Snooker: Rockets one result away from league crown

But race could still go to final day showdown

Report by Mike Crook:

Finch Hill Rockets had a bye this week, but could be crowned Manx Car Store Snooker League champions next week, after Cue Zone Blinders were unable to make significant inroads into the Rockets seven-point lead. 

Rockets will claim the title if they achieve a better result than the Blinders in the penultimate week’s fixtures. 

Should the Rockets fail to get a better result, then the title race will go to the final week where the Rockets play host to the Blinders!

Port St Mary Legion 3-2 Cue Zone Blinders

Report by Terry Boyle:

Marc Morley 39-70 David Hill - A very open, ten minute frame, both players potting teen breaks, but just when it looked like a decent break was on they both missed! It’s fair to say Dave had more of the run but potted well on the colours to close out the frame. Phil Joynes 64-36 Brandon Forrester - Phil started the better and with three reds left was 26 ahead. Brandon got back into it with a 20 break but missed the yellow, Phil took yellow to blue for frame. Dave Pickersgill 42-68 Conor Mahon - Close frame, four balls left and Conor missed the brown into the yellow pocket, the white was going in but was stopped by the brown which ended up close to a pocket. Dave considered things for a while before attempting the very thin cut. The brown stayed over the hole and Conor cleared the remaining balls for a 22 break. Andrew Hutchison 50-41 Scott Campion - Andy hung on to his 14 start as Scott missed too many colours. Scott took the last red with black, also yellow and green to go six behind. But a safety shot on the brown went wrong and Andy took it with a good blue. Needing a snooker, Scott potted the pink by mistake. Terry Boyle 119-81 Darryl Hill - Fair to say Darryl didn't have his ‘A game’. I got the run, but with two reds left Darryl could still take the frame with high colours. He tried a tough red along the top cushion which rattled and went safe, the other red was glued to the cushion and I potted it with a black. Then, just playing safe off the last red I got extremely lucky to see the cue ball nestle up to the yellow. Darryl didn't escape and moments later left it over the middle for an easy red and blue for me. Darryl played on for a few snookers, some were successful but it was a forlorn chase and the handshake was offered. After getting hammered by the Blinders on Friday this win was a pleasant surprise and means we have a league double over them this season.

The Hurricanes 3-2 Finch Hill Musicians 'A'

All close frames here apart from the opener. Nialls Wilson producing a 55 break, the equal seventh highest in the league this season, not bad for a 35 handicapper! Frame scores: Nialls Wilson 79-16 Mike Doherty, Darran Creer 93-100 Sean Rolt, Jamie Wilson (24 break) 57-46 Simon Gardner, Ste MacDonald 63-55 Peter Collister and Steve Munk 47-63 Vinny Dale. Musicians ‘A’ have a bye in the final week of the season, ending their campaign against the league leaders Rockets next week.

Finch Hill Mob 1-4 Finch Hill Musicians 'B'

Any chance the Mob had of sneaking into runners up spot vanished after this, as they too have just one game to play. Jonny Hogg was the home team’s only winner, taking his seventh win in eight and earned himself a handicap cut to seven, his all-time low. Frame scores: William Hogg 39-58 Pat Maher, Jonny Hogg 58-26 Dave Hanlon, Lee Hunt 58-68 Matthew Dodd, Steve Finnegan 47-58 Noel McConville and Peter Kirkham 68-98 Vic Rigby.

St Olave's 3-2 Snooker Bar-barians

Anthony Bayle 49-73 Chris Lawless - A good full length blue with pink to finish from Lawless. Paul Smyth 105-79 Andy Moore - Multiple small breaks from Smyth with Moore limited to just a few pots. Smyth guarantees himself at least a share of the individual league with 16 wins and just five losses this season. Geoff Hall 33-77 Mark Davenport - Davenport is finishing the season well and gained revenge for a defeat to the old maestro earlier in December. Mike Crook 61-55 Stephen Berry - With 80% of the luck Crook proved you can win however badly you’re playing. Case in point, when rolling the final pink to middle he left it hanging but the white trickled on, ending tucked behind the black. Dan Crawley 85-50 Neil Birchenough - Crawley caught the handicap but couldn’t shake off Birchenough. Crawley eventually taking frame and match with a long straight blue, then cracked in pink and black for his fans.

Cue Zone Masters 5-0 DSB Wannabes

Report by Martin Rigg:

For the second week running, Wannabes drew a blank. Martin Rigg 93-74 David Callister - A 21 break helped Martin close the handicap gap fairly quickly. A thin cut on the blue would’ve finished the game but the white, rebounding off the cushion put the pink in too!  An opportunity for David but a few shots later and it was all over. Ivan McMaw 57-37 Dave Corris - A close frame that went down to the pink. Darran Leadley 87-61 Steve Cowin - Darran was struggling with the first few shots, a result of a new tip. A change of cue and he began to reduce Steve’s handicap start. Level after the reds and Darran was able to go on to win. Les Briggs 54-42 Paul McKinstry - All level by the green, Les was able to take the last colours and get the win. Brendan Clague 49-44 Harry Minor - With a handicap difference of just seven this was the closest match of the night. Brendan took an early lead but Harry came back to level it by the colours. A good brown and blue by Harry but he left the pink over the pocket. An easy pink followed by a good pressure shot on the black gave Brendan the win and a great 5-0 win for the Masters. 

Malew 3-2 The Miscues

Report by Alec Oates