Co-leaders claim home victories in latest fixtures
Report by Mike Crook:
Cue Zone Blinders and Port St Mary Legion kept up their unbeaten home records in the Mann Crane Hire Snooker League and now share top spot.
The Hurricanes 2-3 Finch Hill Mob
The Hurricanes slip off the top spot, whilst the Mob continue to creep into contention, up to fourth. Steve Finnegan (28 break) was their match winner as he inflicted a first defeat of the season on Nialls Wilson, ending his run of eight wins. Peter Kirkham (Mob) hit a 22 in the last, as he remains clear in the high break league but despite a valiant attempt, not enough to overhaul Paul Westhead's 70 start. Frame scores: Rob Cowin 51-63 Alan Heath, Jamie Wilson 72-87 William Hogg, Brandon Forrester 55-47 Lee Hunt, Nialls Wilson 37-72 Steve Finnegan and Paul Westhead 93-73 Peter Kirkham.
David Hill 83-81 Ollie Pickford - Dave, from 42 behind was chasing his tail until the brown where he took a small lead. Seven points ahead on the pink and he went in-off leaving Ollie to pot the pink into the green pocket and get down the table for the black. He couldn't get close enough and stuck the black up for Dave. Alex Kennedy 52-61 David Kelly - Neither grabbed hold of the game, 40-40 on the green and there was only a hair to separate them as Dave finished the black off. Shaun Roberts 67-60 Dale Walker - Two 16 breaks to kick Shaun off saw him catch up the handicap quickly. Once again, another close frame reaching the black at 60-60. After a long cagey exchange, Dale popped the black over the middle pocket for Shaun to tap in. Harry Ellis 46-35 Luca McDermott - Low-scoring affair with both players struggling to get colours. Harry picked up the pace on the colours and took the pink to win the frame. Scott Campion 58-70 Ben Peach - Ben didn’t get off to the best of starts but Scott didn’t punish him, missed pots were to cost Scott. Ben took the pink which was left on by Scott from a failed safety. Ben then finished the black off which was tight to the cushion and from distance.
Dave Pickersgill 63-32 Geoff Hall - Geoff started the better with some great reds but was missing the colours. Three reds left, they were level but Dave had a 15 break to pull ahead and although he tried hard Geoff just couldn't get back into it. Phil Joynes 75-31 Paul Smyth - Paul couldn’t get the 28 start back and had no run. Phil was solid and ran out an easy winner. Andrew Hutchison 56-70 Stuart Sandford - Unlike Geoff and Paul, Stuart didn't find our pockets tight and went into the colours 32 ahead. Andy is tough to shake off and when Stuart hit the blue getting out of a snooker the frame was back on. Getting all the colours to pink, Andy needed the black to tie. Stuart had a chance into the top left hand pocket, he missed but was relieved to see it go off the angles into the yellow pocket! Marc Morley 79-51 Dan Crawley - Dan was chasing 35, but Marc held firm leaving Dan 30 plus behind on the colours. Dan, trying for snookers, fluked the brown and later on put the blue down the cushion with cue ball behind the black. Marc grazed the black with his escape leaving 17 in the frame with 18 on. However, that’s the closest Dan got as Marc took blue and pink. St Olaves were a player short so another good result for PSM Legion.
Calum Gardner 34-74 Mark Quinn - Quinn extended his 49 start to 65 and eased to victory, Calum unable to make much impression. Vic Rigby 85-61 James Goodwin - Jimmy placed his white in the middle pocket half a dozen times helping Vic close in. Vic finishing the frame off nicely. Matt Dodd 39-82 Tony Pring - Tony played very well, at one point a stunned Dodd had only scored one point with Tony on 60. Nothing went Dodd’s way, despite making up some ground, every time he missed he’d leave Tony in again for more. Paul Tangeman 69-33 Tony Cubbon - After finally getting off the mark last week Paul doubled up, playing very well, going back to his old cue seems to be working. Tony didn't really get going but potted a few nice balls. Dave Hanlon 57-17 Alec Oates - Very scrappy for a while with four reds sitting on the black cushion. Dave played good safety, potted well and eventually ran away with it.
This was one of two Cue Zone derbies and what a close start to the match it was! Dave Welsh 58-65 Ross Samuels - This became a black ball fight. Both players had chances but it was Ross that finally put it in the pocket. Matt Monks 59-48 Tony Dhadwal - The second frame was equally tense with Matt Monk (Cue Ballers) taking the pink but still needing the black to win against Tony Dhadwal (Masters). Again both players missed opportunities to end the frame but it was Matt that finally came out on top levelling the scores at 1-1. Kam Virk 69-67 Tommy Clague - Kam (Cue Ballers) was giving Tommy a 56 start. However he potted strongly throughout the frame to win yet another frame on the black. The last two frames were not so closely fought. Alex Sinclair (Cue Ballers) had to give 35 to Jez Hill but Jez played a good tactical game and defended his start to take the win, Alex Sinclair 35-65 Jez Hill. Going into the last frame the scores were tied at 2-2 but strong potting from Ivan McMaw (Masters) over Richard Hillier secured the 3-2 win for the Masters, Richard Hillier 36-60 Ivan McMaw.
Rockets, the defending champions move up to equal seventh after this win and could still mount a challenge, just six points off the pace after their fourth win in ten. Rockets’ Leon Martin hit the highest break in week ten, a modest 29 but he backed it up with 22 in his win, ending Leon Marton 100-21 Chris Lawless. Young Leon continues to improve but spare a thought for Chris, his 21 was his handicap start! Other frame scores: Rodger Clague 46-18 Stephen Berry, Paddy Delaney 34-60 Paul Mackie, Chenji Ratnavel 54-51 Mark Davenport and Marc Bolton (22 break) 67-26 Andy Moore. Bar-barians now sit at the bottom of the league with PSM Strollers.
These two teams were tied in last place going into this. Wannabes took the honours with their fourth win in five. Their win came courtesy of David Callister, Harry Minor on the black and Paul McKinstry in the decider, his 77 start being too much on this occasion for Mike Boyle. Frame scores: Steve Cowin 69-80 Harry Boyle, David Callister 53-18 Max Barnes, Harry Minor 65-62 Ian Brookfield, Michael Creer 19-67 Gary Ellison and Paul McKinstry 87-42 Mike Boyle.
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