frame and the draw for Clayton to set up what, potentially, could be a thriller this week.
Looking ahead, who would be considered the favourite here?
On paper, we would say the Studio, it’s a one-game shootout and they are – certainly on paper at least – one of, if not the best in the league when at full strength. Chris will be wanting a full team to pick from, and each playing hitting form – in that scenario, I can’t see past them, they have played many a final at Clayton and will be comfortable there.
However.
Clayton are proving to be no mugs at all this season, a win over Gorton and draws against their, this weeks opponents, the Studio, as well as a reformed Waggon, they appear to be comfortable against anyone.

Waggon & Horses ‘B’ (1) vs (7) The Buxton
Second only to the first frame, the Buxton looked very comfortable at home last week, taking both doubles and five out of six singles. It looks, at least on paper, to be a well-rounded, dominant performance from them.
But, knowing the home advantage the Buxton holds, the results on paper may not have been entirely the story on the baize. This week will tell us more.
The Waggon ‘B’ need to put a performance in there is no question there, but they have a new table in an open, spacious environment. So, venue-wise and table-wise, there is no issue for them there. They hold the home advantage, and with enough people there, the Waggon can hold its advantage for the home team if their players and supporters get behind them as a team. They will have to play a very similar game to the Sidings, though and take it frame by frame, win the first, the second, the doubles, chip away at that lead, and who knows, they have the players and the captain. Have they got the game? Only Thursday will answer that question.

Strawberry Duck (4) vs (4) Prince of Wales ‘B’
In a slight back-and-forward match, both teams shared the spoils in every sense, both had three singles wins and both had a doubles win, should that keep up we’ll see the first play-off of the season.
The Duck went ahead with Dave Williams taking the first frame, only for the Prince ‘B’ to take the next two with a singles win from Kirt Hogan and a doubles win from Carl Jackson & Darren Scanlon to push the lead back to the Prince ‘B’ 2-0 with Dave Latham [Strabwerry Duck] stopping the run, with captain Darren Scanlon then taking his second frame of the night to restore the lead 3-2 in favour of the Prince ‘B’
A doubles win from Dave Latham, his second win of the evening & John Hughes, followed by a singles win from Pete James, gave the Duck the lead for the second time of the evening, guaranteed at least a draw for the return leg with the home advantage.
And that is exactly how it panned with Ste Gillard taking the last for Prince ‘B’.
The win this week – for me – will come down to team selection and patience, if a team can gain an early advantage and dig in taking no chances that could give them the best chance of winning.
Both teams have big hitters though and I’m sure this won’t be a drawn-out game, both will be in for the win from the start.

Gorton Con Club ‘B’ (4) vs (4) Strawberry Gardens
Here we are again – 4-4.
From speaking to Leigh in the week, I know the Gardens were struggling to get a team out, but a job from the captain for making sure they were there and gave a good shift against a very dangerous team in Gorton ‘B’.
This truly was a match of two halves, with them both mirror versions of each other, only for the opposing teams.
The Gardens struck first, taking a three-frame lead with Lee Corcoran and Aaron Deans taking the first two singles and Aaron Deans taking his second with Chris Dawson in the doubles before Pete Brielry struck back for Gorton ‘B’, making it 3-1 for the first half.
Shifting into the second half, Chris Dawson took his second win of the night and secured the draw, at least, for the Gardens.
Knowing Wayne [captain, Gorton Con Club ‘B’] and Gorton ‘B’, though there was no way they would give in without a fight and surely enough, that never seemed on their cards.
Wayne stepped into the doubles with Paul Sweeney to pull the score back to 4-2, and with wins following from Alan Sherratt and Rob Walton, the draw was secured for both.
Going forward and knowing both teams, I’m not sure a home advantage affects the match here; all are more than capable, and this truly will be a fantastic match to watch. I can’t imagine anyone will give room to anyone, and there will be plenty of attacking action.

Gorton & District Pool League Team Ko Header Image
by Scott Armstrong

Team Ko – Last 16 Review

This week sees the start of the 2025 Team Ko trophy, and with what appears to be one of the most competitive leagues in a number of years, it certainly looks to be a tight competition.
The victors over two legs will advance to the main event, while the losers will still have an opportunity to achieve glory in the plate event.
Notably, there are four new teams this year, although three of them feature players who have been in the league before.

Prince of Wales ‘B’ v Strawberry Duck
The Prince ‘B’ is full of experienced players who are used to the pressures of Team Ko, but does that mean they could be overconfident or complacent? Something they really can’t afford to be against a strong new team. The Strawberry Duck has proven they are a decent team finding their feet, and I am sure they will be looking forward to their chances here.

