It took a last gasp nail biting finish from Bernie Magee to keep Different Strokes in touch with leaders CWC A.
Different Strokes led 5-3 against a strong TJ's A Tristy Byrne and Sean McDonald levelled the match at 5-5 with two games to play. Harvey Lavelle recovered from losing the frame before to put CWC 6-5 up with a comfortable win over long time former team mate Paul 'Bunty' O'Callaghan. Bunty has struggled to get going this season and has tasted defeat far too often for a man of his stature and ability in the game.
It came down to Bernie Magee taking on old foe Stevie Noade. These two have been going toe to toe for over two decades. Corrinshego/Cue Club, Corrinshego/TJ's, CWC/TJ's these great rivals have played in the teams that have dominated Newry Pool for a generation. Stevie Noade had a couple of seasons playing full Blackball rules in the mini league while it's fair to say Bernie Magee had a personal season to forget in 2018/19. Noade would have started slight favourite to claim the draw. It was a scrappy frame and it suited the tactical Magee better. The Different Strokes anchor man held his nerve to bag the 2 points and stay within 3 points of leaders CWC A with a game in hand. TJ's A are now 6 points adrift with the same amount of games played as the leaders. How they badly need Manny Byrne back as a matter of urgency.
CWC A bounced back from their shock defeat in the Vegas Cup to Banbridge. The result is pending a protest by CWC for an alleged illegal player on Banbridge side. CWC had no such problem away to Ballyholland.
Colm Shields defeated Laurence McAlinden to take the opener but Kieran McMahon, (x2), Declan McMahon and 2 more wins from Jack Courtney fired the visitors into a 6-1 lead. Jack Courtney smashing home his 2nd break finish in 3 matches.
Giby Vettiankal stunned Kieran McMahon to stall the league leaders but it didn't take much longer to wrap up the points as Laurence McAlinden made up for his earlier defeat to wrap up the win.
Robbie White then Giby Vettiankal with his 2nd win of the night reduced the arrears for Ballyholland.
Cwc A won the final frame of the night to round off a comprehensive 8-4 win for the league leaders.
Whitecross are looking out of their depth in this new look Blackball league. The current Premier Division Cup holders have re-signed Martin O'Callaghan but he has yet to inspire his new team to a win.
Michael Feenan took the opener for Whitecross but it was he that lost out to Sean McArdle who levelled for Banbridge.
Noel Meara defeated the aforementioned Marty O'Callaghan to give the visitors an early lead. Gareth McCann ended his barron spell to level for 'The Cross'.
Davy Hanna, Adrian Annett and the impressive Oran Keenan to charge for the Players Lounge, Banbridge and the visitors now had an ominous 5-2 lead.
The Phelan twins Shane and then Cathal showed Whitecross a touch of class by winning back to back frames to pull it back to 5-4.
Adrian Annett with his 2nd win on the night inflicted a 2nd defeat on Alan Burke for 6-4.
Marty O'Callaghan gave Whitecross hope of a draw when made sure Niall Connolly would take home a brace of defeats.
At 6-5 it was down to Brian O'Neill and Oran Keenan for battle out the final frame. Oran Keenan had already beaten Mickey O'Hanlon earlier but that is nothing to get excited about. Keenan is enjoying a fine season so far and he outclassed O'Neill to take the points home for Banbridge.
Whitecross remain at the foot of the table, the only side yet to win a league game in the Premier Division.
Congratulations Orchard Bar on picking up their 1st points of the season in an early season relegation 4-pointer against fellow strugglers Windmill Bar. It was an amazing match with both teams going tit-for-tat up to 4-3 Orchard. When Orchard went 5-3 then 6-3 Windmill just couldn't claw the game back. The match finished 7-5 Orchard Bar.
At the top of the league McGuigan's took a huge step towards promotion with a fine win over closest rivals Bears.
Captain Martin Conroy got the ball rolling when he got the 1st of his two in the nights opener.
Bears came roaring back when the took the next 3 frames on the spin. Diarmuid Lonergan, Garry Powell and Neil Heaney put the visitors in the driving seat.
Noel Bradley, Marty Conroy, Pat Byrne and Nicky Langton took command taking the next 4 to fire McGuigan's back into a lead 5-3.
Seamus Keenan hadn't thrown in the towel and this was looking like it could go to the wire at 5-4.
Gerard McGuigan and then Nicky Langton ended the Bears dream of leapfrogging McGuigan's to summit of Division 1. Instead McGuigan's now enjoy a 3 point lead.
Neil Heaney took the final frame of the night for Bears but it was too little too late.
Final score McGuigan's 7-5 Bears
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