Princes overturn Southport’s lead
SOUTHPORT’S Amelan Hall was the venue this week to see how their C team, winners of Division 3 would deal with a very strong
Princes St F line up from the 2nd.
Southport’s award was 64 points, which looked at first glance a little short of the mark, and when the visitors Darren Taylor secured a convincing 34-55 win against home captain Jordan Shandley then that assumption could be right.
Pat Merry then put up some stern resistance against the experienced Gordon Wood, restricting him to a narrow 37-47 win before Jim Irving was so close to a superb victory over Princes St number one Genadijs Afanasjevs, losing out by just three points 46-49.
Home number one Alan
Nolan then suffered exactly the same fate as Jordan had in the first encounter, a 34-55 defeat to an uncompromising Dave Noden, and with the hosts advantage now virtually wiped out with a halfway score including handicap of 215-206, then it already looked to be game over.
With a 23-55 win over Jim, Darren rubber stamped the inevitable outcome, which was reinforced with further wins from the visitors to stretch their lead to 76 points, with a final score of 341-417, and Princes St F march on to the Quarter Finals.
With a summary of the other ties, we start with Argyle A from the Division 1 at home to a very buoyant Southport A from the 2nd.
With each side winning four contests, and the points scored being just 17points apart in favour of the visitors, then the 58 pt award to the Southport outfit meant they progressed 342- 413 to the quarters.
Crosby B’s ‘Young Guns’ scraped through to victory against Division 3 Argyle F who benefitted from an150pt advantage. With the score finishing at 427391, that 36pt point winning margin, was indeed fought for throughout each contest, notably an outright win for Argyles Robert Yeung. Princes B travelled to Formby Village and overturned a 70pt advantage, afforded to a much changed Formby Village A lineup, going through by 73 points, 350-423. It was a similar story at the Princes St D versus Argyle D tie, where a 34pt advantage given to the visitors was finally overturned in a close fought match throughout. Karen Gibson and then captain Ian Lunt applied the finishing touches to a 400-356 victory. In the all Argyle tie between their Division One C team and their Premier B team, again the award of 50 points to the C team looked a little modest, as the premier side ran out comfortable winners, 405-335.
Argyle E from Division 3 had a similar problem away to Waterloo B, where again the 70 pt advantage was just not enough.
Winning three of the contests was some consolation for the Argyle outfit, but Waterloo progressed winning 408-348.
Finally, Rainford unfortunately conceded their tie against Princes St A.
As well as the Gunson last 16 ties, the Division 1 Cup Final was brought forward to enable both teams, Southport A and Formby Village A to play their strongest four players.
With the venue also agreed to be the Amelan Hall, it was a must see match so it was back there for a second visit in two nights.
Southport’s Bernhard Frank against Barry Davis was up first, and what a good taster this was, for what was to come.
Having shared the first two games, a great tactical battle instigated mainly by Bernhard was the deciding factor as he took the next two 11-8,11-4. Danny Woods then made it 2-0 with a four-game success over Colin Mitchell, before Jonny Cummins continued his side’s wonderful start, edging a fabulous five gamer against Susie Venner 11-13,117,12-10,7-11,12-10, making it 3-0 Southport.
Could Colin kickstart a fightback?
Well, he would have to get the better of the inform Bernhard, and with the Southport player taking the first 11-8, then it was going to be an uphill task.
What a response though in the second game from the Formby number three, unbelievably 2-11 to a man possessed it seems.
Bernhard seemed to rally in the third, but still couldn’t contain his opponent completely, 11-13 and Colin was in front.
Much better from the Southport player in the fourth 11-6 to him, begging the question, had Colin run out of steam.
You just had a feeling that he hadn’t, and proof was given decisively in the 5th, when enough steam was generated for him to clinch it 12-14 , What a contest, just tremendous!
Danny Woods then completed a fine double overcoming Janette Hutchings to put his side back in control at 4-1.
Strangely we hadn’t seen the Southport number one Mark Barnes as yet, so was the plan all along, to save him until victory was insight.
That seemed the case as he secured part one with a four-game success over Susie, before part two became an anti-climax somewhat, with Mark losing out to Barry in a topsy turvy five games, finally losing it 4-11 in the fifth, which made it 5-2 Southport.
Would the doubles be needed, the last singles between Jonny and Janette could well be the final curtain call…and indeed It was, a three straight victory to Jonny made it 6-2 Southport A and the Division 1 Cup was theirs.
A great night’s entertainment, credit must go to both sides, for a superb offering .. Congratulations to Southport A, what a season they have had, up to now.
All information can be found at southport. ttleagues.com