First week of South London & Kent Pool Alliance action in 2019 and it’s in the Founders Cup second round, where two teams from outside of the Premier Division have made it to the quarter-final stage. 

Of the second-round ties there were two that pitted teams from the lower divisions together, so we were guaranteed two non-Premier Division teams in the quarter-final, but there were six teams accompanying the ten top division sides in round two. 

Only one team beat a team from a higher division and that was top of Division Two, Bexleyheath Working Mans Club, who made light work of Fourth in Division One, New Eltham Club, beating them, 8-4. 

The game started off quite close, but at 4-3 Bexleyheath won three in a row to go, 7-3 up and only need one frame from the final set, which Ben Worden secured in frame twelve for his hat-trick. 

Along with Worden, Jeff Schofield and Steve Knight were also unbeaten, with two frame wins each. 

Despite finishing on the losing side, New Eltham Captain, Jeff Bailey won three of his team’s four frames, with Shane Burnett their only other winner. 

The other match from outside the top division saw Real Hustlers take on New Eltham New Boys, both from Division Two and the New Boys came out on top by, 8 frames to 4. 

The New Boys did the damage in the first set taking it, 4-1 and they went on to win the second set, 3-2 to leave just one more frame for victory, which they also secured in frame twelve. 

It was a good night for the Barnes family, and they didn’t just look to the boys as both Michael and Melissa won both of their frames. 

The other two teams from outside the top flight, Rose Inn and Eltham Terrace Rack Pack had it tough, as they faced the top two from the top division, Allstars and Hotshots respectively. 

Rose Inn and Rack Pack are currently second and third in the first division and they were both dealt a harsh insight into what they could expect if they get promoted at the end of the season by receiving comprehensive defeats. 

Rose Inn lost, 8-1 to Allstars and Rack Pack only did slightly better, going down, 8-2 to Hotshots. 

Allstars took a, 3-0 lead before Jack Wilson prevented the first set whitewash, but Allstars went on to win the next four frames to have the match won before the end of the second set. 

Tony Halpin, Ritchie Mitchell and Stacy Redman all scored a brace, with Derek Power winning his only frame. 

The other four ties were all Premier Division affairs, with arguably the most interesting between Pickwick and Rugrats, who are both struggling for form, having only won two league games each all season, sitting eighth and ninth in the table. 

Pickwick raced into a, 3-0 lead but Josh Page pulled it back to, 3-2 with a break and dish in the fifth frame. 

The game settled into a tactical battle in the second set, which Rugrats were unlikely to beat Pickwick at and Pickwick won the set, 4-1 going on to take the first frame of the final set to finish the match, 8-3 victors. 

Steve Gibson worked hard for Rugrats, winning both of his frames and if they had a Paul in their side they may have done better, as Slater, Gafa and Dawson all won two out of two for Pickwick. 

Sharks against New Eltham was a real topsy-turvy affair, as uncharacteristically New Eltham took a, 3-0 lead and went on to take the first set, 4-1 but Sharks won the next seven frames on the bounce to secure an, 8-4 triumph and a place in the quarter-final. 

Vu Son and Eno Idiong both won their only frames, but Sharks inspiration was Scott Reeves, winning a frame in each set. 

Fourth played third as Hustler took on Eltham Terrace Club A and it was Hustlers that got the better start, taking the first two frames, but Terrace came back and won the next five, before securing three of the next four to win the match, 8-3.

Dan Heinink and Nikki Steadman top scored for Terrace, with a brace each and Paul Williams won two of Hustlers three frames, with Tony Stork their only other winner.

The final match was an Eltham Terrace derby, as fifth placed Rovers faced bottom of the table Nuthouse and Matt Holroyd got Rovers off to a perfect start with a dish from a dry break in the first frame. 

Rovers went on to take a, 3-1 lead however, Nuthouse won the next three to make it, 4-3 but the second set finished with the match finely balanced at five all. 

Nuthouse won the first two frames of the final set, before Jon Syta produced a break and dish to finish the game off, giving Nuthouse the, 8-5 victory. 

Darren Porter won his only frame for Rovers, but Shane O’Reilly and Danny Kent were much more influential for Nuthouse, both scoring unbeaten hat-tricks. 

The quarter-final has seen some interesting ties drawn, with Bexleyheath’s reward being a trip to table topping Allstars, New Boys host Sharks, Pickwick have another basement battle with Nuthouse and second plays third, as Hotshots take on Eltham Terrace Club A. 

There will be no love lost as the quarter-final is due to take place on Valentine’s Day, February 14. 

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 looking at potential sponsors; any interested parties can also contact Paul Gafa.