Red Sox suffered their second consecutive defeat this week to Jiggers who really ambushed them 5 – 2 and this has been the score in all their games this comp with Jiggers up 2 – 1. Helmets had easily beat Miscues the previous two encounters and this time Miscues had improved their lot but Helmets still won 4 – 3. Pockets seem to have the wood on Tall Timbers as they beat them for the third time in this comp and the score was 5 – 2. Though Red Sox suffered a loss they have a slender lead over Helmets and Miscues are starting to drop back though they are only 2 good wins away from 5th.

Rod Denley versus Kyle Lewis: Denley is travelling at 50 per cent and he was up against Lewis who is enjoying the best start to any comp in a while with six wins. This game went longer than it took the Titanic to sink in the movie of the same name and some of the spectators had to be nudged to wake up. Denley was chasing 21 points from the start and was missing a lot of shots of which Lewis put away. Once on the colours Denley was still about 20 behind and that’s when he made his move and then opposite form Lewis was making the mistakes and also fouling. Denley got within striking distance only to see Lewis take the win 65 – 52.

Tom Gaynor versus David Adams: Gaynor has been real consistent with seven wins and most of them he has been close to the last game played and that is how Gaynor likes it. Jiggers knew this so they deliberately put him on early hoping that his opponent Adams can rattle his cage. Adams has won his last three games and also had 25 start so this was set up for a good game. Adams was solid all the way through and Gaynor was potting well and caught up with Adams on the colours. The game could have gone either way with both having an opportunity to win it and it just happened Adams held his nerve to beat Gaynor 70 – 62.

Leo Keeley versus Wayne Lewis: Keeley is not having a real good comp but when you are in your 90’s you can do anything you want. Lewis on the other hand is having a ripper of a comp with seven wins and two losses and in form. Keeley was his usual pot a ball and then heavily on safety making it hard at first for Lewis but once both settled down it was Lewis who came to the fore as he was potting at will and surged to a 71 – 33 win.

Jeff Stait versus Justin Nelson: Stait is in the best form of the comp so far with nine wins and two losses and has not missed a game and Nelson with a good win last week and not playing badly. Stait had 17 start and this was a lot with the way he has been playing though Nelson on his day is almost unbeatable. This was a good game Stait was playing well and Nelson pulled back the lead and it all came down to the black which they both missed but there had to be a winner and Stait scraped in 55 – 50.

Shannon Baer versus Trent Lewis: Baer has lost his last three games but not by much so his form is not bad just no luck and Lewis is in good form winning seven games. Baer was chasing 43 points so he had be on from the start and he was potting well playing safe and with two breaks of 14 and 15 he quickly caught Lewis. Lewis was slow to start and missing shots and Baer moved 20 points in front looking good. Then the reversal happened Lewis started slamming the balls around the table and they were going in and he pulled the rug out from Baer to come back and win 87 – 72 leaving Baer a shattered individual.

Peter Warner versus Greg Sutton: Two players in opposite form as Warner had a hat trick of wins and Sutton is doing nothing but just being cannon fodder for his opponents. Warner was chasing 45 points and with just three trips to the table he was just 20 points behind. Warner was relentless and scored a 27 break to take the lead and was never headed after that. Sutton scored seven points all game and was just a passenger as Warner easily won 81 – 52. The players of the match were Wayne Lewis and Peter Warner.

Dennis Goodwin versus Robert Farnsworth: Both Goodwin and Farnsworth have lost their last two games so they were tentative at the start. Goodwin had the advantage of having a 20 start and once settled he was not going to give the lead away in a hurry. Farnsworth tried hard and was potting some good shots but not enough to catch Goodwin who had a good win of 66 – 40.

Ritchie Bilby versus RW Farnsworth: Bilby has three wins and six losses and has been out of form but 3 of those losses were within a black ball difference. Farnsworth is in the best form of his life with eight wins and one loss and even having to chase a 26 start the odds were in Farnsworth favour. Bilby did not set the world alight though he played solidly enough it was the superior play of Farnsworth that held supreme as he cruised to a 76 – 49 win.

