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
