Falconwood fall out of Elite League

This week they faced Eltham Terrace Nuthouse and it started off pretty close, as Falconwood started well, winning the first frame, but Nuthouse won the next three for the set, before Brett Crawley pulled it back to, 3-2. 

However, it was all downhill from there, as Falconwood could only win one of the next ten frames, with Paul Baker preventing the second set whitewash, but there were no heroics in the third, as Nuthouse took it, 5-0 for an overall, 3-0 & 12-3 thrashing. 

It was a wonderful all-round team performance, with Alex Biggs winning all three frames again and he was supported by Louis Wilbourne, Zoe Healy and Danny Kent, who were all unbeaten with two frame wins each. 

This result has condemned Falconwood to the drop, after only one season in the top division, having recorded just two wins all season, and seven points from their eleven matches. 

They are ten points away from their nearest team, Eltham Terrace Club A and fifteen points away from Pickwick, in the safe spot, with just twelve points to play for. 

Terrace didn’t do their own chances of survival much good, after losing, 2-1 & 8-7 to third placed Bull Tavern. 

None of the bottom four managed to win this week, with Pickwick going down, 2-1 & 9-6 to the league leaders, Hotshots. 

Pickwick felt that the result didn’t reflect how close the tie actually was, but Hotshots did what they do best, punishing their opponents’ errors. 

Pete Thomas top scored for Pickwick, winning two of his three frames, but he was eclipsed by Jamie O’Donnell, scoring an unbeaten hat-trick, with team mate Richard Chapman producing a break and dish in frame six. 

Hotshots are still seven points ahead of Foxy Meatballs in second, after they just edged a victory against sixth placed, Sharks. 

It was a very close match, especially in the first set swinging one way then the other, eventually going to a deciding frame, which Elliot Giles won for Foxy Meatballs.

 George Covington made it three in a row for Foxy Meatball to give them a, 4-2 lead overall, but Sharks won the next four frames to take the second set and go, 6-4 into the lead. 

Foxy Meatballs fought back and won four on the spin themselves to take the third set and earn the bonus point. 

Arif Salih won the final frame to prevent the third set whitewash, making the final score, 2-1 & 8-7 to Foxy Meatballs. 

Foxy Meatballs are two points ahead of Bull Tavern, while Sharks are just one point ahead of Eltham Terrace Club A and five points behind Pickwick, who currently hold the safe spot. 

Everything is still to play for in both of the Tier Two divisions, with four games left to play however, Rugrats look dead certs for the Tier Two West title, after going eleven points clear at the top this week. 

This week they went to Bellegrove A and Rugrats won the first four frames, with Stacy Redman preventing the whitewash by winning frame five to make the set score, 4-1.

The first two frames of the second set were shared, but Rugrats won the next two for the set and a, 7-2 overall lead. 

Then, Jack Taylor won two in a row to pull it back to, 7-4 however, Ashley Hewson secured the bonus point for Rugrats and his Captain, Scott Shephard made it, 9-4. 

This gave Rugrats a, 2-1 lead in the final set, but stalwarts John Skuza and Terry Mitchell won the last two frames for Bellegrove to gain a point for their team, making the final score, 2-1 & 9-6. 

Rugrats did the damage in the first set, but after that it was a tight match, with only one player going unbeaten, Rugrats Captain, Scott Shephard with a hat-trick. 

Bellegrove have dropped to fourth, with Crayford A now sitting in second, two points ahead of them, but Crayford didn’t have it easy this week against bottom side, Sea the Angles. 

The first two frames were shared, but Crayford won the next three to give them a, 4-1 lead. 

The tables were turned in the second set, as Dan Brown, Jo Williams and Donna Mullins won the first three frames, followed by Jade Holmes in frame ten, to give Sea the Angles a, 4-1 set win. 

The match was finely poised at one set and five frames all going into the final set.

Danny Campbell nudged Sea the Angles in front, but Crayford took the next three frames for the match and the set, before Holmes took the last frame for Sea the Angles to make the final score, 2-1 & 8-7 in Crayford’s favour. 

You would never have guessed there was sixteen points between these teams before this match, and Sea the Angles will be ruing missed opportunities to pick up points against one of the top sides in the division. 

Despite the loss, Sea the Angles have closed the gap to Academicals above them to three points, after they were beaten, 3-0 & 9-6 by Eltham Terrace Rack Pack Rovers. 

Rack Pack Rovers have leapfrogged Bellegrove into third and joined Crayford on 26 points, with Crayford holding onto second having won one more match. 

With Rugrats so far ahead at the top, the big battle will be to see who will finish behind them in the promotion play-off place, with just two points between the three teams, and Sea the Angles will be fighting it out with Academicals to see who will be relegated automatically and who will live another day in the relegation play-off. 

In Tier Two East, New Eltham New Stars have done their chances of promotion the world of good by beating the second placed team, Rose Inn, 2-1 & 9-6. 

This result has given them a seven-point cushion over their opponents and Duke of Northumberland in third with four games left to play, so it looks like New Stars will be promoted, with the other two fighting it out for the promotion play-off spot. 

Despite being in third, one win behind Rose Inn, Duke have the momentum after beating Fox & Hounds this week, but they didn’t have it all their own way against the team one place and thirteen points behind them. 

The first set went to a final frame decider, which Phil Tworek won giving Duke a 3-2 lead. 

Duke won the first two frames of set two, to make it, 5-2 overall, but Fox fought back, winning the next two frames to bring it back to, 5-4 and send the second set to a deciding frame as well. 

Tworek was up to the task again, giving his side a, 2-0 & 6-4 lead going into the final set. 

Neil Shelton brought it back to, 6-5 but Duke won the next three frames for an unassailable, 9-5 lead and the third set. 

Tworek couldn’t work his magic on the last frame, with Clive Forrest taking it to make the final score, 3-0 & 9-6. 

Fox will feel hard done by, not getting at least a point, but Duke not only have Tworek to thank for winning two set deciding frames, but also Steve Heather and Paul Clements for winning all three of their frames. 

Fox not getting a point has allowed the two teams below them, Just Bellegrove and Rugrats Guardians, to catch up, and they played each other this week. 

In the bottom of the table clash, Ross Webster got Guardians off to a great start, winning the opening frame, but Bellegrove battled back, taking the next three for the set, before Guardians pulled one back to cut Bellegrove’s lead to, 3-2. 

Bellegrove won the first three frames of the second set to take it, but Webster prevented the whitewash, before Mark Porter made it, 4-1 in the set and 7-3 overall.

Jason Brunton gave Bellegrove the bonus point with his third frame win of the night and Webster tied the set with his own hat-trick. 

The next two frames were shared sending the set into a deciding frame, which Luke Matthews won to give Guardians a point. 

The, 2-1 & 9-6 triumph for Bellegrove puts them level on points with Fox, who stay ahead with one more win, with Guardians just four points behind them. 

This makes the battle to avoid relegation just as hot as the one for the promotion play-off place. 

The top two in SLKPA Tier Three had massive victories this week, to cement their places at the top. 

The league leaders, New Eltham New Boys played third place, Royal Oak and ran out, 3-0 & 12-3 winners, while Greyhound went one better, with a, 3-0 & 13-2 triumph over bottom team, Real Hustlers. 

Hustlers are now ten points adrift at the bottom and the team above them, Bexleyheath Working Man’s Club have a game in hand, so Hustlers should be resigned to the wooden spoon. 

Having lost just one game all season, New Boys have a seven-point lead at the top, so they are odds on for the title, and Greyhound are five points ahead of Royal Oak, so they will be tussling for the promotion play-off spot. 

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.

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