21 December 2022 16:45:00 Posted By Luton

Last Updated: 21 December 2022 19:21:00

SP Blacks 6-6 Honey Bee Stingerz

SP Blacks saw their lead at the top of Premier table get reduced to just 7 points this week after they were held to a 6-6 draw by 8th placed Honey Bee Stingerz. SP Blacks went 3-0 up early on, before Honey Bee Stingerz got it back to 3-3 at half time. A second for Mike Chappell put SP Blacks back ahead, and the league leaders led 5-3 and 6-4, but Honey Bee Stingerz fought back well, and second wins for Jeremy Collins and Jimmy Surguy rescued the draw late on.

The Rothschild Arms 2-10 New Zealand "B"

New Zealand "B" took full advantage of SP Blacks' draw by winning 10-2 away from home against 7th placed The Rothschild Arms. After leading 2-0 early on, the visitors were pegged back to 2-2, but that was it for the hosts, as New Zealand "B" rattled through the next eight frames, winning them all without reply, with Keith Jones, Larry Baker, Brian Keeble and Ade Lansdown all winning twice on the night.

New Zealand 'A' 5-7 Shootpool Sharks

3rd placed Shootpool Sharks were also victorious this week, coming back from 5-3 down to edge past 9th placed New Zealand 'A' 7-5. Shootpool Sharks won two of the first three to lead 2-1, but New Zealand 'A' fought back well, going into a 4-2 half time lead, before a second win for Dennis Walton made it 5-3. But second wins for Martin Langley and Gordon Sweeney levelled the match, before Shootpool Sharks won the final two frames to win.

SP Bullets 6-6 The Vic Club

SP Bullets lost ground on the top three after they were held to a 6-6 draw at home by bottom side The Vic Club. SP Bullets were in control most of the game, leading 2-0, 4-1 and 6-2, with Ryan Englefield winning twice for the hosts. But from 6-2 down, The Vic Club rescued the draw by winning all of the final four frames, a run which included a second win on the night for Stephen Coultas.

The Brickslayers 6-6 Shootpool 'A'

The final match saw 5th placed The Brickslayers play out a 6-6 draw with 6th placed Shootpool 'A', which was a likely outcome considering the two sides are just a point apart in the league. The Brickslayers raced into a 4-1 lead early on, before two wins for Shootpool 'A''s James Connor got it back to 4-4. The Brickslayers pair Lars Bjart and Neil Bartholomew then both won their second of the night to lead 6-4, but Shootpool 'A' won the final two to claim the draw.

Looking Ahead...

The final gameweek before Christmas sees league leaders SP Blacks face venue opposition in 6th placed Shootpool 'A', with the chasing pair both having home ties to end the year. 2nd placed New Zealand "B" host 5th placed The Brickslayers, while 3rd placed Shootpool Sharks are at home against The Rothschild Arms. Elsewhere, 4th placed SP Bullets are away against 8th placed Honey Bee Stingerz, while the bottom two sides face off as 9th placed New Zealand 'A' travel to bottom side The Vic Club.

Fixtures Week 9

Shootpool 'A' vs SP Blacks (preview)

New Zealand "B" vs The Brickslayers (preview)

Shootpool Sharks vs The Rothschild Arms (preview)

Honey Bee Stingerz vs SP Bullets (preview)

The Vic Club vs New Zealand 'A' (preview)

Table as it stands...