But chasing teams remain in contention in closing stages
Report by Mike Crook:
Cue Zone Blinders increased their lead to four points in the Mac’s Builders Merchants snooker league with an away win at DSB Wannabes. They only have one match to play and if results go the right way could take the title next week at home to Peel Legion, whereas the chasing pack all have two matches left, so it’s still all to play for.
Steve Cowin 52-88 Nick Stephens - Stephens already had the upper hand with a 24 break before Cowin joined a select group of players to have lost a frame via the three miss rule which happened on the final green. David Callister 60-76 Conor Mahon was the closest frame of the night but put Blinders two up. Jason Campbell 72-23 Stephen Proctor - another good frame from Campbell, who has five wins from his last six and picked up Wannabes sole point. James Teare 56-95 Scott Campion (27 break) and Paul McKinstry 76-98 Calum Gardner (35) wrapped up the all important victory.
Peter Kirkham 82-70 Dave Welsh - Peter, solid but unspectacular, a few nice pots but no breaks. David had chances on the colours but unfortunately missed frame ball pink. Tom Miller 115-64 Alex Sinclair - after messing up three really good chances for big breaks, Tom finally took his fourth and made 53 and then 22. Alex really didn't get a look in. Lee Hunt 32-58 Lee Gale - Blade (Hunt) was blunted by Lee. Blade missed too many and Lee was always in control. Peter Crellin 74-90 Richard Hillier - Richard potted some really good pressure balls at vital times. Peter struggled but had a chance on the colours but butchered the pink. Steve Finnegan 71-60 Kam Virk - nip and tuck all the way with both players having chances. It went to the black where Kam played a decent looking safety but left Finn a very thin black which he potted. League hopes probably gone for the Mob due to other results but Jacksons still in the hunt.
Matthew Astill 67-79 Shaun Roberts - chasing the 42 start Shaun had a 21 break and was playing well, however a dogged Matty stayed in the frame with some good pots down to the colours. Shaun needed one of the last four balls, Matty got brown then Shaun potted a good blue but snookered himself on the pink. He missed the pink which and Matty potted and then rattled the black which Shaun potted. Phil Joynes 21-78 Ste MacDonald - Steve was always in control with a 25 break early on, he potted very well and Phil retired early. Dave Pickersgill 9-56 Gary Conwell - the score says it all, a polished display from Gary, highlight being a 35 break. Dave could only watch a superb performance. Terry Boyle 83-91 Jamie Wilson - a close game between the captains. Terry’s safety was poor at the start and Jamie took advantage with an excellent 47 break after which the frame got a little bogged down. With two reds left Jamie went for a double, leaving Terry a red and black and Jamie was left snookered. Jamie missed and left a free ball which Terry failed to take advantage of. Hitting the last red Jamie unfortunately potted the brown and going to the colours Terry was one point ahead. Jamie got yellow and green and a few good snookers on the brown, some played for and some apologised for. Terry needed the last four colours, potted brown and blue, a couple of safety shots before Terry’s chance with pink and black over the bottom right hand pocket. With awkward cueing he rolled the pink in leaving a difficult black into the green pocket, it looked in all the way but unfortunately nestled in the jaws, frame over. Mike Boyle 19-60 Steve Munk - Steve always in the ascendancy, some great long pots and good safety, he never left Mike a sniff. 5-0 to the Hurricanes, two black ball frames but in truth they were brilliant on the night, the league is very close but on this form Hurricanes will take some beating.
Almost certainly the end of Reprobates challenge as they went down to Malew who have been as consistent as any team of late. Postie didn’t even need the black to win this week against Dollin Mercer, one more win and he’ll be down to a handicap of 14! Tony Cubbon hit a 25 break in frame four to win the match. An in-form Paul Tangeman pulled a frame back for Reprobates to take the last convincingly. Scores: James Goodwin 66-26 Andy Taubman; Mark Quinn 72-48 Dollin Mercer; Tony Pring 65-75 Rob Callister; Tony Cubbon 61-24 Chris Brown; Alec Oates 20-75 Paul Tangeman.
Finch Hill Rockets 2-3 Finch Hill Musicians
John Kennish 15-115 Marek Kenny - not Kennish’s night, a 63 start to Kenny who played pretty well and the couple of chances Kennish had to get in didn’t work out. Mike Doherty 83-60 John Spellman - Spellman donated 30 points to Doherty which included four very unforeseeable in-offs. He did pull back from 40 behind and could nick it with pink and black. He potted a good pink to leave a potentially easy black but went in-off allowing Doherty to pinch it. Pat Maher 19-71 Graham Ashton - extremely one sided, where Pat missing the pack off the break set the tone. Ashton was on form for a change and scored heavily as Pat left chance after chance. All reds were gone before Pat made his first pot, the yellow. Matthew Dodd 70-28 Ken Kinrade - Dodd has not lost since he went back to his old cue and although Kinrade halved a 42 deficit, Dodd took green, brown and blue to seal it. The decider ended Dave Hanlon 30-56 Sean Murphy to leave both teams firmly mid-table.
Just pride to play for with both teams starting tied in 11th. Sadly the draw didn’t pitch the David Kelly’s from each team against each other which would’ve been a novelty. Dan Crawley took the decider to stay in contention for the individual league. Frame scores: Jez Hill 46-17 Dave Kelly; Brendan Clague 75-76 Paul Smyth; David Kelly 42-68 Travis Bignell; Ivan McMaw 40-70 Dan Crawley.
Hurricanes - 63 points
Jacksons - 62 points
Finch Hill Mob - 60 points
Lee Gale - 15 wins
Scott Campion - 14 wins
Dan Crawley - 14 wins
Tom Miller - 14 wins
Tony Cubbon - 14 wins
High Break League Standings
Peter Crellin - 40 points
Darryl Hill - 36.5 points
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