---

I thought I'd have a go at making some predictions this week:

Patriots 3-4 Hot Shots

The Patriots played poorly against us last week but should get back to winning ways soon - just not this week! The Shots to nick it!

Rack Pack 2-5 Red Deer Eagles

Can anyone stop the Eagles this season? Got a sneaky feeling that the Pack will get off to a great start, but then the class will shine through in the end!!

Propellor 3-4 Bloodhounds

There's a bit of confidence in our camp having won 4 on the bounce! Not bad for a team that looked like relegation certainties at Xmas!
This should be a closer game than the drubbing that we took earlier in the season (6-1). You never know we may even nick it.......?

SAS 1-6 Rileys Unpredictables

A win for the SAS would be perfect for us, but the Unpredictables are a far more superior team! I can't fathom why they're struggling this season. On paper they look very strong!! What's happened Knocky??

Cuemasters 3-4 Farley Eden

This is a tough one to call. The Eden are in great form at the moment, whilst the Cuemasters are in slight freefall. Can see this going to a decider.....Eden to nick it!!

I guess that leaves a bye for the Coney Cues!:D

---

Patriots 2 Hot Shots 5

The Hotshots are going to want to start doing some catching up now, Patriots have the home advantage, but if they turn up with a full strength team I dont think home advantage will be enough for the Patriots

Rack Pack 2 Eagles 5

Eagles are playing well at the moment, so I reckon a 5-2 win over the Rack Pack is realistic

Propellor 4 Bloodhounds 3

Although the Bloodhounds have had some good results lately, I think that this match will go the other way, sorry Bloodhound! If the Bloodhounds play like they did against us in the first match, going for good finishes and getting them, my prediction will probably be wrong, I just think there is a bit more experience within the Prop if things get tactical

SAS 2 Rileys Unpredictables 5

SAS have not had a good season so far but they do have some good players who can take out quality finishes, I reckon they can nick a couple of frames

Cue Masters 2 Farley Eden 5
Eden to get back to winning ways in this match. Given the opportunity the Eden are taking out some top quality finishes and I would reckon on them getting the edge in tactical frames.

We have a bye, not sure what our result will be, 4-3 loss?

---

Patriots 2-5 Hot Shots
Hot Shots have to keep winning and hope for a slip up by the Ego's, after the drubbing last week hard to see the Patriots winning this one.

Rack Pack 3-4 Eagles
Last season you would have had this down as a banana skin match for the Eagles. I saw the Rack Pack throw away chance after chance the other week against the Prop with only 5 players. This contest may be closer than most of us think.

Propeller 4-3 Bloodhounds
Massive win last week for the Hounds, and with the added bonus of seeing what the Unpreds are up to on the other table at Suzy's, may inspire them to push the Prop to the wire.

S.A.S 3-4 Unpreds
Dare we think the Unpreds will suffer a defeat tonight and gift the SAS their first league win of the season? This is a MUST win for the Unpreds. Everyone knows the Unpreds have the players, so did the Cuemasters / Legion and they both lost in recent seasons the battle for Div 1 survival....

Cuemasters 3-4 Eden
Recent weeks have seen an Eden revival, some great results along the way and in defeat last week we overall played the better pool. Cuemasters have struggled for numbers last few weeks but if full strength tonight it will be close, always is.

---

Certainly the match of the night is Cuemasters vs. The Eden
Very close one to call.
Will totally depend on the Cue Masters personel though.
A full team, at home, and I make them favourites.
Will the Eden get lost in nostalgia going back to thier roots. . . .

The Patriots will give the Hot Shots a good game aswell.

At Suzy's, no less than 3 division 1 games.
The Bloodhounds have been in fantastic form of late, but the Prop away will prove a bridge too far. Coupled with the fact that the Unpredictables will pick at least 7 points up tonight (If not all 9) it means that the relegation fight will be tighter than Vanessa Feltz's knicker elastic.

---

Cuemasters v Eden. This will probably be the last ever match between old rivals, which is a great shame. Last week v Hot Shots was probably the flattest match in terms of atmosphere that I've played in. At about 8.40 there were two of us and three of them, they ended up with a full team but we could only muster 5. Our players can't wait for the season to finish.

