Mike Boyle sets new league record for Port St Mary Strollers
Report by Mike Crook:
Maximum points for the Hurricanes and a slip from Port St Mary Legion leaves them tied at the top with three weeks of the Mann Crane Hire Snooker League remaining.
The title looks set to go to the final week with just the Cue Zone Blinders and Cue Zone Masters realistic threats to the leaders.
Meanwhile, Mike Boyle of Port St Mary Strollers set a new record.
St Olave’s denied the Legion a tenth successive win, perhaps no surprise as they’d only won once ‘up north’ in their last nine visits. Paul Smyth 90-70 Marc Morley - Morley needed two snookers on the pink, Smyth miscued off the cushion to give one, then Morley played the white off four cushions to tuck Smyth up behind the black, a perfect shot. Smyth made it look easy as he escaped using both side cushions. Dave Kelly 61-67 Phil Joynes - Kelly had never beaten Joynes, but when he took green, brown and blue he just needed the pink. He missed, but was happy enough where he left the balls, white near a corner and pink mid-table. However, this was no problem to Joynes as he nonchalantly knocked it in then the black with the rest. Kelly’s wait continues. Geoff Hall 76-42 Andrew Hutchison - A good result for Hall conceding a 14 start here. Hutchison needed two snookers on the blue and although Hall donated one with a silly in-off, he deservedly won. Stuart Sandford 22-70 Terry Boyle - An off-day for Sandford, Boyle playing good safety and constantly collecting big colours after reds. Mike Doherty 80-58 Dave Pickersgill - An expensive night for Doherty, having first piled his 20ps into the wrong light meter, then this frame just didn’t want to end. The match was seemingly won with Doherty 29 up on the yellow, but an in-off and a few snookers gave him 20 minutes of turmoil before he finally put it beyond doubt with the pink.
Ollie Pickford 75-18 Conor Mahon - Ollie bagged a few reds with colours to increase his lead. Conor missed a couple of opportunities, Ollie winning the frame relatively comfortably, reflective of his resultant handicap cut. Rob Dolby 34-56 Harry Ellis - Harry started the stronger and soon began to close the gap. Rob missed a couple of important blacks and Harry laid a few crucial snookers to take the lead towards the end, following with pink for frame. Kelvin Revere 74-37 Shaun Roberts - Both players produced some excellent potting early on, Shaun hitting a 23 break to close the gap significantly. Kelvin replied with an impressive frame winning 26, finishing on the pink, the first time a player from the Miscues has achieved a 20+ break in the league, a well deserved feat for some impressive potting. Dale Walker 105-40 Dollin Mercer - Dale added to his 70 point handicap with some crucial pots. With one red left, Dollin changed his tactics and began executing snookers to close the gap, adding pressure to Dale despite a large lead. Dale made the last red but Dollin continued his snooker barrage and managed to find around six snookers to close the gap. Dale eventually followed with the yellow and green to end Dollin’s spirited fight. Ben Peach 76-84 Nick Stephens - Nick hit a 20 break mid-frame to close the gap. Towards the latter stages, both players were unlucky as the tide turned back and forth. Ben hit an impressive long blue but Nick followed up with an equally good cut shot on the pink for frame.
Hurricanes put last week’s defeat behind them with maximum points, ending the Mob’s title hopes in the process. Black ball wins in frames two and four, the former was of a very good standard, containing four 20+ breaks. Ex-Hurricane, Paul Smith was no match for Jamie Wilson in the last, failing to capitalise on his chances, Wilson with the final red plus colour brought proceedings to an end. Frame scores: Steve Finnegan 31-78 Rob Cowin, Peter Kirkham (24, 20) 78-81 Nialls Wilson (20 30), Alan Heath 37-72 Brandon Forrester, Lee Hunt 45-48 Paul Westhead and Paul Smith 30-75 Jamie Wilson.
Alec Oates 115-111 John Kennish - Two failed attempts to return to baulk from me allowed John to make a 29 and 32, reducing my 77 start. By the colours there were only a few points in it. John left the brown over a middle pocket, but covered by the pink and black. The question was do I try to come off the corner of the pocket or play off the baulk cushion? I decided on the latter and managed to pot the brown. The blue followed and John now needed a snooker, after a couple of attempts he missed the pink and that was it. Mark Quinn 26-44 Matt Dodd - Mark would admit he didn't play very well, Matt gaining encouragement to play some good pots and deservedly take this low scoring frame. Tony Cubbon 54-49 Paul Tangeman - Close early on with Tony just edging it, but Paul was 17 points in front when they were down to the brown. Tony then produced a break of 22 to win on the black. Tony Pring 63-50 Simon Gardner - A little while before a ball was potted, but this was one of Tony's best games this season. Although it was close near at the end he was a worthy winner. James Goodwin 70-29 Vic Rigby - Jimmy potted some very good balls but he did make some horrific errors too! Perhaps Vic was shocked to see some of the pots going in which added to Jimmy’s 42 start caused his own game to suffer.
Cue Zone Masters 3-2 The Cue Ballers
Report by Martin Rigg and Tommy Clague:
Ivan McMaw 50-54 Dave Welsh - Two closely-rated players, Ivan nudged ahead but Dave kept his cool and stayed within a few points. The game turned as they got down to the colours, Ivan rattled the yellow, leaving it on and Dave cleared them all to clinch it with a 27 break. Martin Rigg 25-73 Richard Hillier - Martin took a couple of nice reds at the start but struggled with position for colours. Richard was too good and with a long pot on the last red, it was game over. Peter Stephens 67-51 Alex Sinclair - A good game with both players potting well. Peter held on to enough of his start and Alex conceded on the pink. Jez Hill 84-29 Kam Virk - Some solid potting by Jez meant that Kam was needing snookers before the colours. Kam battled on, Jez with a 22 break making a nice clearance. Tommy Clague 95-90 Lee Gale - A 28 break mid-frame in the decider helped Lee gain some momentum and by the brown the frame was pretty much level. It ended with Tommy eventually taking a good black to complete a Masters’ comeback. Well done Tommy, unlucky Lee.
Performance of the week was undoubtedly from Mike Boyle, he set a new league record in successfully chasing Steve Cowin’s 112 point start in frame three. An early 52 break was followed by a 22, then a 25 clearance to steal the frame on the black 126-123, some achievement! Mike described it as a ‘tough frame’. Other scores: Max Barnes 38-58 David Callister, Ian Brookfield (25) 88-50 Dave Corris, Harry Boyle 42-69 Harry Minor and Garey Ellison 65-26 Michael Creer.
Certainly no jeopardy in the first three frames - Chris Reynolds 23-71 Leon Martin (20 break), Andy Moore 52-12 Paddy Delaney and Mark Davenport 17-69 Rodger Clague. A first win of the season for Paul Craine levelled the match, Paul Craine 78-51 John Spellman before Doug Kinrade winner, Graham Ashton took the decider for the outgoing league champions, Gary Williams 56-73 Graham Ashton. The Bar-barians may be bottom of the league but they’ll have a big say in where this season’s title goes. They have games against the joint leaders, PSM Legion next week and the Hurricanes in the final week.
TT 2026: Nathan Harrison to race again under H&H Motorcycles banner
FC Isle of Man lose out at free-scoring Chadderton
TT 2026: DAO Racing returns with Josh Brookes at the helm
Basketball: Jets still ruthless as championship finals loom
