Rockets shoot to long-awaited first victory

The Randalstown-based debutants have proved difficult to beat – as a record of six draws from their opening eight games testifies – but they picked a superb time to break their winless streak by dumping previously unbeaten title favourites Rafters Potters. In Division One, meanwhile, the meetings of the top four sides failed to produce any change in the league standings. Fountain Aces continue to head the table although they had to settle for a draw against visitors Rafters Runners. Chris Cunningham put the first point on the board for Runners with a closely fought straight frames win over Anthony Watson but Aidan Bradley restored parity with a similar win over Lee Corr. Dylan Murray put the Ballymoney men in front again by beating Aces captain Liam Kelly leaving the result of the match hinging on the game between Leonard Clewer and Richard Clyde. Leonard took the first frame with Richard taking the second. With Richard needing to win the decider to pull Runners level on points in the league with Aces it was one of the most crucial frames played in the league so far. Leonard, however, was up to the pressure and a comfortable win in the decider gave the Aces a 2-2 draw overall and kept their noses in front in the race for the title. In the Minnesota club the Minnesota A and B teams squared off against each other with the A team out to gain revenge for an earlier league loss to their B team. Jordan Millar secured a point for the B team with a good win over Division 1 Individual winner Brian Hannaway but that was as good as it got. Gary Erwin, making his first appearance for the A team since before Christmas, was a comfortable winner over Davy Swann and last season's player of the year Rodney McFall kept Andrew Hutchinson sitting in his seat most of the night on his way to a straight frames victory. Minnesota A captain David McClintock gathered up a crucial third point for his side with a fairly comfortable win over William Dobbin. Also in Ballymena, Minnesota Strikers recorded a 3-1 victory over visiting Dunloy Galaxy. Dean Greer continued his impressive season with a win in the deciding frame against Paul McQuillan to put the hosts in front. The match on the adjoining table finished at virtually the same time and resulted in a come from behind win for Strikers' Rodney Dunlop against Michael McPoland which put Strikers two up. Bobby Darragh's easy 2-0 win against Trevor Alexander brought the Dunloy youngsters back into contention for a draw but Colin Perry produced his best win to date over the talented Miceal Murphy to secure a three point haul for Strikers. In Division Two, league newcomers 147 Rockets secured their first win in the league with an excellent 3-1 victory over league leaders Rafters Potters. No deciding frame was needed in any of the 4 games as the Potters, emphatic winners in their previous two league games, were put to the sword by the Randalstown men. Rockets' Robert Hamilton and Potters' Dessie Lees traded points before Tony Magill and Richard Hayes secured the landmark first win for the Randalstown side. In the Parochial club the host Hawks drew 2-2 with visiting Fountain Jokers. Cliff Allison, on his debut, and talented youngster Calvin Brammeld earned the two points for the Antrim side with Niall McElroy and Paul Casey gaining the points for the Hawks with wins over Nathan Curtis and Joe Bingham respectively. Dunloy Cowboys took advantage of the Hawks/Jokers draw and Potters' loss to revive their own title hopes with a hard earned 3-1 win over Rafters Aces. Randal McDonnell's win for Cowboys was matched by Kevin Clarke for the Ballymoney men. John Joe O'Neill prevailed for Dunloy in the deciding frame against Jimmy Davidson and captain Aidan McErlaine secured what could yet prove to be a valuable third point for the Cowboys. In Ballymoney, lowly Parochial Lions battled hard against their hosts Rafters Hotshots before the Ballymoney side eventually won 3-1. Andrew McAlonan and Cedric Hargin had the Hotshots in front with Richard Russell replying for Ronnie McCart's team. Rodney McAleese, Lions' most consistent performer this season, found himself needing a snooker with pink and black left in the decider against Paddy Hargin. Rodney managed to get the snooker but a miss on the black allowed the Rafters man to finally gain the victory for the Hotshots. DIVISION ONE Fountain Aces 2, Rafters Runners 2: (50] A Watson 0, (15] C Cunningham 2 (61-69, 56-57); (55] A Bradley 2, (30] L Corr 0 (69-49, 76-69); (20] L Kelly 0, (15] D Murray 2 (50-58, 30-80); (45] L Clewer 2, (20] R Clyde 1 (73-46, 43-67, 87-30). Minnesota Strikers 3, Dunloy Galaxy 1: (45] D Greer 2, (60] P McQuillan 1 (44-35, 55-68, 83-50); (60] R Dunlop 2, (65] M McPoland 1 (31-65, 47-27, 57-33); (40] T Alexander 0, (65] B Darragh 2 (12-86, 37-66); (65] C Perry 2, (40] M Murphy 0 (66-34, 79-21). Breaks - Dean Greer 31, 32; Colin Perry 21. Minnesota A 3, Minnesota B 1: (15] B Hannaway 1, (30] J Millar 2 (43-95, 59-56, 32-55); (5] G Erwin 2, (20] D Swann 0 (74-37, 94-20); (15] D McClintock 2, (35] W Dobbin 0 (67-29, 61-30); (15] R McFall 2, (15] A Hutchinson 0 (85-7, 86-9). Breaks - Gary Erwin 49; Rodney McFall 30, 31, 46. DIVISION TWO 147 Rockets 3, Rafters Potters 1: (50] P Brammeld 0, (50] D Lees 2 (46-52, 37-49); (50] R Hamilton 2, (35] L Gibson 0 (62-35, 63-37); (55] T Magill 2, (55] P McCook 0 (59-41, 54-14); (55] R Hayes 2, (45] R O'Doherty 0 (54-32, 58-30). Dunloy Cowboys 3, Rafters Aces 1: (60] JJ O'Neill 2, (55] J Davidson 1 (47-37, 45-54, 74-39); (50] G McAuley 0, (55] K Clarke 2 (25-48, 36-47); (25] R McDonnell 2, (65] U Wylie 0 (77-58, 87-53); (75] A McErlaine 2, (45] B Moore 1 (47-74, 61-52, 78-27). Break - Randal McDonnell 37. Parochial Hawks 2, Fountain Jokers 2: (55] D McGarry 1, (60] C Allison 2 (58-49, 45-57, 38-63); (50] N McElroy 2, (65] N Curtis 0 (61-33, 51-47); (45] P Casey 2, (50] J Bingham 0 (66-40, 75-35); (60] P McNally 0, (45] C Brammeld 2 (42-76, 49-63). Rafters Hotshots 3, Parochial Lions 1: (50] A McAlonan 2, (75] D Curran 0 (74-63, 106-54); (60] C Hargin 2, (75] B Goodall 1 (73-33, 73-84, 71-59); (60] S Shirley 0, (25] R Russell 2 (46-58, 45-66); (60] P Hargin 2, (35] R McAleese 1 (72-35, 50-67, 78-67). Breaks - Andrew McAlonan 37; Rodney McAleese 35.