Debutants Poona Club off to fluent start

Mumbai, Aug 1 (UNI) Featuring for the first time ever in the league, Poona Club kicked off their campaign with fluent 3-0 home and away wins in the opening week of the Sandesh Memorial Mumbai Billiards and Snooker League 2006.

Playing in Group 'B', Poona Club crushed Matunga Gymkhana 'B' 3-0 in both home and away ties to sound an early warning to Mumbai teams.

Another Pune club, PYC Hindu Gymkhana, also making their debut in the competition, experienced mixed fortunes in Group 'E'. PYC endured a surprise 0-3 loss against Central Railway Mechanic 'B' in their away tie, but made amends by winning their home tie by the same margin.

Significant breaks, all in billiards, also marked the start of the league as Adesh Shekatkar (+35) of PYC rifled in a 49, Garware Club House 'B' skipper Chirag Mehta (+50) constructed a 33 in Group G against Malabar Hill Club and R Daruwalla (+40) fired a 52 for Dadar Parsee Gymkhana 'B' who beat MCF 'A' 3-2 and 3-0 in Group H, in home and away ties, respectively.

Results (home&away): Group A: Spring Club bt Otters Club 3-1, 3-1; Islam Gym 'B' bt Khar Gym 'C' 3-2, 3-0.

Group B: Poona Club bt Matunga Gym 'B' 3-0, 3-0. Group C: MbPT SC 'B' bt Dombivli 'A' 3-1, 3-1; Park Club bt North India Assn 3-2, lost 1-3.

Group D: ECC 'B' bt Reynolds 'B' 3-1, 3-0; Dadar Parsee Gym 'A' bt Dombivli 'B' 3-0, 3-0.

Group E: Central Rly Mech. 'B' bt PYC Hindu Gym, Pune 3-0, lost 0-3.

Group F: Bombay Gym 'B' bt Santa Cruz Gym 3-2, 3-0; MIC CC bt Willingdon SC 3-2, 3-1.

Group G: Malabar Hill Club bt Garware Club House 'B' 3-1, lost 0-3; Islam Gym 'A' bt Khar Gym 'B' 3-1, lost 0-3.

Group H: MCF 'A' bt Dadar Parsee Gym 'B' 3-2, 3-0; Parsee Gym bt MBP SC 'A' 3-1, 3-1.

Group I: CCI 'C' bt MCF 'B' 3-0, lost 2-3; Radio Club 'A' bt Bombay Gym 'C' 3-1, 3-1.

Group J: Catholic Gym bt Reynolds 'C' 3-0, 3-1; CCI 'B' bt Matoshri Arts&Sports 3-2, 3-0.

Group K: Radio Club 'B' bt Khar Gym 'A' 3-1, lost 1-3; JVPG bt MbPT SC 'C' 3-1, 3-1.

Group L: Reynolds 'A' bt CCI 'A' 3-2, lost 2-3; Shivaji Park Gym 'B' bt Wodehouse Gym 3-1, 3-2.

UNI GS MJ DH RS1812