League title finds a home with Nomads (From Tewkesbury Admag)

League title finds a home with Nomads

NOMADS made sure of their ninth consecutive league title last weekend in the Tewkesbury Pool League as they beat second placed Hayward's Army 8-7 in a match that went right down to the wire.

Not only have they captured yet another title but with just one game remaining they are still unbeaten over the season so far. They are also still in the knockout cup so will go looking for a league and cup double in a few weeks time when they meet Formula 1 in the knockout cup semi-finals.

Captain Ady Williams has had a wealth of experience to choose from in a team comprising Wayne Sheridan, Barry Organ, Ian Cooper, Nigel White, Matt Hartwell, Mark Aspey, Glyn Craze and Josh Craze. Sheridan and Aspey have also won the doubles knockout competition this year.

While it has been a remarkable season for the Nomads, the race for the minor places is still as close as ever. Hayward's Army hold the upper hand in second place at the moment and they entertain third place Bush Cutters in what promises to be a tense final encounter at King John's Tavern on Sunday night.

Lost the Pot drew level with Formula 1 last weekend courtesy of an 8-7 victory which sees the fight for fourth and fifth place also go all the way to the last games. Formula 1 face second from bottom Bell Inn while Lost the Pot take on sixth placed Wheatpieces away.

Joe Hodges held his nerve in a tense final frame to give Lost the Pot an important victory, which at 6-7 down looked unlikely. Jason Ratcliffe won his final rack of the night to give his teammate the opportunity after Stu Rogerson, Chris Bourgeois and Nigel Long had helped their side establish an early advantage. Neil Rogers and Ben Reid were the pick of the Formula 1 players but found their efforts were in vain as Hodges won the decider.

In the race to become individual averages champion, Phil Thorne of Hayward's Army leads the way with an 81.67 per cent win rate courtesy of 49 wins from 60 racks played. Leading the ladies race is Worcestershire county player and Hayward's Army captain Carol Summerell, who on 46.51 per cent has won 20 of 43 racks contested. Both will attempt to hold off their closest challengers when playing in their sides final games.

After this weekend's final league fixtures it is the last 16 of the Al Ward Memorial Trophy competition followed the next weekend by the semi-finals and finals of the three-man team event and the ladies' singles competition.

Results: Lost the Pot 8, Formula 1 7; Bush Cutters 11, Wheatpieces 4; Avon Dynamos 1, Hayward' s Army 14; Bell Inn 6, Renegades 9; Nomads 8, Hayward's Army 7.