Snooker: St Olave's take maximum points to go top

Hurricanes also take big win to move into second

Report by Mike Crook:

St Olave’s are the new leaders of the Mann Crane Hire Snooker League after their 5-0 victory over the Wannabes in week five which included four frames settled on the black. 

The Hurricanes, now second, also won by the same scoreline, theirs a much more convincing win against a disappointing Cue Ballers.

St Olave's 5-0 DSB Wannabes

Paul Smyth 118-111 Steve Cowin - Smyth, chasing 98 didn’t help himself by cannoning in the black early on! Somehow he managed to turn it around with a 24 and then, needing everything from the last three reds, he produced a top drawer break of 35, just failing on the black for the clearance. Cowin was left a tricky shot with the rest, missed and Smyth finished with a longish black to the green bag. Dave Kelly 71-64 David Callister - Kelly won in 20 minutes last week, this took 70 before he put the onlookers out of their misery. Geoff Hall 69-56 Dave Corris - The third match that went to the black. Hall charitably missing the pink completely when attempting to dolly it over a bag with Corris needing a snooker. Lucky for him, Corris left the black hanging. Stuart Sandford 61-25 Michael Creer - Sandford, without being his best was always doing enough, Creer conceding on the green, the only frame on the night that wasn’t a final ball affair. Dan Crawley 106-99 Paul McKinstry - Crawley eventually overturned an 84 start with assured breaks of 24 and 30. McKinstry never gave up and when he cracked in a full length pink, cueing off the cushion it looked like Wannabes may avoid the whitewash. However, the black went to Crawley with a controlled cross double to the middle.  

The Cue Ballers 0-5 The Hurricanes

Report by Lee Gale:

An abysmal performance from the Cue Ballers this week, literally blown away by the Hurricanes! Rob Cowin remains unbeaten but Jamie Wilson’s 43 was the highlight of the night. Ste MacDonald fought back to win a black ball game that Alex Sinclair virtually had in the bag. Nialls Wilson potted very well and didn’t miss much and Brandon Forrester with a 20 break defeated Lee Gale who had ample chances to win. Well done to the Hurricanes, more practice needed for the Cue Ballers otherwise the only thing they will be winning is the wooden spoon! Frame scores: Matt Monks 23-49 Rob Cowin, Dave Welsh 12-76 Jamie Wilson, Alex Sinclair 55-58 Ste MacDonald, Kam Virk 13-57 Nialls Wilson and Lee Gale 30-55 Brandon Forrester.

Malew 2-3 Cue Zone Blinders

Report by Alec Oates:

James Goodwin 70-50 Harry Ellis - It might have been bonfire night, but there were no fireworks here. Both players found pots hard to come by. Between the pair there were seven fouls on the brown! Jimmy doubled the pink ending Harry’s quest for a snooker. Mark Quinn 54-59 Shaun Roberts - Shaun came from way back to take the lead with two balls remaining. Mark potted a lovely pink with the rest to leave himself just off straight on the black which was on its spot. His shot didn't threaten the pocket and he left Shaun a half chance into a middle bag, job done. Tony Pring 58-65 David Hill - Tony, starting 42 up, hung on to the lead until Dave potted the last five colours to force a re-spot. Dave won the toss and invited Tony to have a shot. He left the black far from easy but Dave stepped up to the plate and slotted it in the green pocket. Tony Cubbon 80-55 Alex Kennedy - Tony's greater experience shone through, though Kennedy did make a few nice pots. With three reds left, Tony made a break of 15 and he potted all the colours, including a 22 break for the win. Alec Oates 31-42 Scott Campion - If a film was made of this frame, I think most of it would be left on the cutting room floor. I know that Scott would agree! It was as if we were trying not to lose instead of win. In the end it came down to a blue ball game. I was seven points in front with the pink and black in good potting positions. Scott knocked the blue very close to the yellow pocket. We both missed decent chances to pot it from distance, another miss from me and it landed not far from the pink and black. All Scott had to do was just to make no mistakes, he didn’t. Blinders are now five wins from five.

Port St Mary Legion 3-2 Finch Hill Rockets

Report by Terry Boyle:

Marc Morley 51-45 Leon Martin - Leon settled quicker and nearly had the frame won when playing for position for the yellow off a final colour. The pink stayed up and Marc hit a purple patch with yellow, green, brown and blue but in potting a very tricky pink he followed it in. Leon missed it off the spot, then Marc doubled it followed by a brilliant black to steal the frame. Phil Joynes 65-37 Paddy Delaney - A good start from both, Paddy potted a red with tight position on the black and in going for it clipped a red. Phil cashed in and Paddy never really recovered. Andrew Hutchison 68-27 John Spellman - With a 28 start Andy started well and was soon 40 ahead. The main colours were all safe and John had a mountain to climb. Dave Pickersgill 53-73 Rodger Clague - Tough task for Dave giving a 28 start away and Roger matched him all the way to the last red. 33 behind, Dave took the last red but agonisingly the black stayed in the jaws and it would appear game over. But Dave got two good snookers and with all the colours in the open had a good chance for another steal. However he missed a tricky blue and Roger doubled it for frame. Terry Boyle 42-67 Marc Bolton - Knowing Marc's ability I was disappointed to be giving him a 14 start, he then had a 22 break and I was in real trouble! I battled on and five balls left was just seven behind. However, I completely missed the green, hitting the pink and my race was run, Mark potting well for the win. At 3-0 we were looking good but the Rockets fought hard for their two frames. 

Snooker Bar-barians 4-1 Finch Hill Musicians

Report by Matt Dodd:

Musicians' three-match run of wins ended despite a good start, frame one ending Gary Williams 19-55 Pat Maher. Frame two was settled on the black, Chris Lawless 55-45 Vic Rigby. Chris Reynolds 47-22 Vinny Dale - Chris played very well but Vinny did have his chances. Andy Moore 90-49 Calum Gardner - Chasing 42, Callum couldn't get used to the table and control the white. Mark Davenport 53-45 Paul Tangeman - Paul was leading but is still looking for a first win, Mark taking this on the pink. 

Cue Zone Masters 4-1 Port St Mary Strollers

A fourth 4-1 defeat in five outings for the Strollers but I’m sure they’ll be more competitive once their handicaps are adjusted and get a change in luck. The fact that they achieved 147 points, between them, will be no consolation! Ian Brookfield actually put the Strollers ahead and Harry Boyle narrowly lost frame two, but the remaining frames weren’t close. Masters go joint third. Frame scores: Martin Rigg 30-59 Ian Brookfield, Brendan Clague 42-33 Harry Boyle, Jez Hill 49-9 Max Barnes, Ivan McMaw 95-16 Mike Boyle and Les Briggs 70-30 Garey Ellison. 

Finch Hill Mob 3-2 The Miscues

The Miscues looked set for a second win of the season after Ben Peach and Ollie Pickford held on to their starts to go 2-1 up. However, the Mob’s Peter Kirkham (21 break) and Jonny Hogg were both successful in chasing 63 from the break-off to turn the match for the home team. Frame scores: Alan Heath 48-25 Mark Corlett, Steve Finnegan 55-90 Ben Peach, Lee Hunt 54-78 Ollie Pickford, Peter Kirkham 100-73 David Kelly and Jonny Hogg 85-68 Luca McDermott. 

Kirkham stays top of the individual league alongside Rodger Clague (Rockets) and James Goodwin (Malew), all with 5 wins.