Places decided in SLKPA Divisions 1 & 2 (From News Shopper)

Places decided in SLKPA Divisions 1 & 2

2:10pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport By Steve Reed

In the penultimate week of the South London & Kent Pool Alliance league season the places that matter in Divisions One and Two have been decided with Glenmore Arms A and Rileys Rebels being crowned champions of each division respectively.
Rebels did it in style by beating bottom of the table Life of Rileys 13 frames to 2 to go fifteen points clear at the top with a game in hand to cap a great first season in the league.
There were perfect performances from Declan Kelly with three out of three, father and son Trevor and Alex Biggs and Nick Morris on two out of two and Shane Collins winning his only frame.
The other game in the division was a non-runner as Crown couldn’t field a team against Pickwick Academicals.
Glenmore A also claimed the SLKPA first division title in style, winning 12-3 against Bellegrove Social Club B.
They got off to a great start winning the first five frames and the result didn’t look in any doubt after that as they went on to win the second set 3-2 and the final set 4-1.
It was an excellent all round team performance and there were five unbeaten players with Barry Barham and Alex Thompson winning all three of their frames, Alan Rothwell and Pankaj Chilkoti winning two each and Derek Wilding victorious in his frame.
This win puts them fifteen points ahead of Rileys Rovers in second place which they cemented by beating third placed Beech Tree Nuthouse 9-6.
It was a close game that could have gone either way but Rovers just edged it in each set by 3 frames to 2.
Nuthouse captain Craig Jones shone by winning all of his three frames while Ryan Francis did the same for Rovers and Kevin England was excellent in winning both his frames.
Even though he is top of the rankings Darren Porter performed his first break and dish of the season.
Rovers go on to face Foots Cray Social Club in the Premier Division v Division One play off.
At the bottom of the table Fox under the Hill B sealed Glenmore Arms A’s relegation fate with an 11-4 victory and gives them hope of avoiding the Division One v Division Two play off.
The Fox’s had a great start winning the first set 4-1 but four man Glenmore fought back in the second set, taking it 3-2 before Fox turned on the style and won the final set 5-0.
Ladies champion Kerry Wyatt and Neil Shelton both won all three of their frames with Les Ryan and Clive Forrest both winning two each.
They are now eight points behind Bellegrove B so next week will be interesting for both teams.
In the SLKPA Premier Division Pickwick hold onto second place with an 8-7 victory over O’Connors where there wasn’t much to choose between the two teams.
They are now only five points ahead of Rileys Hotshots in third and have to sit and watch next week as they have no game.
The same can be said for Rileys Woolwich now as they are only seven points ahead of Hotshots after this week’s 8-7 loss against them and Hotshots are the only team in the top three to play next week.
Woolwich looked to have the title sewn up when they went 4-1 up in the first set but Hotshots rallied round and won the second set by the same score line to tie the match at 5 all.
Then Hotshots rounded off a great team performance to win the final set 3-2 and take the match.
All Hotshots need to do next week is win against O’Connors to be crowned Premier League champions for the fourth time.  
For more information on the SLKPA including league tables visit our website at www.slkpa.com or contact our Secretary Paul Gafa on 07753 926291 with any queries.
The league are looking at potential sponsors, any interested parties can also contact Paul Gafa.