This week has been a real rollercoaster of results! We got a couple of perfect scores and an awesome win for our team that’s been on the rise.

Last season, we had two perfect scores in the first two weeks. This year, it’s taken four weeks to see one, which shows how tough the Gorton & District Pool League is getting.

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Gorton Con Club 3 v 5 Clayton Con Club
Even though I mentioned there were signs that Clayton wouldn’t struggle as much without Captain Martin this month, I still favoured the Gorton team to win. The match began well for the home side, securing the first frame. However, Clayton then stepped up and won the next three frames. Gorton did manage to pull one straight back, but the final three frames were crucial. Clayton won two out of the remaining three frames to secure a significant victory for them.

The Holdsworth 2 v 6 Prince of Wales
This was the first time the Prince visited the Holdsworth, making it difficult to know what to expect other than a tough match. The match got off to a perfect start for the visiting team, reaching game five with a 4-0 lead. The Holdsworth captain wasn’t going to let the Prince have it all their way and took the fifth game. This was then followed by former doubles champions Lee Acheson and Steve Christy winning the second doubles match to secure three points. The next frame again went to the Holdsworth thanks to some great pool played by Mike Shenton. However, Lee Acheson took the final frame for the Prince, rounding off a 6-2 win.

Prince of Wales ‘B’ v Waggon & Horses ‘B’
The battle of the B teams, the Prince ‘B’ team, eager to secure their first victory on home soil, and the Waggon ‘B’ team, seemingly less pressured, found themselves in a close match. The Prince ‘B’ team took an early lead, winning the first three frames. However, the Waggon ‘B’ team rallied in the fourth and fifth frames, narrowing the score to 3-2 and putting the match on the brink of a draw. Despite securing at least a point in the next frame, the Prince ‘B’ lost the sixth to tie the game, and with the Waggon ‘B’ winning the seventh, the final frame was a crucial deciding factor. Darren Scanlon, the Prince ‘B’ captain, faced off against Darren Rowland. A determined Scanlon emerged as the winner in the final frame, securing the win and all three points for his team.

Steelworks Tavern 3 v 5 The Buxton
This may not look like a big win, but any team that goes to the Steelworks and gets a win can consider it a big win. The match for Buxton got off to an amazing start, going 3-0 up. This was then when James Comer and Daniel Page stepped up and won the next 2 frames to set up a good finish. The Buxton, however, were the ones celebrating as they took the next 2 frames to secure a good away win. Only Danny Bardsley could stop the score from increasing by winning the final frame.

Strawberry Gardens 4 v 4 Gorton Con Club ‘B’
Well, both these teams have had a good start, and a draw between them isn’t a disaster for either side. The match itself was very even. This is evident in how the scoring went: the first frame was taken by the home side, and then the away team hit back. Then the home side again took the third, but then the Gorton ‘B’ took control by winning the next two frames to put them one frame away from securing a point. The home side had other ideas and took the lead by winning the next two, setting up a final-frame thriller. If the home side won, they won the match. The away side, though, needed to win the final frame to get a point, and that is exactly what they did.

The Sidings 0 v 8 Studio Bar
Evaluating an 8-0 victory is challenging, as the only critique is the team’s flawless performance. The Studio is delighted to secure this early triumph in the season. The Sidings will recognise that this is one result in 13 and won’t define their 2025 campaign. Their primary concern will likely be Captain Dan, who was taken unwell. I am pleased to inform you that he is recovering well.

Waggon & Horses 8 V 0 Strawberry Duck
As previously stated, it has taken four weeks to see our first perfect score. Then, two arrived in a week. The Waggon are a hugely improving team, a team that is aiming big. The new format seems to have given them a real appetite for improvement, and Ian is certainly building a team there that will be aiming to compete for the top. The Strawberry Ducks are a new team and have already secured vital points. They have to expect that, on occasion, things won’t go their way. It happens to every team. They will be back, I am sure.

