Shaun Pollard helped Northumberland Lions reach the semi-finals of the Liam Tarrant Cup after playing with fractured ribs against PJ O’Connors

POTTER Shaun Pollard put in a heroic performance at the pool table when he battled through injury to help Northumberland Lions roar into the semi-finals of the Liam Tarrant Cup.

Pollard was expected to miss last week’s daunting tie against PJ O’Connors after a freak accident left him nursing fractured ribs. Not only did he end up playing, however, but the Chalk Farm Pool League chairman pulled off a trick shot to win the match as he doubled the black into the bottom-corner pocket to earn the underdogs a 5-2 victory.

“I was in a lot of pain and really had no intention of taking part in the game,” revealed Pollard. “But we were short on numbers and if I hadn’t played we would have had to forfeit – so I gritted my teeth and got on with it.”

Northumberland will very much be in the lion’s den when the line-up for semi-finals is announced later this month as they will be joined in the draw by the best three teams in the league: King’s Cross Hurricanes, Hurricane Potters and The Crown.