Battle of the big two

SEAN GRAHAM PG CUP 2008

The last 16 of the PG Cup starts this week and what a way to get the tournament proper under way with 2006 champions Lisburn Punters taking on 2007 winners and reigning champions the DVLNI punters.
The last time the two teams met was in the 2006 final when the Lisburn boys eased to a victory, inflicting the only ever defeat to the DVLNI guys.
There is no love lost between the teams and the punting duo of Mark Mallon and Eamon McCullough, who lost out in the quarter-finals last year, are confident they can oust the champions.
“Why not?” a confident Eamon asked the PG, “we did it before and, mark my words, we will do it again this weekend – and in style as well.”
They take on the DVLNI punters who have been one of the best betting squads to grace this page.
The reigning champions are unchanged – hardly surprising as they’ve already touched for FOUR football bets this season.
Team captain and master craftsman Damian ‘The Hoff’ Armstrong is joined by Paul ‘Hookbacker’ Officer and Kevin ‘Pampers’ McGuckin.
They are confident of making it three finals in a row and are gunning for revenge this weekend over the only team to have defeated them
LISBURN PUNTERS SELECTIONS: Middlesboro 8/11, Fulham (draw) 11/5, Aston Villa 8/13, Man City 5/4
DVLNI PUNTERS SELECTIONS: Wolves 8/11, Charlton 4/5, Macclesfield 5/4, Cowdenbeath 6/5
The second challenge this week sees CHUCKERS WIPEOUTS taking on the O’Ds DESTROYERS who were on standby and got their chance after Shaktar Senseless missed their deadlines.
We are strict about these deadlines, folks, and that’s two teams to fall by the wayside because they missed the boat – that will continue and we have another four or five teams ready to step in if deadlines are missed.
You have been warned.
Back to the cup and Chuckers Wipeouts have a point to prove after they went out at this stage last year. Captain Ronan O’Kane has one aim – the final.
“We have peaked at the right time this year and I can’t see us getting beaten, my three teammates are in great punting form and I can only see one winner this weekend,” Ronan told the Guide.
Team captain of O'D's destroyers, Joker Devlin, keeps faith with Gin McNerney but has decided to oust poor performers Mark ‘Thats Not My Bag’ Burns and ‘Old Canvasback’, AJ Leonard.
He replaces them with Mark ‘I'll Get a Carry-out When the Train Stops at Newry’ McYickin and Pierce ‘Read it Out to Me, Dev’ Rice.
A confident Joker told the PG: “I just had to ring the changes. My God, that guy Burns has been on a long losing streak. It started when he had a £20 double on Goliath to beat David and Germany for the war.”
O’Ds DESTROYERS SELECTIONS: Everton (draw) 11/5, Fulham (draw) 11/5, Cardiff (draw) 12/5, Portsmouth (draw) 11/5
CHUCKERS SELECTIONS: Cardiff (draw) 12/5, Preston 15/8, Fulham (draw) 11/5, Liverpool 5/4
REST OF The SEAN GRAHAM PG last 16 draw
NEXT WEEK:
Short Certs v Glenhill Punters (4 October)
Quad Almighty v BMG Printers (4 October)
(Team news by 3pm Monday, 29 September and predictions by Tuesday, 30 September – usual rules apply)
Coyles Punters v Whitefort Punters
(18 October)
RVH Stores v Bru Crew (18 October)
(Team news by 3pm Monday, 13 October and predictions by Tuesday, 14 October – usual rules apply)
Bright Sparks v The Malones (25 October)
Dairy Farm v Stormont 4 (25 October)

BET OF THE WEEK

Punter Phils his boots at Ayr

LOCAL TRANSLINK punters travelled to Ayr at the weekend for a jolly boys’ outing, but most of the drivers returned with hefty losses and big heads after heavy ground, big fields and pints took their toll.
Phil McCourt had better luck. Andersonstown punter Phil travelled over on Friday morning and had a bad first day, losing close to £200. But his luck took a turn for the better on Saturday.
He placed a £10 double on the first two races as he entered the racecourse at Ayr and luck would follow him for the rest of the day.
His first horse, RISING PROSPECT, won the first with plenty in hand at 15/2; Phil now had £85 riding on his next selection and ASPEN  DARLING  won at a canter at 12/1.
Phil was in a happy daze as he collected his £1,105, so much so that he missed the third race. He got himself together, though, for the fourth race, the Ayr Gold Cup, and put £50 each-way on KNOT IN WOOD at 20/1 which came fourth, winning another £200 for Phil – could the day get any better?
Indeed it could. Another bet was in the offing and GAME LAD (10/3) and LADY DEAUVILLE (15/2) did the business in a £20 double that bagged Phil another £70 .
Another couple of stabs in the last two races were fruitless but Phil was still up £1,800 when he left the racecourse – what a memorable day’s punting!
Meanwhile, a punter took the Sean Grahams Andersonstown branch for a few quid on Thursday with a simple £5 bet. Our canny punter placed a £2.50 each-way quad and the bet got off to the best possible styart when KYLLACHY STAR (15/8) won with a bit hand in the 2.20 at Ayr.
Ten minutes later and PRINCESS FLAME (8/1) won at Pontefract and our punter had two up with two to come.
Make that three up as RED ROSANNA (9/4) scraped home by a neck to set up one hell of a sweat for our punter.
He was waiting on MAJOR MAGPIE in the 3.30 at Ponty and our punter was not to be let down as the Major ground out a hard-fought win at 7/1.
Our punter picked up £1,725.80 for a fiver – bet small, win big, that’s the way!