Report: Brian Brighouse

Ormskirk & District Pool League continues to grow with a record number of teams signing up for the 2019/20 season.

We welcome the Eureka (Ormskirk), the Pinewoods (Formby) along with an additional team from Shaw Hall Caravan Park to the league; the league's first winners (the 22 Club) have made the short journey down the A59 to play at Whittakers Bar for the new season.

Last season’s champions, Bar 22, started their campaign at home to the previous season's champions, The Queen Inn. It was the ‘Inn’ who triumphed this time around winning by 5 frames to 2.

Our league awards a bonus point to the winners, so The Queen Inn start their campaign with 6 points while Bar 22 start their defence of the title with 2.

However, the early pace setters are Bridge Dogs and La Cantina A who both have 7 points to their name after 6(7) – 1 victories over La Cantina and newcomers Shaw Hall Caravan Park respectively. The ‘Dogs’ were however, assisted by the outfit from La Cantina only fielding 2 players.

League matches consist of 5 singles matches and 2 pairs matches, so with two players La Cantina could only field players for two singles games and one pairs game.

Two teams join The Queen Inn on 6 points, last years runners up the Bridge won 5(6) -2 away to the new kids on the block, Pinewoods, while Whittakers beat the other new outfit, The Eureka, by the same score.

The other two matches were settled by the odd frame, Shaw Hall recorded a 4(5) -3 victory at home to The Farmers while The Stanley Club came away from The Railway with a similar result.

A record number of players have joined the singles competition this year meaning a large number of games need to be played before we revert to singles matches on a Wednesday - the first round fixtures need to be played by 9^th October.