HORNS B of Gnosall won again to keep up their title hopes in the Newport and District pool league, writes Ben Goddard.
Last week they hosted Sutherland Arms in a close encounter which did not go all their own way.
Sutherland got the dream start taking the opening frame when K.Moore beat Mick Manning. But the Horns bounced back with wins for Neil Dale, Colin Pink and George Allen to take the score to 3-1.
The visitors were not beaten, however, and bounced back again when Moore and Ian Swinnerton pulled a frame back. This meant a tense final doubles game but Pink and Dean Smith held their nerve to seal the two points.
League leaders NRBL A visited Junction B of Norbury and soon disposed of them with a 6-0 whitewash to regain their two point lead at the top.
The Navigation of Gnosall hosted Shakespeare A in a mid-table clash which ended in a hard fought 3-3 draw. Wins for Dave Marshall and landlord Steve Whitlock stole the lead back for the home side.
Andy Potter beat the home team’s Scott Smith to set up a grandstand finish in the doubles matches. Honours were shared with one doubles point each in two scrappy frames as the match ended in a draw.
Horns A continued to struggle when they travelled to the Barley Mow and suffered a 5-1 defeat. The only consolation for the Gnosall side came in the doubles rack when Minor and Hall picked up a frame.
Junction A managed to grab two frames off high flyers King’s Head A but still fell to a 4-2 loss.
