Finch Hill Mob move up to joint-second with big win
Report by Mike Crook:
There were defeats for the top two teams in week 18 of the Mac’s Builders Merchants Snooker League, meanwhile Finch Hill Mob moved up three places to equal second after whitewashing Cue Zone Masters.
Defeat for the leaders against equal third-placed Hurricanes. Hurricanes twice held the lead, each time Blinders levelling even with Conor Mahon playing off seven points lower than he should. Scores, Jamie Wilson 78-71 Darryl Hill, Shaun Roberts 34-59 Conor Mahon, Ste MacDonald 75-31 Scott Campion and Paul Smith 30-57 Brandon Forrester. Steve Munk and Calum Gardner played out the decider, neither had a great game but Steve had the run of the balls and potted the pink to win frame and match, 66-57.
Second-placed Jacksons were just two points ahead of their opponents before play started. Andy Taubman 52-26 Alex Sinclair - A 14 point start for Taubman, paired with some fantastic long potting made it difficult for Sinclair to make up the ground with Taubman taking the game on the colours. Rob Callister 78-67 Mike Reddington - Callister made heavy going of catching up with Reddington’s lead, but had caught up with several reds still on the table to carry on for the win, Reddington being short of luck. Dollin Mercer 32-90 Kam Virk - The performance of the night from Virk, a potting machine that left Mercer needing several snookers with four reds still left on the table. The lead was out beyond 80 before Mercer potted most of the colours for a bit of practice given how little he got to play during the rest of the frame. Rhys Moore 61-24 Lee Gale - A nervy start by Gale allowed Moore to make the most of the initial chances and some bad luck meant Gale was never left with much. Paul Tangeman 15-53 Richard Hillier - The scoreline doesn’t entirely reflect the match as it was only a couple of points between the players until the last couple of reds. At this point Hillier found the extra gear and some good safety to take the win on the blue.
Cue Zone Masters 0-5 Finch Hill Mob
The end of the Masters’ nine week 3-2 losing streak, but not the way they’d want it to end. Masters shared top spot after week ten but are now 13 points off the pace. The Mob narrowly missed out on maximum points last week but managed it this time though they had to rely on Peter Kirkham getting four snookers to beat Jez Hill in frame three. Scores: Tommy Clague 31-74 Steve Finnegan, Brendan Clague 70-92 Peter Crellin (24, 22), Jez Hill 97-106 Peter Kirkham, Ivan McMaw 76-79 Tom Miller (22) and Martin Rigg 41-90 Lee Hunt.
Dave Kelly 54-56 Marek - Kenny Marek made more of his chances closing the gap. A battle ensued through the colours down to a black ball fight. Both players kept it safe for a good few shots until it bounced a tad too far off the bottom cushion, Marek confidently ended it with a difficult cut at distance into the corner. Paul Smyth 55-65 Jonny Hogg - After Paul made early inroads, Johnny opened up again, constantly staying around 20 in front. Paul laid some tasty snookers, some were hit and some missed but Johnny continued to pick Paul off for the win. Travis Bignell 58-23 Graham Ashton - It was Big Nelly who pushed slightly ahead early with more solid potting. More good safety and single or double pots left Graham needing snookers. James Kerr 59-95 Paddy Delaney - Boxing fan Paddy came out punching extending his 42 start. James potted a few but it wasn't enough as Paddy more or less did damage with every chance he was presented with, including a well crafted 24 for a strong win. Dan Crawley 76-73 Doug Kinrade - Both started well but Dan took more colours and caught up quickly. Doug needed a snooker on the blue. He laid a tough one, leaving the blue right over the middle pocket and white tight behind the pink on side cushion, so tight that Dan could only go off the baulk cushion to try and hit it off two cushions with side, knowing if he missed it was probably game to Doug. But with the right amount of side and power Dan played the shot of the night, potting the blue to the applause of spectators.
Marc Morley 25-57 Don Humphries - Morley was the latest victim of the improving Humphries who had luck on his side again. He was lucky to snooker Morley after a botched safety on the final green, Morley missed and the Peel veteran quickly put it beyond doubt. Phil Joynes 22-73 Tom Randall - Nothing went Joynes way chasing 42, constantly failing to gain position on the colours, then in-offs as well, one after potting a tremendous red off the blue spot cueing from the baulk cushion. A first win of many for Randall with his new team hopefully. Dave Pickersgill 84-44 Barton Beaumont - Pickersgill had the 21 start covered in a flash with a break of 24, all blacks and followed up with another long red and black. Although his form then dropped a bit there was only ever going to be one winner. Terry Boyle 62-38 John Kelly - Two pinks bouncing out of the middle bags cost Kelly who does like to hit them on the firm side. Boyle made some difficult pots look easy including a black cueing off the side cushion. Kelly left frame ball blue hanging for Boyle who then dropped in the pink the length of the table dead weight. Mike Boyle 44-72 Geoff Hall - It looked like Boyle jnr would complete the comeback as he closed in on Hall’s 28 start. He hit some cracking pots but Hall then hit a real purple patch. Matching Boyle with safety and hitting a series of long pots. Hall’s positional play isn’t the best but it didn’t matter. 25 behind on the last red, Boyle laid a snooker behind the green but the red rolled on and on trickling into a corner bag. Boyle had a swipe at the green and somehow the cueball left Hall angled in a corner bag. A foul followed, but Hall predictably potted a long yellow. Boyle then had shot of the night, cueing from the jaws, powering in a long green diagonally. But when Boyle left a long match ball brown tempter for Hall he was resigned to his fate, Hall duly rolled it in plus the blue and the handshake came.
Malew 3-2 DSB Wannabes
Report by Dave Quinn:
Alec Oates 86-82 Steve Cowin - Oates produced a rare feat in his game, potting a red from his own break-off and proceeding to make a 22 break before his opponent even got to the table. He went on to win on the black. Tony Pring 36-54 Jason Campbell - Campbell potted some good balls to beat his much more experienced rival. Mark Quinn 61-55 Fred Corris - Neither player scored freely but Postie finally potted the final black into the middle pocket to put Malew ahead. Tony Cubbon 20-75 Paul McKinstry - A fine performance from McKinstry, totally out-potting Cubbon and was in total command with Cubbon conceding with one red remaining. Jimmy Goodwin and Dave Corris played out the decider, Corris fought back from starting 42 behind, but in a frame of two halves Goodwin then started potting well and held on to win, 82-64. The end of Wannabes winning run but they ran Malew very close.
Jacksons - 48 points
Finch Hill Mob - 48 points
The Hurricanes - 47 points
Finch Hill Reprobates - 47 points
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