The Buxton v Waggon & Horses ‘B’
The Buxton will be looking at this fixture as a way into the Main Team Ko. They have a year’s experience now, and the Waggon ‘B’ doesn’t seem to have gotten going yet. There are good players in both teams and, more importantly, both with experience and skill. The Waggon ‘B’ probably does probably have more experience, especially with league veteran Carol Cheffings. The Buxton, though, is full of enthusiasm, so they’ll be looking forward to this.

Studio Bar v Clayton Con Club
Last season Team Ko’s finals night felt strange to me as I refereed the main final. Why, well, because there was no studio there for their first absence on finals night in, I think, seven years. They will rightly be favourites in this match. However, Clayton has made a good, solid start and will be looking to cause an upset. Chris, as Studio captain, will be determined to get the team back to where they feel they belong, and that’s finals night. Clayton just needs to look at this as a big opportunity. If they managed to win over two legs, that would certainly be a coup on their part.

Steelworks Tavern v Prince of Wales 
This one is a match of last year’s Team Ko runners-up, the Steelworks, the plate, and the Prince, the main. This match is sure to be interesting with the Steelworks team being able to evolve over the last few years, but always retaining their quality. The Prince has made a perfect start this season so far, but this is a match that could bite them on the backside.

Gorton Con Club v The Sidings
Gorton Con Club are the reigning main Team Ko champions and will be looking to make a strong start to their title defence this season. The Sidings are currently without captain Dan who is recuperating, which is a big loss, but they have some very experienced league players who will be hoping to give Gorton a real challenge. Gorton has to put their league struggles so far behind them and get back to the way they played last week in this comp to get over the line.

Waggon & Horses v Holdsworth WMC
The Waggoners are resurgent so far this year, showing quality even in close defeats. With a couple of notably experienced additions this year, they have raised their level to that which won them the plate event only a few years ago. Holdsworth WMC haven’t had the easiest of starts, but the team has a couple of very experienced and good players, so they should be looking at this as an opportunity to get their season going.

Strawberry Gardens v Gorton Con Club ‘B’
A match-up that sees two teams that have made a much better start this season than they did last come up against each other at a time when both teams will be feeling fairly confident. The two teams have some very talented players, and I would say this is quite an equal contest. Both of the teams will be hoping to make a good start in the cup.

G&DPL - Sinlges Ko Post header
by Scott Armstrong

Singles Ko – Main Event, Pre-lim and Last 64 Preview

This week sees us take to the 2025 Singles Ko first round, as always there are a lot of great matches. The early favourites will want to avoid any slip-ups.
There are too many matches to preview all of them, so as is customary, I will preview the ones that Steve Christy has selected as the Super7 matches.

The full list of matches and venues can be seen here.

Carol Cheffings (Waggon & Horses ‘B’) v Mark Rushton (The Sidings)
Both of these players are very experienced league players, and both are very capable players who can pot for fun. However, these two are equally adept at the dark arts of the safety game. Any neutral observers should be prepared for anything and everything. Carol on a good day can pot off lampshades and is very dangerous. Mark – or Speedy as everyone knows him – is one of the most patient players I have come across, and with his tactical mind can put you in trouble before you even realise it.

Leigh Mitchell (Strawberry Gardens) v Wil Sessnon (Waggon & Horses)
One of the most interesting games of the round – players of equal ability, where neither will want to give any ground.
They both had decent seasons last year. Leigh, new to the league last year, settled in well and will fancy his chance here. Wil, on the other hand, has been around in this league for a long time now. Both are attack-minded players, but some have been at the end of Wil’s safety game and seen how capable it can be. They both have had good starts to the season, so this one could be close.

Phil Dodd (Studio Bar) v Andy Burton (Studio Bar) – Doubles Points Match
This one is an all-Studio affair, and the talent in this match is undeniable. Phil, making his return to the league after a few years out, is a well-known player in the northwest, and when he is on form, his game can be poetry in motion. Andy is also well-known in the pool world and will be hoping that he can put on his best game to get over the line. This one could be decided on break and dish; they are that good.

Mike Maunsell (Prince of Wales ‘B’) v Chrissy Ribbon (Prince of Wales ‘B’)
I will be honest. I know nothing of the first player. In all honesty, that can be a massive plus for a new player as their opponents won’t know how to play them. We saw it last year with plate singles winner Mark Ryan no one knew much about him. Chris, on the other hand, is a good old-fashioned potter, and he can be deadly when it comes to who can pot their way through.

