Pool: Leicestershire teams on cue to land terrific clean sweep

Leicestershire are bang on course for an unprecedented clean sweep of all five trophies in Region Eight of the Inter-County League.

With just two matches left in the current campaign, the County men's A and B teams, plus the women, juniors and seniors, all lead their respective divisions after the latest round of fixtures.

It is shaping up to be a great season, especially as the Leicestershire Pool Association are this year celebrating their 30th anniversary.

"That would be an amazing way to commemorate such a landmark year," said County A captain Steve Robertshaw.

"With just two tricky matches left, all our teams are in a great position to win the region.

"We have a great chance, and we all need to show our character and strength in depth."

Reigning champions County A were the biggest winners in the match against hosts South Yorkshire, returning from Sheffield with a whopping 33-11 win.

Steve Morriss rolled back the years with four wins to take the player-of-the-match award, while John Bowkett and Lee Ross also pocketed maximum hauls.

Temujin Dixon, Reece Townsend, Louis Heathcote, Robertshaw and Gavin Lomax took three frames apiece.

The win means County stay level on points with Humberside, but are top virtue of a far superior frames difference.

Leicestershire B were not far behind the A team in the scoring stakes as they cruised to a 31-13 win against their South Yorks counterparts.

With closest rivals Derbyshire losing, it meant County established a two-point lead at the top of the table.

Neale Bassford was the star player with four wins, while Lee Brown also took a maximum.

Danny Davies, Matt Newell, Martin Hinchliffe, Frazer Oliver and Shane Moore all picked up three wins apiece.

Leicestershire women already have one hand on the trophy after a crunch victory against South Yorks, their biggest rivals for the title.

County are now six points ahead after the 26-18 win in Sheffield, Charlene Gibson and player-of-the-match Amy Beauchamp both winning four frames each. Donna Elliott and Stacie Ackland picked up three apiece.

It would be a first-ever title for the women's team, and skipper Michelle Brown said: "I am so proud of the whole team.

"We are almost there and I am confident we can win this region with just two matches to go.

"We need to keep focused and not under-estimate our opponents to ensure we remain unbeaten this season."

Leicestershire seniors were the day's only losers after they were narrowly pipped 5-4, but they remain on top of the table thanks to a better frames difference over Humberside, who are also on 15 points.

The County juniors had no match as South Yorks juniors have folded, but Leicestershire still lead their division by a healthy five points.

The County Association are holding a special celebration evening tomorrow to commemorate their 30th anniversary. There will be a reunion of past-and-present players at Leicester's Club 147, plus a stroll down memory lane with pictures from the past three decades.

There will also be a live band, disco, buffet and raffle prizes.

The evening starts at 8.30. For more information, telephone 0116 2620942 or log on to:

www.club147.co.uk

Leicestershire A team duo Shaun Payne and John Roe helped the British Lions to a 4-1 series win in the 'Test' match against hosts South Africa at Boland Park.