SNOOKER: Blinders sit top of league table

Report by Mike Crook

It’s rare that Wannabes have anything to celebrate but surely winning three weeks in a row for the first time since December 2016 is worth a shandy or two? Meanwhile at the business end of the league, Blinders came from behind to win the week’s top of the table clash in the Mac’s Builders Merchants snooker league.

Cue Zone Blinders 3-2 Finch Hill Reprobates

By Scott Campion

Scott Campion 61-68 Rob Callister 

A good start from Scott was followed up by Rob with a teen break to catch up the 28 point lead. He then edged ahead with a well constructed 20 break. A series of fouls on the blue for both players left Scott down by 9, having potted blue and pink, he over hit his safety on the black leaving Rob to take the opener.

Conor Mahon 55-53 Chris Brown

Early mistakes from Chris were punished to extend Conor’s 14 point advantage. Conor stayed in control for the most part but his lead was down to 10 on the brown. Chris took brown to pink and set up the 2nd black ball game of the evening. A good exchange of safety followed and Conor picked off an excellent long pot to win it.

Nick Stephens 30-53 Rhys Moore

A very cagey affair with both players preferring safety early on, but it was Rhys who edged ahead. It stayed close all the way to the colours where Rhys doubled the blue to leave Nick requiring snookers. Rhys dispatched a long pink to seal the frame. Darryl Hill 91-78 Paul Tangeman Darryl, having to make up the 70 start did so expertly with multiple teen breaks. Paul fought hard to try and slow him, but his lead was down to a single point on the brown and Darryl seemed favourite. Paul took brown and after a brief exchange, Darryl cleared from the blue. Calum Gardner 70-34 Dollin Mercer Calum extended his 14 point handicap early on and remained steady throughout. A game with two young attacking players promised a lively match, but with no breaks of note and more reserved play it was Calum who edged it on the colours.

Peel Legion 3-2 The Hurricanes 

12th placed Peel put a small dent in Hurricanes title ambitions.

Tom Randall 59-79 Paul Smith

This was Randall’s Peel debut, he had some decent reds and good safety but the vast experience of his opponent won out.

Don Humphries 76-15 Shaun Roberts

A resurgent Humphries soon built on his 21 start and as much as Roberts tried to claw it back he kept feeding more chances to his opponent.

John Kelly 59-22 Gary Conwell

Conwell kept missing colours and needing the last six balls to tie, took yellow and green but left a long brown which Kelly cut in.

Geoff Hall 71-68 Jamie Wilson

Wilson made a good job of closing the 42 start but then Hall cashed in on a few misses. Needing the last four balls, Wilson cleared nicely to the black, including a lovely pink all along the bottom cushion. Sadly for him, the cueball ended tight on the side and his attempt on the black rattled and Hall finished it off.

Dave McCallum 37-56 Steve Munk

Munk should have registered an entry in the high break league but missed a pink to middle on 17. McCallum got a required snooker on the final blue to be able to tie, but Munk doubled the pink for the win. 

Jacksons 5-0 St Olaves

5-0 results aren’t that common, but now Jacksons have been involved in four this season, being on the right end three times. The first three frames all went to the black, scores: Alex Sinclair 60-51 Paul Smyth (23), Dave Welsh (20) 48-40 Dave Kelly, Lee Gale 66-57 Travis Bignell, Richard Hillier 99-40 James Kerr (22) and Kam Virk 75-35 Dan Crawley. Gale’s win puts him top of the individual league on count back and Jacksons go second with a game in hand on the Blinders.

Finch Hill Musicians 3-2 Cue Zone Masters

Another week another 3-2 loss for the Masters, their 9th such score on the spin. Mid table obscurity beckons for these two teams unless they can string some big results together soon. Frame scores: Pat Maher 53-44 Alan Heath, Martin Rigby 53-32 David Kelly, Vic Rigby 29-39 Jez Hill, Zain Abideen 72-48 Paul Russell and Dave Hanlon 56-69 Martin Rigg.

Finch Hill Mob 3-2 Malew

By Peter Crellin

Tom Miller 87-63 Mark Quinn 

Postie didn't really have a chance against an in form Tom. A 48 break from him was made with the black out of play and he also struck a 30 for good measure.

Peter Crellin 97-61 Tony Cubbon

Peter was solid against Tony who missed a couple to start.  Breaks of 29 and 32 put Peter ahead and he won on the blue, restricting Cubbon to just 5 points to add to his start. Crellin goes second in the high break league, behind Tom.

Lee Hunt 88-97 James Goodwin

Somehow Blade got into the frame even though he missed more than he potted. After making his first 20 of the season he turned down the final black. A couple of safeties later he stuck the black up over the middle and Jimmy claimed the win.

Steve Finnegan 72-56 Tony Pring

A really tight frame until Finn had a disgusting fluke on the yellow which gave him position on the green, the rest of his 30 break was Finn at his best.

Peter Kirkham 82-84 Alec Oates

Peter missed a few at the start and this gave Alec total control. Peter did start knocking a few in and courtesy of a 31 could still win on the colours. Down to black we would go and Peter had first chance and missed allowing Alec the winning chance. 3-2 to the Mob which easily could have been maximum points on a night where all of their players made at least one 20+ break.

Douglas Snooker Bar Wannabes 3-2 Port St Mary Legion

By Terry Boyle

Steve Cowin 75-84 Marc Morley 

Perhaps Morley was a bit lucky to edge this on the black but he played well enough and hit a 24 break.

Jason Campbell 68-42 Matthew Astill

Campbell just about held on to his start but Matty had a chance when Campbell potted a good brown only to go in-off. That was Campbell’s last mistake and he potted well to take the last few colours.

Fred Corris 69-51 Phil Joynes

Phil tried hard to get the start back and was two points behind going to the colours. But Fred, as he often does showed his experience, never gave Phil a sniff with good safety and potting to close out a close frame.

Paul McKinstry 73-59 Terry Boyle

Paul potted the first three reds with two blues and a brown and with his start was over 50 up. With two reds left Terry had cut the lead to just 6 but Paul potted a good red and pink and Terry was chasing again.

Eventually Paul potted a good pink for frame and match.

Dave Corris 53-62 Mike Boyle

Another close one, Mike got a 20 break to more or less get the start back. Going on to the colours Dave took yellow and green and was 6 ahead, Mike took brown and with pink over the middle pocket it became a blue ball frame. A few good safety shots before Dave got a double kiss allowing Mike to take blue and pink. 3-2 to the Wannabes and great to see the venue busy with so many youngsters playing snooker and pool.

Top league standings

Blinders 49 points, Jacksons 46, Hurricanes and Reprobates 44. Individual league: Lee Gale and Shaun Roberts 12 wins, Dollin Mercer, Scott Campion and Brendan Clague 11. High break league: Tom Miller 38.5 points, Peter Crellin 34 and Darryl Hill 31.5. Next week’s matches are: Masters vs Mob, Reprobates vs Jacksons, Malew vs Wannabes, PSM Legion vs Peel Legion, St Olaves vs Rockets and Hurricanes vs Blinders.