Pocket Predators and Roxbury Shot Callers, two of the National Pool League’s (NPL) undefeated teams going into week five in Division one, were beaten on December 17 .
Both teams were playing at home, which made the losses even more remarkable. In fact, it was a night where home advantage counted for little, as four of the seven matches played, were won by the visiting teams.
At Echo Bar & Lounge, Chaguanas: The division-leading Pocket Predators were taking on their fellow Central-based team, Agora Stingers. The first game was a battle of the Justins, Justin Francis (home) and Justin Chan (away). Chan gave the Stingers an early lead by beating Francis 4-2. Francis twice led the encounter at 1-nil and 2-1 but Chan proved to be the stronger player down the stretch winning three consecutive frames.
Clifford Sookdeo, despite losing the first frame to Ganesh Bedassie, came back to win four straight racks to level the team scores at one each. ‘Predators’ pair of Kirk Ramsawak and Gregory Gayadeen were expected to take care of Glen Bridgemohan and Christopher Mohammed but the visiting pair had other ideas, winning the contest 4-2. Steven Hernandez, one of the home team’s stronger players, did what he was supposed to do, winning 4-2 against Udesh Harriram. But with the team scores tied at two apiece, it came down to the game between Brian Stoddard, the Pocket Predators’ captain, and Javan Goolcharan. After the first two frames were split one each, Goolcharan was able to win the next three frames to give his team a most satisfying win.
At Roxbury Sports Bar, Cunupia: Roxbury Shot Callers were also not able to defend their home turf as the Sicarios came calling. The Shot Callers would have been happy with the draw for player match-ups but Roxbury captain, Raj Persad, drawn to play the opener against Andre Creece, could not capitalise on the many chances given and eventually lost 3-4.
The second game saw homeboy Roger Stewart taking on Mikkel Govia in a game that was originally scheduled to play fifth. Stewart, the more experienced player, stole the first game but Govia hit back with three straight wins before Stewart won the fifth. Govia was much more composed than his senior opponent and won the sixth frame to win the game 4-2.
The Shot Callers doubles pair of Peter Gajai and Akash ‘Knuckles’ Poon proved to be no match for John Eastman and Dylon King, as the visitors made light work of the contest winning 4-0. That win gave the Sicarios team the win with two games still to play. The home team’s only success came in the fourth game when Jonathan Goring needed a bit of lady luck to beat Sachin Ramnarine 4-3.
Ramnarine had the game sewn up at three each, with a nine in the side pocket but he failed to control the cue ball, hitting three rails before scratching to gift Goring a ball in hand and the win. Kenrick ‘Monty’ Roopnarine would close things off for the hosts and started in fine fashion with a combination (Tackle) on the nine to win the first frame. However, that would be his only win as Persad won the next four frames to complete the victory.
At Pyramid Sports Bar, Gasparillo: Shooting Stars were looking to bounce back from a tough fourth-round loss and many would have bet on them to do exactly that, especially against Kenny’s team in search of a first win. Unfortunately for the ‘Stars’, Kenny’s travelled with their ‘A’ game, evidenced by wins in the first four games: Sameer Meighoo 4-3; Kenrick Bachan 4-0; Rocky Rampersad and Vishnu Teeluck (Doubles) 4-2 and Kyron Hyacinth 4-1. The lone casualty for Kenny’s was Andre Lamothe who lost to Ronald Thackoordeen 3-4.
At Billiards Place, Aranguez: The final away win happened at Billiards Place, where Scotchie’s Nubian Kings were hosting the JJ Shooters. The ‘Kings’ seemed on course for an easy night, winning the first two games comfortably, 4-1 and 4-nil. The visitors pulled one back in the doubles encounter with a 4-1 win of their own. The Lyndsay Whiskey-led Nubian Kings had a golden opportunity to seal the win in the fourth game with Mukesh Ramnath leading Nicholas Woods 3-1 but Woods dug deep to win three in a row to keep the match alive. Chris Persad then finished off a tense hill/hill deciding fifth game to win it for the JJ Shooters.
In other matches: Lucky Sports defeated United Stars 4-1; Dekko All Stars beat Panthers 3-2 and Top Shooterz Krew beat Crazy 8’s 4-1.
The teams will go into the Christmas break with Pocket Predators on top, ahead of Roxbury Shot Callers in second with Agora Stingers in third, all three with just one loss in five matches. Crazy 8’s occupies fourth spot with three wins and two losses, the same win/loss ratio as fifth-placed Sicarios, sixth-placed United Stars and Dekko All Stars in seventh. Lucky Sports is 8th, Scotchie’s Nubian Kings 9th, Top Shooterz Krew are 10th and JJ Shooters 11th, all with two wins. Panthers, Shooting Stars and Kenny’s are 12th to 14th, respectively, with one win from five.
Division one matches resume on January 7.