Tag: GortonPoolMatchReview2025

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 League Fixture Review Header Image
by Scott Armstrong

League Fixture #4 Review

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.

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.

G&DPL League Fixture Review Header Image
by Scott Armstrong

League Fixture #3 Review

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.

G&DPL League Fixture Review Header Image
by Scott Armstrong

League Fixture #2 – Review

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

G&DPL League Fixture Review Header Image
by Scott Armstrong

Fixture Review #1 – Review

Well, just like that, we are back up and running. The first fixture has come and gone, and already, we can see that this won’t be plain sailing for the top teams. The new teams made a decent start as well, which is always great to see.

Clayton Con Club 4 v 4 Strawberry Gardens
Clayton has signed some new players this year and also has welcomed the return of Steven Scholes after a few years out. The Strawberry Gardens also added new players to their ranks and were looking for a better start than last season. The match itself was even all the way through. Clayton took the first frame but that was immediately countered by the Strawberry Gardens team who then took the lead 2-1 before Clayton hit back with 2 of their own. The rest of the match went 1 frame each way with the Strawberry winning the final frame to secure the draw. Both Clayton and the Gardens will be happy to have gotten a better start than last season, both with a point on the board.
Match breakdown
Match card

Gorton Con Club B 5 v 3 The Holdsworth
The Gorton B will be pleased to start with a win, especially against a new team, which always provides a challenge. The Holdsworth is not 100% a new team, but a new venue, with many familiar faces and names. The match was going the home side way racing into a 4-0 lead to guarantee themselves a point. The Holdsworth though made it interesting pulling it back to 4-2, before captain Wayne Redfern clinched the 7th frame and the full 3 points.
Match breakdown
Match card

The Prince of Wales 5 v 3 The Sidings
The Prince was looking to start the season as they finished last season. The Sidings, for the first time in a few years, came with an abundance of players, which is great to see. The match started well for the Prince, racing to a 4-0 lead. That was before one of the Sidings’ most consistent players, Mark Rushton, pulled one back with a very good clearance. They then followed this up with a victory in the second doubles, before Tom Leavy, last year’s singles runner-up, secured the 3 points for the Prince. The Sidings then won the final frame to keep the score tight.
Match breakdown
Match card

Strawberry Duck 4 v 4 Steelworks Tavern
This was an interesting match in terms of the captains: The Duck on their second captain and the Steelworks on their 3rd, and that’s at the first game of the season. The match itself started well for the home side with the first frame, but then the Steelworks started to take control, winning 4 of the next 5 frames. The match finally poised at the start of the final frame, the Steelworks going for the win and the Duck hoping to get a draw. It was the Duck who won that and gained a very good start to the season.
Match breakdown
Match card

Studio Bar 5 v 3 Prince of Wales B
The Studio, which was likely everyone’s favourite before the match began, faced a formidable challenge from the Prince B side. The Prince B team emerged victorious in the first frame, setting the stage for an intense battle. The Studio rallied and secured the next three frames, taking a commanding 3-1 lead. However, Prince B fought back, winning the next two frames to tie the score at 3-3. The match concluded with a thrilling finish, as the Studio won the final two frames to secure a 5-3 victory. Captain Chris’s crucial win in the final frame sealed the points for the Studio. It’s fantastic to witness Phil Dodd’s return to the league, and it’s equally impressive to see Prince B giving it their all. I’m certain they’re pleased with the outcome, as it was an evenly contested match.
Match breakdown
Match card

The Buxton 6 v 2 Waggon & Horses B
The Buxton team has truly started this season on a much better note compared to last year. Consequently, they will be the league leaders heading into the second week. While this achievement doesn’t directly impact the title, they will undoubtedly be pleased with their overall performance.
The Buxton team took an early lead, securing a 4-0 advantage. However, the Waggon B team managed to break through Carol Cheffings and win their first frame. Despite this setback, the Buxton team swiftly regained control and secured the next frame, ultimately winning the match and securing crucial points.
The Waggon B team managed to win another frame as a consolation, but the Buxton team ultimately secured the match and achieved their biggest win of the week with the final frame.
Match breakdown
Match card

Waggon & Horses 3 v 5 Gorton Con Club
Gorton would have felt fantastic racing into a 4-0 lead, especially considering Neil McEwan’s first clearance of the 2025 season, which involved defeating the previous Waggon MVP, Sam Lunt. The Waggon managed to win the next three frames, narrowing the score to 4-3 for the final frame.
Scott Livingston then stepped up to secure Gorton’s victory and earn the three points.
It’s encouraging to see that the match was intense and competitive, highlighting the close rivalry between the two teams. Gorton will recognise the challenge they faced, while the Waggon will be pleased to have put up a strong fight against one of the pre-season favourites and played a truly remarkable game.
Match breakdown
Match card