UNDERDOGS from the Northwich and District League’s bottom tier caused an upset at the opening stage of the Alan Backhouse Team Knockout Cup last week.

Winnington Rec led the way by eliminating Owley Wood A, from Division Two, after taking four of the first five frames.

Iron Bridge H celebrated a thrilling comeback win against Iron Bridge A, promoted ahead of them at the end of last season, after captain Dana McCormack held her nerve to win a decider.

Wheatsheaf continued a fine start to the season in Division Three when they sent higher-ranked Gladstone D crashing out.

They trailed 3-2 before wins for Darren Hamilton and Rich Jones settled the outcome in their favour.

Elsewhere there were three maximum breaks, two of them in the same game.

Martin Whitehead and Patrick Murray both cleared the table during a comfortable success for Castle D at Witton Chimes A – last season’s runners-up.

Gladstone C, the holders, whitewashed Green Dragon B while Lewis Webber made an 8-ball break in the opening frame to set Castle B on a course for victory at Division One rivals Rudheath.

Castle A recovered from a sluggish start, losing two of the first three frames, before seeing off Slow & Easy A.

The Lostock Gralam pub’s other side will have feared they were heading the same way after letting slip a 3-0 lead at Green Dragon A.

However Sam Thompson took a decisive seventh frame.

There were wins last Wednesday too for Blue Barrel, Castle C, Gladstone E and Owley Wood B.

Results

Northwich and District Pool League

Week Three

Wednesday, October 3

Alan Backhouse Team Knockout Cup

First Round

Blue Barrel 5-2 Witton Chimes B; Castle A 5-2 Slow & Easy A; Castle C 4-3 Barn Owl B; Gladstone B 3-4 Owley Wood B; Gladstone C 7-0 Green Dragon B; Gladstone E 4-3 Broken Cross; Green Dragon A 3-4 Slow & Easy B; Iron Bridge A 3-4 Iron Bridge H; Lion A 4-3 Greenbank C; Owley Wood A 3-4 Winnington Rec; Rudheath 1-6 Castle B; Wheatsheaf 4-3 Gladstone D; Witton Albion 4-2 Greenbank B; Witton Chimes A 2-5 Castle D. Bye: Greenbank A

Fixtures

Week Four

Wednesday, October 10

Division One: Castle C v Gladstone B; Castle D v Gladstone E; Gladstone C v Castle B; Rudheath v Castle A. No game: Owley Wood B

Division Two: Broken Cross v Witton Chimes A; Gladstone D v Barn Owl B; Greenbank C v Lion A; Iron Bridge A v Owley Wood A; Witton Alboin v Greenbank A

Division Three: Green Dragon B v Iron Bridge H; Greenbank B v Slow & Easy B; Slow & Easy A v Blue Barrel; Wheatsheaf v Green Dragon A; Witton Chimes B v Winnington Rec