---

Patriots 3-4 Hot Shots

Rack Pack 1-6 Red Deer Eagles

Propellor 4-3 Bloodhounds

SAS 3-4 Rileys Unpredictables

Cuemasters 4-3 Farley Eden

Bye 4 Coney 3

---

:lol:

---

patriots 2-5 hotshots
rat pack 2-5 eagles
sas 2-5 unpredictables
prop 5-2 bloodhounds
cuemasters?-? eden
always a tight match against the eden boys more than likely always goes 4-3 one way or the other. will be a shame if its the last ever meeting but with new blood in the eden ranks maybe it wont be.

---

Don't worry about the Eden. I hear that the Dukes have got ten players signed-up now !! Perhaps if Alex can overcome his recent shyness and start talking to people again,he might be able to con a few more suckers into joining their team !! :violin: :bite:

---

bromley cuemasters 4-3 farley eden
who would have gueseed a 4-3 betwenn the cuemasters and eden? nice to get a win and do the double over our old rivals, at 4-1 up we maybe should have done more but credit to them for the comeback. nice to have a full 7 players for a change as well, makes a difference,! hopefully the eden boys will carry on next winter as it would be a big loss to the division if this was the end,

---

Oh no,not another whole week without a vitriolic comment from Alex !! How will we survive ? :wall:

---

Pretty poor game, no one performed well but it's not easy to play on that table.

---

sas 2 unpredictables 5.
good result as we where 2 1 down,hopefully other results went our way last night,apart from the bloodhounds,when i left they were 3 2 up against the prop.(well played):clapping:

---

Rack Pack 1-6 The Eagles

The Propeller 4-3 Bloodhounds

The Patriots 2-5 Hot Shots

---

I think I won this round of predictions

---

I'd hate to disappoint you Patrick, so I'll post something.

Division 1 Table:

Eagles 115
Hot Shots 105
-----------------
Propeller 100
Patriots 86
Cuemasters 80
Coney 72
Eden 70
Bloodhounds 63
Unpredictables 62
--------------------
Rack Pack 59
SAS 27

---

Alex,thank God that you're safe !! I honestly thought that your relentless string of defeats might have tipped you over the edge ! Welcome back. You're amongst friends here !! :nerner::nerner:

---

Just had a look at the last 5 games for the title and relegation contenders. Relegation battle could be decided over the next 3 weeks and Rack Pack SURELY have to deliver two back to back wins over Unpreds and Hounds otherwise the drop looks reality. Bloodhounds & Unpreds have Eagles/Hot Shots still to play. Hounds finish with Eagles and then Hot Shots. Unpreds have the equivalent of 4 home games out of their last 5 matches. Hard to see based on the current standings and the matches left to play, the Eden or Coney being dragged back into the battle...

10 points adrift is massive amount to pull back for even the Hot Shots but they do have the slightly easier run in, though are still big second favourites. It's the Eagles to lose....

TITLE RACE:
=========
Eagles:
Coney (H)
Unpreds (A)
C/Masters (H)
Bloodhounds (A)
Patriots (A)

Hot Shots:
Prop (H)
SAS (A)
Rack Pack (H)
Unpreds (A)
Bloodhounds (H)


RELEGATION BATTLE:
===============
Bloodhounds:
SAS (H)
Rack Pack (A)
Unpreds (H)
Eagles (H)
Hot Shots (A)

Unpredictables:
Rack Pack (H)
Eagles (H)
Bloodhounds (A)
Hot Shots (H)
Eden (A)

Rack Pack:
Unpreds (A)
Bloodhounds (H)
Hot Shots (A)
Eden (H)
Bye (Bye!)

---

Well played to the cue-masters in a typical 4-3 encounter
Played on (As longshanks has said) a pony table but take nothing away from them as they potted the balls when the chances arose - us alas again did not - Another season of mid-table/nothing to play for :roll:

Ah well at least we have a chance to progress in the Lge Cup on Monday - Bring it on....

