By Stuart O’Dell
Weardale Pool League 2026/27 – Week 2 Report
A Night of Close Contests and 5–4 Thrillers
It was another exciting night of league action, with all four fixtures producing narrow 5–4 results. There were late comebacks, impressive singles performances, and crucial doubles deciders, as teams battled it out for valuable league points.
St John’s Chapel Blue Bell 4–5 Wolsingham Black Lion
St John’s Chapel Blue Bell hosted Wolsingham Black Lion in a closely contested encounter that went right down to the final doubles game.
The home side got off to a positive start, with Derek Iddon claiming the opening point. Chris Pybourn responded for the visitors to level the score, but St John’s Chapel Blue Bell regained control with wins from Simon Jones and Peter Liddle, establishing a two-point advantage.
Adam Martin kept Wolsingham Black Lion in contention with the first eight-ball clearance of the season, before Colin Hodgson restored the home side’s two-point lead at the end of the singles, leaving the score at 4–2.
Needing just one point from the three doubles games to secure victory, St John’s Chapel Blue Bell looked well placed to take the match. However, Wolsingham Black Lion had other ideas, producing an excellent response to claim all three doubles games and snatch a narrow 5–4 victory.
Stanhope Grey Bull (B) 5–4 Stanhope Pack Horse
Stanhope Pack Horse made the short journey to face Stanhope Grey Bull (B), and the visitors made the better start with wins from Ian Peart and David Nicholson.
The home side responded impressively, taking control of the singles games as Chris Henderson, David Sheppard, Rob Graham and Jack Tinkler all secured victories to give Grey Bull a 4–2 lead heading into the doubles.
Pack Horse knew they needed to win all three doubles games to turn the match around, and they made a promising start by taking the opening game. However, Grey Bull (B) secured the second doubles point to guarantee the overall victory.
Pack Horse refused to give up and claimed the final doubles game, but it proved too little, too late, as Stanhope Grey Bull (B) held on to win 5–4.
Stanhope Curious Grouse 5–4 Stanhope Club (B)
It was a meeting between the league’s two newest teams, both searching for their first league victory, and the contest certainly lived up to expectations.
Stanhope Curious Grouse opened the scoring through Martin Oliver, but Stanhope Club (B) hit back with three consecutive singles wins from Lewis Featherstone, Jack Anderson and Ethan Pevler to establish a two-point advantage.
The Curious Grouse showed plenty of determination, though, as Andrew Henry and John Stobart won the final two singles games to bring the score level at 3–3 and set up an exciting doubles decider.
The Curious Grouse struck first in the doubles, only for Stanhope Club (B) to respond and level the match once again. With everything resting on the final game of the night, the pressure was on, and it was the Curious Grouse who held their nerve to claim the decisive point and secure a memorable first league victory, winning 5–4.
Stanhope Club (A) 4–5 Stanhope Grey Bull (A)
The meeting between last season’s league champions, Stanhope Club (A), and runners-up, Stanhope Grey Bull (A), was one of the standout fixtures of the evening.
League champions Stanhope Club (A) made the perfect start, with Adam Robinson claiming the opening point. Grey Bull (A) responded strongly, however, as Stu Brown and Carl Tunstall won their games to give the visitors a narrow lead.
Adam Dobson brought Stanhope Club (A) level, but the visitors took the final two singles games to establish a 4–2 advantage heading into the doubles.
Facing the daunting task of winning all three doubles games to keep their hopes of victory alive, Stanhope Club (A) responded brilliantly, taking the opening two games to level the match at 4–4.
With the league’s top two sides now locked together, the final doubles game would decide the outcome. It was Stanhope Grey Bull (A) who came out on top, claiming the crucial point to secure a hard-fought 5–4 victory over the reigning champions.
Round-Up
It was a remarkable evening of league action, with every fixture finishing 5–4 and all four matches going down to the wire. Wolsingham Black Lion produced an outstanding doubles comeback, Stanhope Grey Bull (B) recovered from a slow start, the Curious Grouse secured their first league win, and Grey Bull (A) edged past last season’s champions.
With the teams so evenly matched, the latest round proved that no lead is safe and every frame can make the difference.