Daniel Page (Steelworks Tavern) v Stewart Ingham (Gorton Con Club) 
This match could easily have been a double-point match. I have said it many times over the years: Daniel Page is one of the most naturally gifted players I have ever seen. The difference now is that he has started over the last couple of years to back it up, with team honours doubles plate victories and final appearances. Stewart, on the other hand, is also a brilliant player who has won it all or near enough. He is always calm and always seems so precise in all his shots that he can and does give anyone a tough match.

Lee Acheson (Prince of Wales) v Chris Eccleston (Studio Bar)
In another top-draw match, Lee has won pretty much everything there is to win in this league. He is a natural pool player who just sees things that others don’t. When he is in the mood, he can be unplayable, and it is no wonder why he is one of the most widely respected players in this league. Chris, on the other hand, is relatively new to the league and has now taken the captaincy on at the Studio. Having played with Chris at the Studio last season, it was clear to see how he can be as deadly as anyone. He has been putting in practice in other leagues and competitions, which can only improve his game. A very hard one to call.

Lee Corcoran (Strawberry Gardens) v Lee Mitchell (Studio Bar)
In the Battle of the Lees, the first Lee Corcoran was arguably the Strawberry Gardens’ best player last year. He can pot or snooker with the best of them. The issue for him is that he comes up against one of the most successful players in this league over the last couple of years. He is absolutely dynamite when he is playing well. The issue for his opponents is that even when playing badly, he is still better than most. I would say that Lee Mitchell will be most people’s favourite, but first-round surprises always happen.

G&DPL League Fixture Review Header Image
by Scott Armstrong

League Fixture #5 Review

It’s hard to believe we’re already five fixtures in, and it’s shaping up to be a highly competitive season. This week brought some significant results for the teams at the top. One of the title favourites claimed a big win over a rival, the league leaders holding a narrow two-point lead, and just three points separate fourth from tenth.

Clayton Con Club 4 v 4 Waggon & Horses
Two much-improved teams met this week, and the result highlights just how close this season is shaping up to be.
The away side started strong, taking the first frame to go 1-0 up. The home side hit back, and then it was the Waggon’s turn again — this time taking two frames on the bounce. The home team responded brilliantly, winning the next three frames to not only secure a point but put themselves on the verge of taking all three.
However, Sam Lunt had other ideas. He stepped up in the final frame for the Waggon and delivered, securing a valuable away point.

Gorton Con Club ‘B’ 2 v 6 Steelworks Tavern
Gorton ‘B’s great start came to an abrupt halt this week. The Steelworks are always a tough side to beat, and they certainly lived up to that reputation.
They came out strong, winning the first three frames to race into a commanding lead, with Gorton ‘B’ hitting back in the fourth. But the night belonged to the Steelworks, who took the next three frames to reach six and secure an impressive win against an in-form Gorton ‘B’ side.
Captain Wayne Redfern did lead by example, taking the final frame for Gorton ‘B’ — and he’ll be hoping this was just a blip.

Prince of Wales ‘B’ 5 v 3 The Holdsworth 
A promising start from Holdsworth saw them take the first two frames, prompting a strong response from Prince ‘B’, who levelled the match at 2-2 by the halfway mark. Holdsworth captain Lewie Pritchard stepped in to take the fifth frame, continuing his impressive singles form this season and tipping the scales back in Holdsworth’s favour.
Unfortunately for them, though, the Prince ‘B’ responded brilliantly, taking the next three frames — and with them, the match.
That’s now two consecutive wins for the Prince ‘B’ team, propelling them into the top seven this week. Meanwhile, Holdsworth continues their search for a first victory.

Strawberry Duck 2 v 6 Prince of Wales
The home side, I think it’s fair to say, would have been most people’s underdogs before the match began. Steve Christy, the Prince captain, even commented that it was a much tougher match than the scoreline suggested.
The match started well, with the Prince taking the first frame. The Duck hit back strongly, taking the next two frames and piling on the pressure. But the Prince edged the following couple of frames to regain the lead — and from there, never really looked back, winning the remaining frames to seal a 6-2 away win.
A match that could have gone very differently, if not for a couple of key mistakes.