Kevin Slaven versus Dianne Stait: Slaven has lost his last four games and must have read the write up because he came prepared to finally play. Stait’s form is worse than Slaven as she has just the single win though she has been running the team and leaving herself out. Slaven had 24 start and he was out of the blocks early potting some good shots and making less mistakes for a change. Stait tried hard but with no luck though she was commenting later on that Slaven played some questionably lucky shots. In the end though Slaven was just too good as he easily won 70 – 34.

Brian Nightingale versus Brett Bradley: Nightingale is making up the numbers for his team at least as he has won two games and not playing at his best and Bradley who was one of 2017 form players has gone south with his form. Both are opposite in the speed of which they have their shots as Nightingale will have a quick look then play his shot and Bradley slowly walks around the table looking at every ball then when he is into his shot he then takes forever. It is like watching paint dry at times but this time he was able to wear down Nightingale as he achingly ground out a 75 – 27 win.

Matt Tattersall versus Dallas Thurlow: Tattersall has had his usual start to the comp more wins than losses and Thurlow well his starts are better than normal as he is at 50% wins/losses. These pair met last round and Thurlow was an easy 42 point winner so Tattersall was more aware going into this game. Both had a good start and Thurlow maintained a slim lead and once Tattersall put together a few points he was not going to be beat. Tattersall reversed the result this time round as he played better to record a 63 – 36 win.

Allan Piggott versus Logan Spice: Piggott is one of two players yet to win a game this comp and the only way he is going to win is if he plays Greg Sutton whose form is just as bad. Spice on the other hand is about the most improved player and is just getting harder to beat as Piggott found out. Piggott scored a big 12 points as Spice went mad sinking all in front of him and playing a lot of safety. Piggott was all at sea as Spice was just too good as he added to Piggott’s woes 67 – 17. The players of the match were Logan Spice and Matt Tattersall.

Steve Hewitt versus Keith Morris: Hewitt had a real good year 2016 had a year off and now back and not going really well. Morris on the other hand has been going about his business like the quiet achiever with seven wins and two losses. This was closer than it should have been as Hewitt really put on a good show and Morris was not at his best though he was catching Hewitt. It came down to the black ball and both had a couple of goes until Morris potted it to win 53 – 49.

Dillon McBey versus Aaron Vandermeer: McBey is still finding his way as this is his first comp and with one win and three losses is not far off another win. Two of his three losses have been black ball and his single win was because his opponent went in/off. Vandermeer has been playing a few comps and has improved and is running at 50% so McBey should be a challenge. This was a good game though a lot of mistakes were made as they both were trying hard to get the advantage. The lead changed a few times and eventually Vandermeer beat McBey 52 – 49 on the black ball.

Brad Preston versus Frank Wawn: Preston is backing losers nowadays as he has had seven in a row and Wawn has bounced back to form winning his last 2. Preston did have a 15 start and to add to Wawn’s woes he scored a 15 break putting the pressure right back on Wawn. Wawn tried to pull back the deficit but Preston was just too good finally winning a game 56 – 34.

Kyal Furbank versus Michael Andrews: Furbank has been unlucky in a couple of his losses though he remains positive Andrews though has loads of experience and won his two games since coming back from an operation. Furbank had 39 start and he ended up playing his best game this comp as he was potting and playing a good safety game. Andrews did play very well but the start was too much to catch as Furbank was playing well to win 95 – 56.

Jeff Holt versus Leon Rust: Holt back into this comp after some health problems lost his first few games and now has come back with five wins and playing with confidence. Rust has been off the boil this comp not going as well as he can as he can though he has been trying with not much luck. Holt was on song from the start especially with a 21 start then he scored a 15 break and easily surged ahead. Rust did very well but again the start was too much as he was chasing too many points as Holt won easily 82 – 52.

Shane Eagle versus Lawrence Creasy: Eagle had a rough patch from the beginning of the comp and since then has won his last five and Creasy is having a rough patch all the way through except for the single win. They both played each other in the two previous rounds and both times Eagle was the winner so Creasy went in thinking what do I have to do. Eagle definitely has the wood on Creasy as again he showed him how to play. Eagle had to chase a 15 start and he caught Creasy by scoring a 12 and 13 break and started his surge to go on and win 72 – 60. The players of the match were Jeff Holt and Michael Andrews.

Point score: Red Sox 52, Helmets 51, Jiggers 62, Tall Timbers and Pockets 38, Miscues 31.