Report: Brian Brighouse
Bar 22 completed a 6 (7) – 1 victory over last year's champions, the Queen Inn, to win the Ormskirk & District Pool League for the first time since its formation in 2014.
The team from Moorgate ended the season on 131 points, some 13 points above their nearest rivals.
The battle for second place went down to the wire with the Bridge and the Stanley Club both finishing the season with 118 points. The Stanley Club came away with maximum points in their match against the Queens Head while their Burscough compatriots lost heavily 5 (6) – 2 on their trip to the Railway.
When teams are tied on points, the first consideration is their head to head record. Back in September the Bridge beat the Stanley Club 5 (6) -2 at their Liverpool Road North home while in the reverse fixture they came away winning by the odd game. So, the Bridge take 2nd place in the league.
This was the Stanley’s first season in the league so I am sure they will see this as a very good start to their involvement.
The aforementioned Queen Inn finished the season in 4th, on 112 points. The league’s inaugural champions, the 22 Club, finished the season in 5th place on 100 points after winning by the odd game away at the Farmers.
In the other matches La Cantina A beat Shaw Hall 6 (7) – 1 while the Bridge Dogs gained maximum points as no one from La Cantina B turned up at their Burscough home.
The battle for 6th slot was also closely fought with the Railway and La Cantina A both ending the season on 83 points. The Railway took 6th due to a 5 (6) – 2 win when the sides clashed at the Derby Street venue back in October while La Cantina only won by the odd game in the reverse fixture.
There was also a battle for 8th with Shaw Hall and the Bridge Dogs both amassing 80 points. On this occasion both teams had a 5 (6) -2 victory with the ‘away team’ triumphing each time. So, we look at the second criteria, the number of individual frames won, and that sees Shaw Hall take 8th spot as they had 73 victories while the Bridge Dogs had 70.
The Farmers finished in a10th, La Cantina B took 11th place and the Queens Head took the wooden spoon.
Player of the year was also a closely fought affair, the qualifying condition was to have played a singles match in 66% of the games available.
Joey Smith from the Bridge finished in 3rd place after registering 15 wins (83.3%) from the 18 games he played. In 2nd place we find Paul Judge from Bar 22, Paul won 18 (90%) of the 20 games he played. However, this seasons winner is Ian MacGregor who won 14 (93.3%) of the 15 games he played.
A great effort from all three players, well done to them and to all other players who take part in the league this season.
Next week its back to the last 16 in the singles knockout.