Hospital stitch up three titles

General Hospital C have sewn up three of Southampton’s pool titles.

All-conquering General Hospital C, left to right: Graham Leale (capt), Darren Sexton, Adrian Sturgess, James Haysom, Richard Leale, Darren Turner. Front: Pete Sturgess (manager).

The defending champions extended their unbeaten league record to 42 games to again win the Southampton & District Social Clubs League.

And they clinched the team knockout title with a 3-1 victory over Q World C in the final at Warren Social Club.

Star players Adrian Sturgess and Darren Turner have been crowned pairs champions for a record fifth year running. The Hospital duo killed off a spirited comeback by Q-World teammates Martin Smith and Pete Munday to triumph 5-3 in a marathon three-hour final at Testwood Working Men’s Club.

Turner said: “This has been our hardest final without a shadow of a doubt, but Adrian came in and did it where it counted.”

Q World fought back to 4-3 after Sturgess, 33, snookered himself with three reds left on a two-shot chance. Munday missed a thin cut on the black to level after potting the penultimate red with a swerve shot and Sturgess clinically cleared six yellows and black for victory. 

Turner, whose partner Sam is expecting a baby in October, added with a laugh: “If no one beats us next year, I think we’ll retire.”

Picture: Kevin Legg