Maryport Pool League’s title race took another dramatic turn on Matchday 22 as Sun Inn Sharks strengthened their grip at the top of the table with a thrilling 4-3 derby victory over Sun Inn Ballers.
The Sharks now sit on 54 points, six clear of both Bowling Club and Elbra Club B, who remain locked together on 48 points after recording impressive victories of their own.
The headline fixture was undoubtedly the all-Sun Inn clash, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. With the match finely poised at 3-3, everything came down to the deciding doubles. Michael Prescott and David Thompson faced Gregg Todd and Jonathan Gray in a tense winner-takes-all showdown.
Prescott looked to have sealed the match when he attacked the final red, only to see it agonisingly rattle the pocket.
A nervy exchange of safety shots followed before the turning point arrived. After taking advice from playing partner David Thompson, Prescott escaped a difficult snooker before producing the shot of the night, smashing home the black to spark wild celebrations and secure a memorable derby victory for the league leaders.
Earlier in the evening, Thompson had also produced one of only three 8-ball finishes on Matchday 22, clearing the black in his singles match. Ben Scott responded for the Ballers with an excellent 8-ball finish in the doubles, while Jason Miller added the third of the night as Bowling Club powered to a dominant 6-1 victory over GLRC.
Elsewhere, Elbra Club B stayed firmly in the title hunt with a hard-earned 4-3 success over Maryport Social Club, while Elbra A eased to a 5-2 win away to Elbra Club C.
MRLC A defeated GWMC 5-2, MRLC B overcame Swan Inn by the same scoreline, Sun Dearham edged Butchers A 4-3, and Butchers B claimed a valuable 5-2 victory over Sun Inn Cannons.
Top five
- Sun Inn Sharks – 54 pts
- Bowling Club – 48 pts
- Elbra Club B – 48 pts
- Elbra A – 42 pts
- Butchers A – 42 pts
With just eight league matches remaining, the Sharks have put themselves in a commanding position at the top of the table.
However, Bowling Club and Elbra Club B remain firmly in contention, and with several crucial head-to-head fixtures still to come, the title race is far from over.
If Matchday 22 proved anything, it’s that every frame matters – and if the run-in is anything like Thursday night’s derby thriller, there’s plenty more drama still to come.
In the individual standings, Ryan Ismay of Maryport Social Club remains the man to beat after chalking up his 17th singles victory of the season, extending his lead at the top of the singles rankings.
Anthony Brough (Bowling Club) sits second on 16 wins, while Paul Kirkbride (Bowling Club) is close behind on 15.
Jason Miller (Bowling Club) and Mark Mattocks (Swan Inn) complete the top five on 14 victories apiece, ensuring the race for the singles title remains as competitive as ever.
