A real crackerjack and carnival atmosphere fills the air at present,after a few opening league and cup fixtures are hotly contested to date to the start of the new season (09/10) of the William Hill sponsored (B&D) domestic pool league. The Fellows nightmare in the Belfast Cup continues to haunt them.For those teams to date who have secured early league points will pay them rich dividends,after a long hard season ahead.We have 24 teams on board who make up the Premier and Championship divisions.They hail from the Shankill, East Belfast, Sandy Row and York Road.

Group matches in the prestigious Belfast Cup have been the highlight to the start of the new season.A major blow was caused by the Newtownards Road sharp'shooters who ousted former champions Longfellows from he cup for the third time in a row. Belvoir an unpredictable team over the years with very little silverware to show, they play hard and enjoy life to the full, are over the moon in sending home the Fellows with their tails between their legs.


Group Match Points:
Group 1
East 4 -10
Con Club - 7
Ulster Rangers - 4
Empire Rangers - 1

Group 2
Stadium B - 10
Raven Club - 7
Times Bar - 3
Pony Club - 0

Group 3
Belvoir - 12
Liverpool Club - 4
Longfellow - 4
Shankill Hps - 2

Group 5
Westbourne - 9
N.I.S.C - 9
Longfellow Regulars - 6
Charleville Inn B - 1

Group 6
Heather Street - 7
Albert Bar - 7
Cock 'n' Hens - 6
Longfellow Rockets - 3
 

Premier Preview
It's been a battle royal over the years between Shankill and East Belfast top teams in their pursuit of the Premier title.Last years league champions the Fellows who just got home by 1 point from rivals East 4 it now looks like the Fellows are starting to feel the pressure upfront.Their small panel of dedicated players over the years maybe getting a little rusty around the edges.Overall the team requires a new lease of life to get back on the rails again and show their fighting spirit as in the past.Their captain supremo Billy McKibben is confident of steering the boys through this stormy patch.

Meanwhile their deadly rivals Heather Street (Shankill) a formidable team who can take on any team but over the past 2 years have just missed the boat for major trophies. This year Heater boys look good to blossom again and keep the Eastenders on their toes.

Other teams who may well keep the leaders on their toes are newly promoted Stadium B, East 4 and Ulster Rangers other teams need to step up a gear to keep in contention

Hot-Shots worth keeping your eye on in this division champions Longfellows, East 4 and Raven along with Heather Street, Stadium B, Ulster Rangers.
 

Premier Table (3 Played)
Heather Street - 9
Longfellows - 7
East 4 - 4
Stadium B - 3
Shankill HPC - 3
Ulster Rangers - 3
Charleville Inn A - 3
Cock 'N' Hens - 3
Albert Bar - 3
Raven Club - 1
L'Fellow Regulars - 1
Pony Club - 0
 

Championship Table
Hear we have a dolly mixture of teams who could clinch the title namely Laganside, Belvoir, Con Club, Times Bar, N.I.S.C and Charleville Inn B. The league make welcome Liverpool Supports Club (Shankill) and Empire Rangers (Donegall Road) both returning after a long absence.
 

Table Points (3 played)
Laganside - 7
Belvoir - 6
Con Club - 6
Westbourne - 6
Liverpool Club - 6
Empire Rangers - 4
Stadium A - 4
N.I.S.C - 4
Times Bar - 2
My Lady's Inn - 1
L'Fellow Rockets - 1
Charleville Inn B - 0


Snippets
Individual champion Glen Armour (Fellows) determined to keep trophy in the East End. Also Doubles champions Dee Irwin / R.Morton won't let their trophy slip away from the Shankill.

Reminder - All match cards to be posted in respective boxes each Saturday by 5pm sharp for East teams in the East 4 Bar and the Shankill teams in the N.I.S.C any cards not posted will incur a £10 fine.

NB: A special Pool Alphabet to digest over the festive break will feature in next month.