Magpies win three in a row
• The Winnaleah Magpies winning side front L-R: Mitchell Taylor, Lyndon Smith, Kevin Wagner, Lee Shaw, Robert Gough and Greg Taylor. Front: Alan Mountney. Absent: Jarrod Smith.
By Taylor Clyne
December 16, 2020
The Winnaleah Magpies have their chests puffed out after securing the championship title for the North-East Eightball competition for a third year running on Thursday night.
Playing on their home table at the Winnaleah Hotel against the Scottsdale RSL Tigers who finished first on the ladder, the evening was bound to be an interesting one.
The nail-biting final was drawn 4-2 at the end of the singles games.
The Magpies then lost their first two double games sending it to a third doubles final match played between Mitchell Taylor and Lyndon Smith versus Jeffrey Kitchin and Grant Lethborg.
“They gave Lyndon two shots, and he was good enough to pot them out,” Magpies Captain Kevin Wagner said.
“It was won thanks to a little bit of experience and probably some luck too.”
The losing Scottsdale RSL Tigers side which consisted of Donald Costello, Robert Kerrison, Grant Lethborg, Greg Blackwell, Jeffrey Kitchin and Peter Forgarty were unlucky to walk away for a second year without the top trophy.
The Magpies side made up of Lee Shaw, Lyndon Smith, Kevin Wagner, Greg and Mitchell Taylor and Alan Mountney dedicated their win to long-time supporter Des Bounday who travelled from Aminya each week to watch games prior to passing away five weeks ago.
“It’s a good social competition. We knew we’d be up against the RSL Tigers as they were the team that we played in the second semi.
“Snowy Bennett umpired all games for the grand final, it was much appreciated,” Mr Wagner said.
“This season we started later because of Covid in September and only played eight home and away games which is about half of the normal season.
“We made sure that each team had four home games so that the pubs got the business too, they did a good job under the new Covid rules.”
The competition has been running in the North-East for more than 100 years; this year’s rivalry was made up of eight teams spanning Weldbourgh, Winnaleah, Derby, Bridport and Scottsdale.
The Singles Champion for 2020 was awarded to Lyndon Smith, beating Lee Shaw in the final.
The Doubles Champions for 2020 was won by Lee Shaw and Greg Taylor, runners up were David Mullins and Bryton Mullins.
“Thanks to all the teams for a great season and to the publicans for hosting every Thursday,” Mr Wagner concluded.
The Scottsdale Competition will likely kick off in late February – March 2021 and the North-East Eightball season will commence early July 2021.