Jack Dempsey is

AT the top of the first division of the Southport and Formby Quiz League, leaders Crosby A (75pts) welcomed back Jack Dempsey and duly came away from Princes St C with a convincing 1-9 win, whilst Crosby B (67pts) matched their fierce rivals by beating Princes St B by the same scoreline.

With Crosby A having now completed their fixtures for the first half of the season, their B side could substantially reduce that lead.

Argyle A (57pts) without a match this week remain in third place.

Southport A may well have expected to take over that third spot with a home match against lowly Crosby D, but with Gemma Grant introduced to their line up, it didn’t go exactly to plan.

Two wins from her along with a full quota from Lee Madin helped give the visitors an unexpected 3-7 win, which left the home side in fourth place on 54pts.

Princes ST A (52pts) continued their good run with a 3-7 success at Holy Trinity A.

Bottom team Crosby C’s (24pts) luck could well have started to turn, this after a battling 5-5 draw at home to Argyle B, where all the plaudits must be given to Felix Anderson, whose full quota of wins helped his side fightback from a 2-5 deficit. Superb effort Felix.

Division two leaders Argyle D (67pts) had no worries in maintaining pole position, even without a match, as their then 14pt lead was uncatchable. Argyle C in second place, had a tricky encounter at home to third placed Southport B, or so it should have seemed.

Southport arrived without number one Tom Ray, Andy Bush stepping up from division three, Argyle on the other hand had three regulars missing, but had the luxury of calling on stronger players from their division two sides.

From the onset it was a disappointing night for the visitors as they crashed to a 9-1 loss, which in turn guaranteed the Argyle outfit second place with 62pts.

Having now played all their pre Christmas break fixtures they are 11pts ahead of Princes St E who leapfrogged Southport B (49pts) after an exciting stalemate away to Crosby F, where both Crosby’s Ciaran Lynch and the visitors’ Andy Armstrong were the standout performers.

Holy Trinity B produced another great 9-1 home performance against Waterloo B, in what has been a topsy turvy season so far.

Princes St D returned to full strength and winning ways with a narrow 6-4 home win versus Argyle E, Colin Fyles securing the match in the very last contest.

Waterloo A got their second win in a row after also overcoming Crosby E 6-4, Dave Regan’s two epic five game wins surely the key in this close affair.

Like both the first and second divisions, the third’s top two places are also looking assured,