Title - already done/dusted unless the Egos have a mass panic attack (No chance)

As for relegation - looks like 1 from Rack Pack/Hounds & Unpreds - i think it may be the rack pack unless they can start string some victories together,
I have to point out what a good season the Bloodhounds are having, regardless of what happens - They have come in & really done well in what is as always a very competetive league - :clap:

---

Was very surprised to see Danny Brown (Rack Pack) dropped for both matches last night :?:

---

Impossible to call the relegation battle at the moment.
I'd still favour the rack pack to stay up. They have a relatively easier run in, but of course all depends on how they fare in the next 2 weeks in the head 2 heads with the other 2 candidates.

Saying that, hats off to the Bloodhounds, unbelievable turn around in fortunes. They now look confident and assured, and had the Prop on the ropes last night only to slip up at the end. No shame in that though.
They are playing the sort of stuff now that saw them get promotion in the first place.

As for the Unpredictables, they will surely kick on now won't they?
They have the Farley Champion, a singles semi finalist, and a Surrey County player playing for them but to name just three!!!!!

I shall firmly be sitting on the fence for now.

---

will be close but just cannot see the unpredictables not pulling clear! have to much firepower. cant see it being anything other than either the bloodhounds or rat pack. hound dogs have the momentum and seem to be very focused on there game as recent results have shown, just feel that if the rat pack dont pick up a win in there next 2 fixtures they may not survive. as for the title i just cant see the eagles blowing it now.

---

We don't want to go down....Obviously.

We will be fighting until the end, i can guarantee that.

Just a few things need ironing out, such as our finishes (nothing important!)

Eagles to win it.

---

I think it was 85 points that went down last year but i am not sure how the drillers dropping out will effect that or the low score of the SAS.

I think the bloodhounds will pull clear I would just hate to see the rack pack go down on a bye result! on the other hand they do the double over their rivals and they should be ok. Unpredictables have the toughest run in but I am sure will pull some players out their arses to sort it out!

---

Berty,we were relegated last winter season. We had 83 points and an identical record with Hogs Head(now The Patriots). We lost in a play-off to them. Hopefully,we will come back at the end of this season.

---

83, 85, the team that fills the last relegation spot will be no where near that figure. Lucky for a few teams the Drillers pulled out.

Bottom line is Rack Pack have the 'bye loss' at the end of the season, so you have to think they must win 2 or maybe even 3 out of their last 4 matches. Harry would have done the maths. Unpreds fixture next week is huge, for both sides.

---

Yeah, at the end of the day, the 2 games we must win are unpreds and bloodhounds to stand a chance. We'll need to play out of our skins in those, as we lose 5-2 to ex drillers last game. Its been a tough season for us but we still got faith in ourselves.

Come on the Rack Pack! :thumb:

---

its a shame because
the rileys unpredictables
the rileys rack pack
and the bloodhounds
r all good sides
who ever goes down will walk div 2

---

if we get relegated it will be our own fault,unfortunatly in alot of games this season we havent been at the races,i think part of the problem is that not many if any of our team practice asmuch as they used to.now that we are moving to rileys purley hopefully we can once again be a decent side,only time will tell.
BRING ON THE RAT PACK.:chair:

---

:no::no:

---

There is a certain element of truth in what you say there Chaos.
The previous 2 Winter seasons saw the 1st Division lose two teams who, on paper at least, were too good to go down.
The British Legion last year, and the Cuemasters the year before that.
The Cuemasters did inded walk division 2, and are now playing to their potential (When they have 7 !!!)
The Legion are flying high this year, and are strong favourites for the division 2 title.

However, you also have teams such as The Pawleyne, who were well beaten in division 1 last year, but have subsequently struggled in division 2. They're now looking down the barrell at relegation again!
And the vast majority of that side were the cup winning side from the summer.

---

I think the Unpredicatables would walk Div 2, but not so sure about the other two.

---

:lol:

Welcome to Croydon's over populated venue, where teams have no identity apart from their table number.....

