St Michael’s are champions

St Michael’s are champions

13 March 2019

ST Michael’s wrapped up the 2018-19 league title with two matches to spare when they overcame visiting St Patrick’s.  Captains Bobby Douglas and Oliver McGuigan were paired in the first match and it was Dougie who set St Michael’s on their way.  

Douglas’ 22 break was bettered by McGuigan with a 26, but that was as good as it got for the St Patrick’s man as he slumped to a heavy 200-115 points defeat.  

On the other table Gareth McKeever kept up his challenge for player of the year with a good showing against former individual champion Chris Johnston. 

McKeever’s 141 points on the board to Johnston’s 200 was good enough for a handicap win by 26 points and left St Michael’s 121 points ahead, with Sean Burns playing Liam Campbell in the last match. 

Both men have shown consistency and improvement all season but, on this occasion, Burns came off second best.  Campbell displayed his full range of billiards shots to come through a comfortable 200-128 points winner.

However, Burns had done enough to secure the points and guarantee the title for his team.  With nine wins on the spin after defeat in their first league match, no-one can argue that St Michael’s are worthy champions.  

ST MICHAEL’S 499

St PATRICK’S 450

HAVING conceded the title race to St Michael’s last week, Queen’s were keen to consolidate the runners-up spot as they took on Crossgar. 

First up were Alastair McDonald against Brian Gordon and Keith Lemon against Robert Pollock.

McDonald is still getting to grips with the newly-installed Queen’s tables and had to battle hard to overcome a determined Gordon.  

In the end, a 22 break by the ‘Ards man swung the game his way as he came home a 200–164 points winner.  

Lemon started strongly on the other table, as breaks of 28 and 22 saw him lead early on.  

Pollock hung on gamely so that there was little in the match at the three-quarter way mark. However, Lemon grabbed another 25-break in the closing stages to record Queen’s second win at 200 points to Pollock’s 168. 

This left Queen’s still 62 behind as Tommy Hunter and John Weston contested the last tie. 

Hunter got the first few points on the board, but a 43 break by Weston kept his sides hopes alive. Needing 139 points for a Crossgar win, Weston then hit the buffers for a spell and breaks of 22, 35 and 36 saw Hunter heading for the line.

Weston rallied with a 35 break of his own and was unlucky to be left with no shot as he threatened to steal the points.  However Hunter held his nerve with a difficult in-off to win the game 200-124 and also the match for Queen’s by 14 points.

QUEEN’S HALL 455  

CROSSGAR 441