Southport and Formby Quiz League

Dag Griffiths of Wings, the holder, was level going into the final round but finished 2 points behind Colin Foster of the Warrington League with Angela Doyle of the Liverpool League third and John Wilson of the Ormskirk League fourth.

The Fishermens Rest team of Harry Owen, Dave Williams, Neil Macaskill and John Clarke were just squeezed out 38 - 36 by Aigburth People of the Liverpool League.

Note from General Secretary. The above is Tom's final report - after 21 years of service he is stepping down.. His commitment and attention to detail over 21 years have been much appreciated.

Division 1

With one match to play, Casablanca were confirmed as league champions, ending Wings run of 8 consecutive wins. In their regular match, Casablanca initially fell behind but picked up strongly to finish 49 - 39 ahead of E Street Band led by good scoring from Ray Oakes 20, Andy Page 11 and Dave Dutton 10 with Geoff Hedley leading for the visitors with a fine 23. In their rearranged fixture, they were behind at halfway to Fishermen's Rest but won the 6th round decisively at 10 - 3 to win 54 - 47 with good scoring from Andy Page 21, Dave Dutton 16 and Bill Thomas 12 with Neil Macaskill 16 and John Clarke and Dave Williams, both 11, leading the reply. Congratulations to MPs on winning their first match of the season in beating Cavalette 40 - 35 with good scoring from Ann Evans 15 and Chris Hodgen 13 with Kate Woods-Medland 11 and Dave Palmer 10 leading for the visitors. Led by Dave Leyland 13 and John Richards 11, Aardvark Metros were always ahead at Wings and finished 38 - 31 in front, with Dag Griffiths 18 leading for the home side. In their regular fixture, Fishermen's Rest were a point behind going into the last round but produced 4 x 2s to Formby Sports' 4 x 1s to win 44 - 41 with Harry Owen 14, John Clarke 13 and Neil Macaskill 10 scoring well and Bill Hodgson and Sheila Tickle , both 13, leading for the Formby side.

Division 2

Mixed Blues confirmed their promotion to the first division with a remarkable victory over Exams. They were 5 behind going into the last round but won it 8 - 2 to finish 39 - 38 ahead led by Bill Morris 15, with Jim Quigley 14 and Nick Philpott 11 leading for the visitors. Quads moved into 2nd place with a fine 50 - 25 victory at Dismounted but a dog apparently ate the scoresheet so I have no details. Grasshoppers' match with Grapes of Wrath was always close but the Grapes just edged it 38 - 36 led by Jack Gardiner 20 and Cliff Owens 10 with Dave Phillips 15 leading for the home side.

Division 1

Wings retained the championship with a comfortable victory at Mixed Blues but were pushed to the end by Casablanca who edged a tough encounter with the much - improved Formby Sports to finish 1 point behind. Wings were always ahead at Mixed Blues with Dag Griffiths 23, Keith Mulhearn 14 and Tom Farley 13 leading them to a 57 - 33 victory with Jim McGrath 12 leading for the Blues. Casablanca and Formby Sports were level at 30 -all after 5 rounds but the former won the 6th 7 - 4 and, with the last 2 rounds being drawn, finished 47 - 44 ahead led by Ray Oakes 19 and Dave Dutton 11 with Sheila Tickle 16 and Keith Gowans 12 leading for the home side. E Street Band saved themselves from relegation at the expense of Mixed Blues with a fine 47 - 25 victory over Fishermen's Rest led by good scoring from Alan Wright 15 and Ann Page and Dave Nickeas, both 12. Mixed Blues are joined in the drop by Exams who came close to beating Metros but the latter drew level with 2 one - pointers of the last 2 questions to finish at 39 -all. Nick Philpott 16 led for Exams and Dave Leyland 14 and John Richards 12 for the visitors.

Division 2

Vikings finished at the top despite losing their last match against Southport FC while MPs clinched the other promotion spot with their draw at ExPats. The football club were level at half - time at Vikings but finished the stronger to win 38 - 36 with good scoring from Geoff Wilde 15 and Mick Hopkins 11 with Alan Martin 11 and Roy Shannon 10 leading for the home side. A fine 20 from Ann Evans underpinned MPs score in their 32 - all draw at ExPats with Kath Jackson 16 leading for the home side. A fine 19 from Paul Otterson, including 4 crucial one - pointers in the last round, enabled St Jeromes to snatch a 33 - 29 victory over Dismounted, having been behind for 7 rounds. Formby Pavilion lost their chance to contest the second promotion spot with MPs with a 37 - 30 defeat at Shifting Sands with Jack Gardner 16 leading for Sands and Margaret Copplestone, also 16, for Pavilion. In their second match this week, Southport FC won 41 - 25 at Quads led by a fine 20 from Geoff Wilde with Richard Farbon 10 leading for the home side.