Studio Bar 5 v 3 Gorton Con Club
I had a feeling this match would be tight; in fact, I predicted a draw as the quality in both these teams is top-level in this league.
The home side started as you would want, taking the first frame. Gorton then hit back with the next two frames to edge into the league. But with two incredible dishes from the Studios, Chris Wilson and Liam Power took the next two frames, swinging the momentum in their favour. The momentum stayed with them, taking the next two frames to get the results to 5-2 and take the win. Jay Gallacher did hit back in the eighth and final frame to keep the score a tight 5-3.

The Buxton 5 v 3 The Sidings
This was always going to be a tough match for the Sidings. Missing their captain, Dav Savery is a big loss for any team — but even more so for the Sidings, as he has been one of their most important players over the last decade.
The Buxton, though, are a team capable of giving anyone a run for their money. The home side took a two-frame lead before the Sidings got on the board in the third frame. Buxton then regained their two-frame advantage by winning the fourth. The Sidings pulled one back to keep all results on the table, but Buxton sealed the win by taking frames six and eight, securing all three points.
The Sidings — along with all of us — will be hoping Dan makes a speedy recovery.

Waggon & Horses ‘B’ 2 v 6 Strawberry Gardens 
Now that the Strawberry Gardens have tasted victory, they seem keen to hold on to it. Waggon B, meanwhile, are still searching for their turning point.
The match itself was near-perfect for the Strawberry Gardens, who stormed into a commanding lead by taking the first six frames — securing another vital win in their climb up the table. Waggon B managed to stop the rot by taking the seventh and eighth frames, but they’ll need to regroup and push forward into the next match.

G&DPL - Fixture preview header image
by Scott Armstrong

League Fixture #5 Preview

This week marks our fifth fixture, and it promises to be an exciting one with a couple of massive games. The league leaders are away for the second consecutive week, leaving plenty of decent match-ups for the other teams to capitalise on. What I’m particularly enjoying is seeing the improvement in some teams and the new teams doing well. And with Gorton ‘B’, the Buxton, the Waggon and the Strawberry Gardens all sandwiched between the Stduio and Gorton in the top seven it looks as though this could be one of the most wide-open leagues in years.

Clayton Con Club v Waggon & Horses
Before the start of the season, I would have said there wasn’t a clear favourite in this match; now, I am saying it is even less clear. Both Clayton and the Waggon had massive wins last week in different ways. Clayton managed to pinch all three points against one of the favourites for the league, and the Waggon had a perfect score last week. This one is going to be interesting, as whichever team wins will feel the momentum going forward.

Gorton Con Club ‘B’ v Steelworks Tavern
The Gorton ‘B’ have had a great start to the season so far, they didn’t manage to get the win last week but did at least get a point. They are in a much better place this season than this time last year and have a game in hand above the top two. The Steelworks suffered a loss last week at home, so they will be motivated to go out and out that right. They are a team that is full of talent and are now used to doing well in the league and will want that to continue.

Prince of Wales ‘B’ v The Holdsworth 
Prince ‘B’ won last week at a vital stage as they were getting frustrated their good performances were not getting the results they felt they deserved. The Holdsworth are having a difficult start to the season as many new teams do. I am sure that the old friends now friendly rivals will relish the idea of taking the three points at the other’s expense.

Strawberry Duck v Prince of Wales
The Duck had made a decent start but suffered their first big loss last week at the hands of the Waggon. This, though, should not deter them; I hope they don’t let their heads drop, as I think they have been a great addition to the league. The Prince, on the other hand, may feel a bit of pressure to get a big score as the Waggon managed it the week before, in reality, they need to concentrate on getting to the magical five frames and keep doing what we have been so far.

Studio Bar v Gorton Con Club
The Studio is currently sitting second in the league and will feel confident in its position after last week’s 8-0 win and Gorton’s surprise loss. Gorton will be desperate to secure a win to keep pace with the league’s top two teams. This is the match of the week for me; the amount of talent available to both teams is a major draw. More than a few teams will be keeping a close eye on this match.

The Buxton v The Sidings
The Buxton have had a better start this year than last and continued that with a very good win away at the Steelworks last week, so I am sure they will be feeling confident right now. The Sidings had an awful week last week; first, Captain Dan was taken ill, and then they were on the receiving end of an 8-0 drubbing. This week, though, they have to put that to the back of their minds and concentrate on getting back to winning ways and doing their captain proud. 

Waggon & Horses ‘B’ v Strawberry Gardens
Waggon ‘B’, still with that game in hand, will be wanting to get more points on the board and will be looking at this match as a possible one for points. The Strawberry Gardens are a different team this year, picking up points regularly despite last week’s draw they will be quietly confident they can get the job done this week.