Report: Brian Brighouse
This week saw the penultimate round of the cup matches in the league stage, there are a few movements with some teams swapping places in their mini leagues.
League A
The Bridge continue to top the group after a 5 (6) - 2 victory over Shaw Hall. The Burscough boys remain in pole position to get top spot in this league meaning they will avoid the winners of the other two mini leagues in the first round of the knock out phase.
In the other match the Queen Inn had a similar win against Bar 22, this result sees them switch places with Bar 22. The 'Inn' are in second place on 22 points, 4 points behind the pace.
But the 'Bar' are just a further three points adrift so there is plenty to play for in the next round.
Shaw Hall fill the final spot in this group.
League B
The big talking in point in this week's fixtures was the 6 (7) - 1 victory for La Cantina A over the Farmers. This result sees the 'A Team' overtake the Farmers into second spot. Both have 22 points but the 'A Team' sneak ahead on frames won.The Queens Head showed they can be a potent force in the rest of the league fixtures by managing a couple of wins against the group leaders, The Stanley Club.With one game to go the 'Stanley' can't be beaten to top spot having amassed 33 points in their 5 matches.The Queens Head occupy the final spot.
League C
The Bridge Dogs lead this group despite a 4 (5) -3 reversal at the 22 Club. The 'Dogs' have now finished their games in this mini league and sit on top of the pole with 15 points.The Railway continue in second spot with 14 points despite not playing.The 22 Club are a further 3 points adrift but they still have their match with the Railway to play.
I have also looked at the battle for qualifying by being the two best placed teams in third spot in terms of the percentage of games won.In league A Bar 22 have won 17 of the 35 games played, so they have a success rate of 48.57%In league B The Farmers have won 19 of the 35 games played, a success rate of 54.28%In league C the 22 Club have won 10 of the 21 games played, a success rate of 47.61%League C is a little different as the Bridge Dogs have played all their games, so should results go against them and they end of finishing 3rd I can report they have a success rate of 46.42%. 13 wins from the 28 games played, so they will be watching other results eagerly come next Wednesday.So it's all very close in this battle as we move to the final stages of the group games next Wednesday!