In-form Hurricane Potters have won two from two as the Chalk Farm Pool League sees player numbers boom

NEWCOMERS Hurricane Potters have taken Camden and Islington’s premier pool competition by storm having pocketed two wins from two so far this season.

On Monday night Pearse Mulvany from Cricklewood sank the black in the all-important fifth frame as the Potters beat Northumberland Arms 6-3 in the Chalk Farm Pool League.

It was the second game in succession that Mulvany has guided the Potters over the winning threshold in the best-of-nine-frames contests. In their opening fixture he joined forces with teammate Ricky Najah to win in the doubles as the Potters chalked up a convincing 7-2 victory over King’s Cross Invaders.

Having now set the pace at the top of the Division One table, there’s no reason Mark Piercey’s newly-assembled Potters can’t continue their title challenge throughout the season. The squad boasts a number of high-calibre cueists who have played in the league before with other teams – not to mention a few familiar faces from the county pool scene.

Whatever happens it looks like it’s going to be another scintillating campaign for all those involved in the league, which has now grown to two divisions of 12.

Where there were once fears that gentrification – and then the Covid outbreak – might decimate the sport, it now seems that a record number of players are returning to pool tables across the capital.

League chairman Shaun Pollard explained: “Times were tough for all grassroots sports during the Covid pandemic, and the Chalk Farm Pool League was no exception. So many venues simply disappeared or removed their pool tables in favour of dining or because they had to meet the distancing requirements that Covid brought about.

“However, this season looks really positive. Not only has the league managed to retain almost all of the teams that we had originally, but we’ve even managed to add to our ranks with the likes of Hurricane Potters and Hornsey Tavern joining the action.

“The break also gave our committee time to recruit a new member to look after the league’s website and social media. Our new webmaster, Shaz Khan, who plays for the King’s Cross Hurricanes, has already implemented a new app, too, that keeps tabs on all the players’ stats and the league tables.

“It means everyone has more time to focus on what really matters: playing pool.”