Division 1

Wings still require a point from their last match at Mixed Blues after being held to a 51 - all draw with Formby Sports. They led until the last question when the visitors drew level with a 2 pointer from Bill Hodgson. All of the Sports' team's players were in double figures with Sheila Tickle 14, Bill Hodgson 13 and Gary Buxton and Keith Gowans , both 12, making useful contributions with Tom Farley 20, Keith Mulhearn 13 and Dag Griffiths 12 leading for the home side. Casablanca lie a point behind after their comfortable 60 - 30 defeat of Exams with good scores from Ray Oakes 23 , including a "full - house", Bill Thomas 17 and Chris Sumner and Dave Dutton, both 10, with Nick Philpott 13 and Dave Martin 10 leading for the visitors. Zetland will finish in third place after completing their fixtures with a 47 - 40 victory at Metros led by Harry Owen 19 and Paul Edwards 12 with Dave Leyland 13, Brian Cummins 12 and John Richards 11 scoring well for the home side. Fishermen's Rest eased their relegation worries with comfortable 51 - 33 victory over Mixed Blues led by Dave Tarr 18 and Neil MacCaskill 16 with Clare Newberry 12 leading for the visitors.

Division 2

Vikings confirmed their promotion with a 31 - all draw at rivals Formby Pavilion, the home side making up a 3 point deficit in the last round. Margaret Copplestone 13 and Leon Metford 11 led for the Formby side and Alan Martin 11 for the visitors. Led by Dan Evans 13 and Chris Hodgen 10, MPs overtook Formby Pavilion by a point with their 39 - 35 victory over Shifting Sands with Derek Roberts a fine 19 and Jack Gardner 12 leading for Sands. Led by Geoff Wilde 14 and Mick Hopkins 12, Southport FC marked their 900th league match with 38 - 20 defeat of St Jeromes. A very close match at Dismounted finished with home side edging the last round 6 - 5 to finish 36 - 35 ahead of ExPats with Steve Watson 16 leading for the Thornton side and Phil Ward 12 and Don Hobson 11 for the visitors.

Division 1

Casablanca kept in touch with leaders Wings, establishing an early lead at Zetland and finishing 5 ahead at 44 - 39 on the Monday questions with good scoring from Dave Dutton 17 and Ray Oakes 11, with Harry Owen 14 and John Clarke 10 leading for the home side. On the very unpopular Tuesday questions, Wings' powerful range and depth were able to bring them a 48 - 28 victory at Exams, with Dag Griffiths 17 and Keith Mulhearn 15 scoring particularly well, the team scoring 32 one - pointers to offset their miserable tally of 8 two -pointers and with the redoubtable Steve James leading with 11 for Exams. Formby Sports maintained their good run on the same questions with a 38 - 22 victory over Fishermen's Rest led by Sheila Tickle 17 and Bill Hodgson 10. Mixed Blues and E Street Band won one each of a double - header. In the regular match, E Street Band won 41 - 36 with good scoring from Dave Nickeas 15, Dave Twigge 11 and Alan Wright 10 with Claire Newberry 12 and Bill Morris 11 leading for the Blues. In the other, E Street Band led narrowly through much of the match only for Mixed Blues to snatch it 41 - 40 at the death, a win that might keep them in the division at the end of the season. Jim McGrath and Paul Tandy, both 11, and Bill Morris 10 led for the Blues and Alan Wright 18 and Dave Nickeas leading the Band.

Division 2

The Tuesday matches were a disaster zone with at least 30 unanswered questions in each and a high level of disgust at the standard of the questions. In the key "top of the table" match. Vikings defeated MPs 30 - 19 with Alan Martin 11 leading for Vikings. Led by Jack Gardner 13, Shifting Sands won 20 - 18 at home to Dismounted. Southport FC produced on of their better performances to win 30 - 12 at ExPats led by Mick Hopkins 11 and Geoff Wilde 10. On the Monday questions, Quads continued their recent improved form with a 28 - 25 victory at St Jeromes.

Merseyside Challenge Cup

Wings won all of their 3 group stage matches and go through to the knockout stages while plucky E Street Band lost all of theirs and were eliminated.