Schools are back – so’s the PG Cup

IT’s back. Yes folks, the Sean Graham-sponsored PG Cup starts this weekend in our bid to find the best betting outfit in Belfast.
Who will be crowned with the punting crown of 2009/10? We have some old faces and also some new ones as we kick off this weekend with the qualifiers who will be hoping to make it into the last 16 which starts next week.
Looking through the draw, we have the last three winners all taking part in this year’s competition. Last year’s winners the BRIGHT SPARKS are the outright favourites at 7/2 with Sean Graham to repeat last year’s feat and they start their defence next week against the Bombardier Hotshots who are led by Joe ‘ Big-Hit’ Campbell.
The DVLNI punters won the PG Cup in 2007 and aim to regain it – they start their campaign against the winners of the Hoys Toys v The Boys From the Black Stuff qualifier this weekend.
The Citybus duo, formerly known as the Lisburn Punters, won the PG Cup in 2006 and they face new boys Stewartstown Supremos next week.
Last year’s beaten finalists, our very own BMG Printers, will face the winners of this weekend’s qualifier between Short-Strand Doormen and The Bru Crew, and the printers are confident of going one better this time round.
The Full Draw:
Bright Sparks v Bombardier Hotshots (12th September, Team News 7th September, Selections 8th September 1.00pm)
Stewartstown Supremos v Citybus Duo (12th September, Team News 7th September, Selections 8th September 1.00pm)
Stormont Four v Freezer Geezers (19th September, Team News 14th September, Selections 15th September 1.00pm)
BCC Legal Eagles v Dairy Farm All-Stars (19th September, Team News 14th September, Selections 15th September 1.00pm)
Hoys Toys or The Boys From the Black Stuff v DVLNI (26th September, Team News 21st September, Selections 22nd September 1.00pm)
Spitting Cobras or Royal Boys v Boucher Bankers (26th September, Team News 21st September, Selections 22nd September 1.00pm)
Antrim Golfers or Squinter Loves Trevor v Glenhill Counter Boys (3rd October, Team News 28th September, Selections 29th September 1.00pm)
Short-Strand Doormen or The Bru Crew v BMG Printers (3rd October, 28th September, Selections 29th September 1.00pm)
Rules: If you fail to get your selections in on time, you will face elimination from competition. We have back-up teams ready to take your place if such an event rises.
It’s not the amount of winners you get on the board, it’s all down to the prices your winners amount to. This means you could pick a winning quad and still go out of the competition.
Short Strand Doormen v
The Bru Crew
On to this week’s qualifiers and we begin with the the SHORT STRAND DOORMEN and Andersonstown’s finest the BRU CREW.
The Short Strand punting duo are led by the biggest mouth in South Belfast, big Willie Pollock, who is ably assisted by top punter Gerry Vernon.
I had Willie on to the phone last week with the verbals because they were in the qualifiers – the angry wee man aims to bring the PG Cup to South Belfast for the first time and expects to start off with a winning quad this weekend.
The BRU CREW are led by legendary punter Decky Sturgeon who has gathered a high-class punting team for this year’s assault with Paul Keaney, Peter McKay and Feilim Eagleson all called into the team for the weekend challenge.
“We expect to progress with ease this weekend and hopefully pick up a few quid at the same time,” a confident Decky said.
Short-Strand Doormen: Norwich 8/11, Leeds 1/3, Bury 8/11, Dagenham 2/1. The Bru Crew: Portugal 11/8, Oxford 8/11, Gillingham 11/10, Shrewsbury 11/10.
HOYS TOYS v
Boys from the Blackstuff
Hoys Toys, led by the fearless Paul Donnelly, will hope to make it into the last 16 proper and old handlebar shorts has promised not to promote any of his great ‘back to school’ offers on this page – instead, he says, call in and see him.
He has recruited ex-Royal punter Ray Hughes (he must be stuck) as his team bids for a weekend win and the way these guys are talking they have already won – over-confident?
They take on the Lawell Asphalt punters who certainly know their punting stuff. Led by the punting legend that is Sean ‘Shanto’ Lawell, they hope to take Hoys out but know it’s a tough ask. Sean has snapped up the services of in-the-know punters Michael ‘Lucky Mucker’ McStraw and Kevin ‘Raffo’ Rafferty on free transfers.
Hoys Toys: Leeds 1/3, Bristol Rovers 5/4, MK Dons 6/5, Lincoln 10/11. Boys from the Blackstuff: Leeds, 1/3, Oxford 8/11, Mansfield 6/5, Bournemouth 7/4.
ROYAL BOYS v SPITTING COBRAS
The Royal Boys are back and aim to make this year their year. The once bickering punters have had more fall-outs than Jordan and Peter Andre.
Led by mega-punter Dee ‘the Chief’ Thompson, they go into the weekend game brimming with confidence – the boys really fancy their chances after a winning start to the new season. Dee told the PG: “We have taken chill pills this year and aim for an extended stay in the PG Cup. I have brought in Noel ‘the Mexican’ Marley for stats and new-boy Stephen Reynolds knows his stuff alongside GAA man Martin Miller.
The Spitting Cobras are another experienced PG Cup team, led by big-hitting £1 punter Sean Foster who thinks his new-look team has what it takes to go all the way to the final.
He has called up vastly experienced punters Paul Fay, Charlie Dunlop and Tony McCann for the weekend qualifier and hopes it pays-off.
ROYAL BOYS: Poland 4/7, Leeds 1/3, Carlisle 1/1, Bury 8/11. SPITTING COBRAS: Charlton 4/6, MK Dons 6/5, Glentoran, Portadown.
ANTRIM GOLFERS v
SQUINTER LOVES TREVOR
New boys ANTRIM GOLFERS, led by Paul Lowry, will hope to make it a winning debut against Squinter’s betting outfit, who were taken apart by the the BMG Printers last year.
Paul has included brother Gerard along with pro-punters Pete Devenny and Brendan McParland in his squad and they really fancy their chances this weekend.
Missing from Squinter’s dream team this week are Anthony Neeson and sports editor Conor McLoughlin who are believed to be off playing baccarat in the casinos of Monte Carlo, so he has drafted in new-boy sportsdesk punters David Mohan and Ed McGinley while new boy Scott Jameson will bring much-needed statistical nous to the squad.
ANTRIM GOLFERS: Ireland 4/5, Norwich 8/11, Norway 10/11, Aldershot 10/11. SQUINTER LOVES TREVOR: Mexico 6/4, Egypt 10/11, Bournemouth 7/4, Israel 4/6.
Word reaches the Guide that after a big win last week Squinter went home, told his wife about it and said, “So, pack your things.” His wife replied, “Should I pack for warm weather or cold weather?” He replied, “I don’t care, just get out.”
Copies of that joke can be had from yeoldejokeshoppe.com
what's the odds of a team getting a quad up?
Thursday NAG: Walk On Water