As the third week came to an end, we saw the early league leaders, the Prince of Wales, get an early fright after getting pushed by a strong Waggon team. Studio Bar and Gorton Con Club both win to push back into 2nd and 3rd respectively and all teams are off the mark with points on the board. It’s still very early in the season, but could we be looking at the start of an incredibly tight season, who will be in the different leagues at the half point is currently anyone’s guess.

Check out the current league table

Clayton Con Club 4 vs 4 The Sidings
Well, Clayton, without their captain Martin, usually struggles. The Sidings would have felt confident with their new players. But it was the old guard of Tim Bottomley and Dan Savery who took an early lead of 2-0, exactly what you want as an away team. Clayton then struck back with the next two. Indeed, this match was a story of back-and-forward two-frame wins with Clayton managing the last two to secure a good point with a final-frame win.

Gorton Con Club ‘B’ 5 vs 3 Prince of Wales ‘B’
Both teams were hoping to win all three points here, but the home team started strong by winning the first two frames. The Prince ‘B’ team came back with the next two frames to tie it up. The Gorton ‘B’ team then showed some grit and won the next two frames to secure at least a point. But with the Prince ‘B’ winning the next one to set up a nail-biter of a final frame. I bet there were some nervous players on both sides. Gorton’s former captain stepped up and won the final frame for them, giving them a solid win and continuing their great start to the season.

Prince of Wales 5 vs 3 Waggon & Horses
The Prince was the clear favourite going into this match. The Waggon, though, have started well this season and have been pushing hard in each frame of each match, proven when taking a 3-2 lead into the last three frames here. Luckily for the Prince, the second double’s frame went their way, but then, reliable as clockwork, Robo took the next frame to put the Prince ahead. The final frame came down to an incredible shot from Lee Acheson cutting a very thin black along the bottom cushion from a full table-length shot. A great shot to take a great match. It was abundantly clear that the Waggon are certainly here to be counted this season and not a team to be underestimated. The Prince makes it three wins on the bounce and sits at the top of the table for week three.

Strawberry Duck 3 vs 5 Gorton Con Club
The Strawberry Duck can be pleased with the result, even if they didn’t take the points, playing an extremely strong side. As always, the story of the match was Gortons final three frames, as with so many times in the previous seasons, the final three or four frames have come to Gortons rescue. They will be pleased to get back to winning ways after last week’s tight match against the Prince, making it two out of three so far for the season. The Strawberry Duck’s season won’t be decided by this game, and we have so much more to look forward to from them, an away trip next week to the Waggon will be a very close match to call.

Studio Bar 5 vs 3 Steelworks Tavern
This scoreline was exactly what the Studio wanted, making sure there was no repeat of last year’s home defeat to the Steelworks. The two teams have new players creating different line-ups, so this was an interesting one to try and predict. The away side started well, with James Comer getting the first win over Kev Kelly. The following two frames went one each to give the Steelworks a slim lead at the start of frame four, where the Studio drew level with Chris Wilson winning the frame, starting a four-frame win streak to give the Studio at least a 5-3 win. The Steelworks won the final frame and held the match to that scoreline. Good to see Lee Mitchell back playing after his absence for the first two weeks.

The Buxton 2 vs 6 Strawberry Gardens
This was a local Droylsden Derby, with both teams vying for the win. The away team couldn’t have started better, winning the first three frames and putting them in a strong position. But the Buxton team managed to win the next frame, narrowing the gap. However, the Gardens team responded with a win of their own, securing at least a point. The Buxton team kept their hopes alive by winning the next frame, but the Gardens team, led by captain Leigh Mitchell, secured the final two frames to secure a 6-2 victory and all three points. 

Waggon & Horses ‘B’ 4 vs 4 The Holdsworth
The match of the new teams started perfectly for the Waggon B, with league veteran Robin Fraser taking the first frame, the Holdsworth team looking to find the right reply did win the next two but with the Waggon ‘B’ squaring things up by winning the fourth frame, the match was wide open for the taking. The second half of the match started well for the Holdsworth by winning the first two frames to guarantee them a point, but the Waggon B dug in and took the final two to secure a draw. I think once these two teams settle down and get used to their new players, wins will come.