---

An amazing statement from Alex. Your "identity" has been displayed at the following venues: Eden Park Hotel,The Coney,British Legion West Wickham,The Wheatsheaf,The Elmer and now the Thomas Farley. Your team would appear to be a bunch of shysters who will tolerate just about any venue that will tolerate them. I certainly would not call that identity !! You're more like the Travelling Willberries !! :lol::lol: :lol:

---

lol

I have to admit though I think the volumes of teams now playing in Purley does jeopardise the character of the league a bit.

---

cheers Pat - Nice of you to attempt an Eden history - guess it is nice to list all our venues & a trophy was won in all of them - Only exception is the farley - Hopefully we will change that this year, Does it make you sad that in all of your venues the only trophy you have manged to bore off anyone is the Longest matches in history trophy :one: - for that we salute you & your very merry men

But sadly as usual you are mistaken

We have never played from The Wheatsheaf (In the Croydon Lge) & only left our spiritual home (EPH) due to the lack of a pool table

But as usual we are welcome wherever we lay our cues :drunk:

Ps - are you a stalker of Alex - every post is aimed at our young captain, very strange behaviour - don't be shy Pat just ask him out for a bite to eat, you never know fella - he may even pass on some pool knowledge :bite: & if all else fails he can show you his magic wand (You know the 1 - the 1 that has lifted the odd trophy) :haha:

We are looking likely to stay in the Lge now - So lets hope you manage to scrammble into 3rd place & get back up to Div 1 so we can once more enjoy another long night out :lol:

---

They pay league entry, provide free food, tables (for matches and practice, any time). The tables are well looked after and reclothed regularly. You can always get a practice on a Tuesday, even if you have an away match and there is always someone there to give you a game if you want one.

If you already have your own identity and don't need a venue to provide one for you then it doesn't sound too bad.

The only downside is you have to put up with a bunch of screaming girls, but that said, The Imperials are a good bunch once you get to know them and they play away every other week.:elol::thumb:

---

almost forgot - how many venues have you & your pondites had now - Watch out or you 2 may be called 'Travelling Willberries ' - And you wouldn't like that fella would ya :shag:

---

At least Purley is in Croydon,unlike Bromley, Beckenham, Lewisham, Biggin Hill and Penge.In the past, some teams have had major problems with transport to and from matches. Hopefully,with the forthcoming reduction in team size,we can fit any summer league team into a mini. So it should no longer present a problem !! :violin:

---

its not a cash of paying for the tables,more like the tables are crap:razz:

---

case

---

I agree spud but the pawleyne lost sean kelly and paul wildman
in the winter two quality players

---

Spud is Sean Kelly!

---

ok thanks mate

---

What are you on about Alex?? If you look at the ratio of teams to tables youve gotta say that the Farley is Croydons over populated venue! Plus you cant really go on about identity when 5 teams play out of there!

---

The difference between Rileys and Farley on an 'identity' point is clear to see. Team names spring to mind for starters. Farley Eden, Farley Loyalists, Farley Dukes etc. Now I'd say that is edging towards having an 'identity'.

Look at the teams who play from Rileys. British Legion for example. If you asked the neutral to tell you where did you think the Legion were based? The answer would be obvious but incorrect. Now you have to go to Rileys to play them and what made them different was a hostile club in Addington with a table only they knew how to play on.

Also, I don't think you can compare the two venues. Firstly one is a pub, and the other is a pool/snooker club. But my point is not about either venues.

I love the tables at Rileys, who couldn't, good customer service from Hannah & Co but the venue is way too full these days. What do you gain from walking from one table to another for home and away matches throughout the season? Its very boring. What makes a team is having a venue that is different from the norm and in turn gives them an identity as a team.

Lastly, from a spectator point of view I think the Farley is unrivalled in the Croydon league, which in turn brings an edge and atmosphere to every match that takes place there and this something I have seldom seen at Rileys on match nights (unless the Eden are in town) with players walking and talking all over the place. Its not my cup of tea mate, thats all.

---

Haven't the British Legion now renamed their team for the new season? It's the Foreign Legion now isn't it?