Hustlers show their muscle
The Ahoghill side whitewashed Michelin Masters to throw a major spanner in the Ballymena side's title bid.
And in another potentially crucial result, defending champions Minnesota Eight-Ballers emerged victorious from a major examination of The Inn-Offs, winning 4-2.
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Hide AdIn a shortened DIvision One programme - which saw Rolling Stoners and Knockeden Jokers on bye weeks - Slemish Hotshots kept alive their faint hopes of glory with a win at Horse and Jockey, while Hardly Potters leap-frogged Social Sports by beating their opponents.
The Social Inbetweeners v Moat Aces match was postponed because of Ballymena United's Irish Cup quarter-final being played at the Showgrounds.
PREMIER DIVISION
Fairhill Hustlers 6, Michelin Masters 0: This was a stunning result for Fairhill, but a disastrous one for Michelin, whose season is beginning to show shades of last season, where they mounted a strong title challenge, only to fade away in the closing weeks.
Ritchie Irwin set Hustlers on their way with a 2-1 win over David Armstrong and the lead was doubled when Robert Graham came from a frame down to beat Alan Armstrong.
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Hide AdThree frames were also required for Chris Stockman to beat Brian Hanna and George McCullough wrapped up the points with a win against Rick McMaster, again by a 2-1 scoreline.
With Michelin down and out, Fairhill took full advantage with straight frames wins for Justin Kilpatrick and Alan Henry, over Donald Alexander and Harry Eagleson, to complete a remarkable whitewash.
MOM - Justin Kilpatrick.
The Inn-Offs 2, Minnesota Eight-Ballers 4: Minnesota could scarcely have had a better week, with Michelin's defeat and this victory over another of the expected title challengers Inn-Offs.
They had to come from behind to do it, after Stephen Kyle had given Inn-Offs the lead, coming from a frame adrift to beat Gary Clarke.
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Hide AdEight-Ballers levelled through Pat McAnally, who defeated Michael Rowan in three frames.
The defending champions then sealed a point with wins from Barry McLarnon and Ryan Foster, although they were both taken the three frames distance by Brett McLaughlin and Dessie Cooper.
In the fifth game, Brian Hannaway secured both points for Minnesota with a 2-1 win over Gary Neeson, making Stewart Frew's straight frames win over Alan Davidson mere consolation for the William Street men.
MOM - Barry McLarnon.
DIVISION ONE
Horse and Jockey 2, Slemish Hotshots 4: Once again, Horse and Jockey's inability to field a full complement of players cost them the chance of a point from this game.
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Hide AdDamian Keenan fired Hotshots into the lead by beating Ricky McNeill, but back came Horse and Jockey through Philip Houston to level the scores.
The next two games were won by Slemish, both by 2-0 scorelines, their winners being Gary Rodgers and Gregory Shaw, who beat Gary Hillis and Rodney Barnes to ensure at least a point would be going back to Broughshane.
Mark Gillespie reduced the arrears for the Bryan Street side when he beat Dean Calderwood in straight frames but in the final game, a walkover win for Chris Adams wrapped up victory for Hotshots as the home side only had five players.
MOM - Damian Keenan.
Hardly Potters 5, Social Sports 1: Potters got off to a winning start when Martin Ward defeated Ross Hill 2-1 after losing the first frame and they doubled their lead when Johnny Walker beat Richard Turtle by a 2-1 scoreline.
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Hide AdLee Wright pulled one back for Sports when he beat Ian Mulvenna in three frames but Alan Smyth defeated Richard Campbell in straight frames to restore the two game advantage.
The two points were wrapped up by Amy Lynn when she beat Brian Boyd 2-1 and Chris McGuaghan rubbed salt in Social’s wounds by beating May Barr in the final game.
MOM - Amy Lynn.
PREMIER DIVISION
PWDLPts
M’sota Eight-Ballers42206
Fairhill Hustlers42115
The Inn-Offs42115
Social Cobwebs31204
Michelin Masters41123
DIVISION ONE
PWDLPts
Moat Aces1665517
Social Inbetweeners1663715
Knockeden Jokers1655615
Slemish Hotshots1737713
Hardly Potters17431011
Rolling Stoners1634910
Social Sports17341010
Horse and Jockey1723127
PLAYER OF YEAR
Latest Player of the Year standings are:
Premier: 15 wins - Ryan Foster; 14 - Stewart Frew; 13 - David Armstrong, Darren Gibson; 12 - Gary Clarke, Brian Hannaway, Brian Hanna, Robert Graham.
Division One: 15 - Alan Rainey; 12 - Gary Ormandy; 11 - Barry Weir, Damian Keenan, Jason Peacock.
DINNER DATE
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Hide AdTickets for the league dinner, which will be held on Friday, May 7, will go on sale shortly, priced at 15.
FIXTURES
Tonight’s (Tuesday) matches are:
Premier Division: Michelin Masters v Social Cobwebs; Minnesota Eight-Ballers v Fairhill Hustlers.
First Division: Slemish Hotshots v Social Inbetweeners; Social Sports v Moat Aces; Knockeden Jokers v Hardly Potters; Horse and Jockey v Rolling Stoners.