The second week of matches was full of exciting results! There were a few draws, but two teams stood out and won big. These wins show how much each team has improved, so the season will be even more competitive than we thought.

Gorton Con Club 3 vs 5 Prince of Wales
Matches between these two teams are always massive, and this one was no exception. Even though it’s still early in the season, both teams were desperate to win.
Just a few short months ago, Gorton had defeated the Prince in the cup final, which only fueled the Prince’s motivation for this game. The match began on a high note for the Prince, taking a 3-0 lead. However, as we expected, Gorton made a comeback, taking the next three frames to tie the match. Then, Lee Acheson stepped up and capitalised on Stuart’s in-off the break to complete an inch-perfect, sumptuous reverse dish. The final frame was crucial for both teams, and Andy Robinson managed to edge Jay Gallacher to secure all three points for the Prince.
Match card

The Holdsworth 2 vs 6 Waggon & Horses
At least one of these teams would make a change from last week’s points tally, with both teams losing 5-3, and both to Gorton Con Club teams, the B & A respectfully.
The Holdsworth struck first, taking a scrappy first-frame win. Into the second frame and in his fresh return to Waggon after a few years away, Wil Sessnon takes the second, leading a three-frame winning run, with Dave Trotman & Andy Smith taking the first doubles and Dave following his doubles with a singles frame win, but both in frames which could easily have swung in the opposite direction.
At 3-1, the scoreline was far more complimentary than the games themselves, so in an attempt to stop the run in steps, Danny Rowen against last year’s Waggon MVP John Trotman, and in a further each-way frame, Danny took it to reduce the deficit to 3-2, but that was it.
The Waggon took the final three frames, but all again swinging from team to team in who would pot the 8-ball first.
Match card

Prince of Wales ‘B’ 4 vs 4 The Buxton
Prince B had a tough match last week against the Studio, but they were feeling good about how they played, which excited the team for their first home game of the season. The match opened with Prince B taking the win, then The Buxton – one of the surprise success stories of last season – won the next three frames to take a good lead. But Prince B wasn’t done yet, taking one back to reduce the lead to 3-2. The Buxton pushed on, though, winning the next frame to guarantee them a point and two chances to secure the win and take the full three points. Prince B had other ideas, though, taking the final two frames to distribute the points evenly to both teams.
Match card

Steelworks Tavern 6 vs 2 Clayton Con Club
The Steelworks have been historically tough to beat at home, winning seven and drawing four last year, and they’re keeping that streak going this year.
The home team had a great start, winning the first frame and then winning the next six. Clayton finally got their first win of the match in frame seven, and then they won another frame. The good news for Clayton is that Steven Scholes, who’s been out for a couple of years, is back in winning form, and Martin Lees, who’s always reliable, also got a win.
Match card

Strawberry Gardens 4 vs 4 Studio Bar
I didn’t think I was being unreasonable when I said before the match that the Studio would be the favourites. Their team is stacked with experienced and accomplished players. But what I love most about this league is that there’s always a chance for an upset, and they regularly happen. The match started great for the home team. They won the first two frames. The Studio came back with the third frame, but the home team took control and won the next two frames to get a big lead and push for all three points. They had three chances to win the final frame, but the Studio team’s back end wouldn’t give up. They won the last three frames to make a huge comeback. Some Studio players said they were impressed with the Strawberry Gardens team and said they were lucky to get a draw in the end.
Match card

The Sidings 4 vs 4 Strawberry Duck
The Sidings are a seasoned team with a few new players, so it’ll take some time for them to get into the swing of things. The Duck, on the other hand, are brand new to the league. But they’ve already proven they’re up for the challenge with their first two games. The match started great for the away team, with them winning the first frame. The Sidings came back strong with the next one, and then the Duck hit back again. They were leading 2-1 at that point, and that’s when the Sidings stepped up and won three in a row to secure at least a point. The Duck, to their credit, won the next two frames to secure another awesome result.
Match card

Waggon & Horses ‘B’ vs. Gorton Con Club ‘B’
Match Postponed