For the South London & Kent Pool Alliance lower divisions there are three league weeks left and Downham Tavern Terrors have hit the top of the second division in their first winter season. 

 

This week they travelled to second bottom, The Con Men, who are also in their first SLKPA winter season and the difference in fortunes was clear, as Terrors ran out, 10-5 winners. 

 

Going into this week Terrors were sitting in third, four points behind both New Eltham New Boys and Academicals, but as they didn’t play this week, Terrors have gone six points clear at the top, although the others have a game in hand. 

 

The only other game in this division this week was between, fourth placed Bell Ya Later and bottom team Farmhouse, with ten points between them. 

 

This match went to form, with Bell Ya Later winning, 10-5 to go seven points behind Academicals in third. 

 

The battle for the wooden spoon is just as hot as the title race, with Farmhouse joining Bexleyheath Working Men’s Club on 58 points and The Con Men are only two points ahead of them.

 

On the other hand, the promotion and relegation places in SLKPA Division One are virtually decided. 

 

Clearly sitting at the top of the division are Terry’s Allstars, who are now ten games unbeaten, after a 10-5 victory over fifth placed Bellegrove Flyers. 

 

Allstars had scored double figures in all their matches apart from one, so it was always going to be an uphill task for Flyers, which was mirrored by their journey up Shooters Hill to play the match. 

 

Taking this into consideration, Flyers were over the moon to be level after the first two frames however, slowly but surely Allstars’ quality showed, and they picked Flyers off for a, 10-5 triumph. 

 

There was a shining light for Flyers, with Alan Boltwood taking two Allstars’ scalps to go thirteen points ahead of Eltham Terrace Rack Pack.  

 

This week Rack Pack had a local derby against Eltham Terrace Nuthouse to contest, with 35 points difference between them. 

 

This difference was reflected in the score, as Nuthouse won, 11-4 to cement second place, going 19 points behind Allstars and 24 ahead of Duke of Northumberland, in third, who didn’t have a game this week. 

 

Rack Pack are now 19 points away from Bears, who are out of the relegation zone and seven points ahead of Fox & Hounds below them and these two teams played each other this week. 

 

The first two frames were shared, before Paul Cobbold put Bears in the lead with frame three. 

 

However, Fox fought back, with Glen Ward and Kerry Wyatt winning the last two frames of the set to finish it, 3-2 ahead, giving them hope of the first win of the season. 

 

Bears battled back with Gary Heath, Gary Mason and Cobbold taking the first three frames of the second set to put them, 5-3 up. 

 

Ward and Wyatt were again the saviours for Fox, winning the last two frames of the set to tie the match at five all. 

 

Unfortunately for Fox they couldn’t save them in the final set, as Bears whitewashed it, 5-0 to leave Fox still winless, with a, 10-5 triumph. 

 

Cobbold and Heath did most of the damage for Bears, both scoring hat-tricks. 

 

The top two and bottom two in this division appear to have their fates decided however, the remaining three teams are split by seven points, so any could find themselves in the relegation place or promotion play-off spot. 

 

There have been no changes in the SLKPA Premier Division this week, although there was one shock result, as sixth placed Pickwick beat Sharks in second, 9-6 with 30 points between them. 

 

This gave Hotshots the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table and playing Falconwood Club in equal eighth they had an excellent opportunity however, Hotshots didn’t have the best of starts, going down, 2-1. 

 

But they dug deep and won the next seven frames to win the match by the end of the second set, With Danny Kelliher securing it with a break and dish, whitewashing the set in the process. 

 

Falconwood weren’t lying down, with Ian Stringer winning his second frame and Brett Crawley taking frame twelve to bring it back to, 8-4. 

 

Unfortunately for Falconwood, that would be it for them, as Hotshots took the last three frames for an, 11-4 final score. 

 

Not only did Kelliher record a break and dish, but he also won all three of his frames and he was joined by teammate Tony Wilson in scoring a hat-trick. 

 

This has increased Hotshots lead at the top of the table to ten points, whereas Falconwood are twelve points ahead of Bellegrove A at the bottom and 17 away from New Eltham New Stars and guaranteed topflight pool next season. 

 

Bellegrove A are rooted to the bottom of the division after they were beaten, 12-3 by Bull Tavern, who close the gap on Sharks to just two points.

 

New Stars hosted Rugrats, twelve points ahead of them, which meant this was a close, hard-fought game. 

 

Ashley Hewson got the ball rolling for Rugrats, but New Stars won the next four frames to take the set, 4-1. 

 

The second set was much closer with frames swinging to and fro, going to a deciding frame, which Aaron Shephard took for Rugrats bringing them back to, 6-4. 

 

Steve Knight and Dave Jandu won the first two frames of the third set to seal the victory for New Stars and recording their hat-tricks in the process. 

 

Rugrats’ Jimmy Maloney pulled another back, before the last two frames were shared making the final score, 9-6. 

 

Rugrats are now two points ahead of Falconwood and are in the relegation play-off spot, fifteen points away from guaranteed safety. 

 

They know they must be stronger if they want to remain in the top division however, they hope Ashley Hewson and Jimmy Maloney can help with this after they recently qualified to play for the England U23 team. 

 

Fifth played fourth, as The Cocked Hats hosted Bellegrove, with twelve points between them. 

 

The home side could only muster four players but rallied to take five of the first six frames played, with some nice one visit finishes. 

 

Bellegrove replicated this feat, winning five of the next six frames played to level at, 6-6 however, with the byes they won’t the tie 9-6. 

 

Dan Heinink and Dec Kelly recorded hat-tricks, with both receiving a bye and two wins apiece. 

 

The Premier Division still has seven games to go, so there is still everything to play for. 

 

 

For more information on the SLKPA, including league tables visit our website at www.slkpa.com or contact our Secretary, Paul Gafa on 07443 456662 or secretary@slkpa.com with any queries.

 

The league is always looking at potential sponsors and any interested parties can also contact Paul Gafa.