Rich pickings (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Rich pickings

9:23am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Andover

Rich Prosser Jnr and his Southampton Arms side have started the winter pool season in excellent form.

They completed their fifth win with a 7-2 away romp at the QC Leftovers and remain joint leaders of the Creative Webtech sponsored Premiership. Queen Charlotte had a convincing 8-1 win over bottom team Royal Oak A but have played one more game. Large wins for both the Arms A and B sides also means they remain close by with games in hand. Forester Fatties completed an 8-1 thrashing of the White Hart to go 13 points clear at the top of Division One. The Bell and Hurstbourne remain second and third despite big losses to the Angel and Demons and Central Crusaders respectively. Wolversdene Warriors bounced back from a shocking 9-0 defeat last week to record a narrow 5-4 away win at Andover New Street.

Lamb Beasties are dominating Division 2. A 5-4 win means they remain undefeated in five and have extended their lead to 11 points. Several results were still awaited.

Following a promotion last season the Central Sensations are the team to beat in Division 3. They remain nine points clear of the Shire following a 7-2 drubbing of a depleted Ploughin On side. The Shires’ excellent 6-3 win over fourth placed Merlin Magicians leaves them with a 100 per cent record and a game in hand of the Sensations.

While the Merlin Massive and HBT Players remain at the top of Division 4, spare a thought for the Wykeham 7 Wonders team.

Due to work commitments they have lost their captain and are very short of players. Playing with only four last week they recorded an improbable win in beating top side Merlin and can hopefully survive to the end of the season. In Division 5 the top two, Hurstbourne RBL B and the QC Charlatans both had 7-2 wins. Sadly the Windy Millers have pulled out of the league.

l Spaces for the APA race night at the Southampton Arms on Feb 10 are filling up with five of the eight tables taken. Monies will go towards the Andover Open and future APA events.

For further information visit www.apafestivalofpool.co.uk or www.andoverpool.co.uk.