OVERLANDER NEW STARS 13 (Neil Ning 3, Chase Steffensen 3) DEFEATED BUFFS JMI 10

The Mount Isa 8-Ball Association kicked off 2016 with less sides but enthralling play, the least of which wasn’t the defending champion Buffs JMI losing their first outing against the Overlander New Stars at home.

The New Stars, coming off a ninth-placed finish in 2015 seem to have recruited well, particularly given the evergreen form of captain Chase Steffensen who went through the JMI line-up with ease. 

So too did Neil Ning and when he took his second frame of the day, the New Stars had reversed a 5-1 deficit into a 7-all tie. 

The JMI got the wobbles when under pressure going win-for-win with the upstart New Stars, and at 10-all, with one frame to go, an unfortunate foul by the reliable Kerrin Smithson handed over the day to the Overlander side. 

The New Stars will look to cement themselves at the top of the table in coming weeks, but the season started badly for the JMI who will go to their first bye toward the bottom of the ladder.

IRISH CLUB 303S 14 (Jye Graham 3) DEFEATED IRISH CLUB OUTLAWS 9 (Brendan Cole 3)

The big matchup of the round was the local derby between the Irish Club sides, the 303s and the Outlaws, in a rematch of the qualifying final of 2015. 

Having said that, the Outlaws were missing Adam Langtree who joined the 303s this year and looked to give his side the best start he could.

It would seem pretty easy for the star-stacked 303s taking a 7-2 lead early, but lack of focus would them to have a slender 2-frame lead as the Outlaws behind Brendan Cole rattled off a 4-nil run. 

Into the third bracket of singles, Jye Graham kept the 303s ahead with his third frame of the day, but again the 303s lapsed and allowed the Outlaws to get within one at 9-8. 

Luckily, Jason Graham and daughter Shaye stepped up to take the day for the 303s and avoid an embarrassing first-up loss.

BOWLING ALLEY CPR 14 (Gunther Czmok 3) DEFEATED BARKLY INCREDIBALLZ 9 (Joel Lindenburgh 3)

The Bowling Alley CPR took advantage of an understrength Barkly Incrediballz side who gave up six forfeits in their maiden game of 2016. 

Still, the Incrediballz have a good side and their first-up loss isn’t reflective of the season they may have if they play to their potential. 

At 3-2 up they were still in contention but the start was too much, losing the next five. 

At a point they got within one again but with another couple of players they would have won the day. 

On the other side of the table, the CPR were steady, with captain Gunther Czmok taking all three of his frames while all other players had some success.

BARKLY HUSTLERS 20 (Steve Healy 3, Garth Apps 2, Greg Payne 2, Eggy Eggmolesse 2, Jay Austin 2, Leanne Aria 2, Pete Burgess 2) DEFEATED BOWLING ALLEY DEMONS 3

The Hustlers and the Demons will always be tied at the hip as their evolution came out of the Shark Bar where they shared a venue for four years. 

Now with new digs at the Barkly and the Bowling Alley respectively, both sides squared off and it wasn’t a contest. 

The Demons with a heap of new faces couldn’t compete with the Hustlers who may well be the best side in the league, being ahead at a point 11-nil. 

The Hustlers played incredibly closing out frame after frame, and confidence is high within the group who play their first home match against a new look Buffalo Bills side who, with a first-round bye, kick off their campaign in two weeks.