SNOOKER: Jacksons start new year with dominating win over Peel

Jacksons 4 points clear at top of leader board

Jacksons celebrated the new year in style by thumping Peel Legion and go 4 points clear in the Mac’s Builders Merchants Snooker League at the halfway point of the season.

Jacksons 5-0 Peel Legion

Paul Kell 63-45 Mike Crook, a very long tactical frame with yellow, green, brown and blue all grouped over the yellow pocket offering great snookering opportunities. Kell’s 35 start was down to 7 with Crook on a gimme final blue to the middle plus pink and black nicely placed. With Kell ready to pack his cue away, somehow the blue was missed and Kell slotted it away and a very missable pink across to a middle bag for the frame. Kam Virk 56-37 John Kelly, a good quick frame which was only settled on the pink and earning Virk a handicap cut. Alex Sinclair 58-57 Jim Caley, Caley held his lead throughout and needing just one of the last colours just couldn’t put it to bed. Sinclair nicking it with a very good long cut on the black, though the handshake was interrupted as the cueball tracked perilously close a middle bag. Richard Hillier 63-31 Geoff Hall, this was all Hiller before Hall, needing 4 snookers got it down to 1 needed on the blue, but Hillier deservedly won out. Lee Gale 74-65 Barton Beaumont, although the home team were already 4 up there was plenty of tension towards the end with Jacksons wanting a clean sweep. Gale had started 42 behind and got within touching distance by the colours, but Beaumont fought well and as both missed multiple half chances on pink and black it gave the feeling a fluke or foul would prove crucial. Sadly for Beaumont this came true on the black, as he dumped the white into a corner bag when playing safe.

St Olaves 3-2 Finch Hill Mob

By Paul Smyth

Travis Bignell 102-82 Peter Kirkham, chasing 63 from the off against a player 5 from 5 was a big ask of Kirkham. Bignell even extended the lead but Kirkham with a 23 break and bags of experience got back into the frame. More pots from Bignell left snookers required and although Kirkham got some he miscalculated, seeing his chance for the clearance, he went for it potting the colours to the brown before realising he'd misread the scores and he was 19 behind with 18 on. Bignell held on for the win. Paul Smyth 59-34 Steve Finnegan, Smyth made more of the early chances getting a couple high teen breaks to catch up and take the lead. Finn battled well but Smyth with another small break and few other single pots closed this one out. Dave Kelly 28-69 Lee Hunt, too many single reds from Kelly as Hunt quickly caught up and went ahead. Kelly, faced with a tricky thin cut, full length safety from tight under the top cushion was warned by the referee having missed twice or lose the frame. After a rethink he chose a different shot which he hit, but it wasn't enough to slow Hunt’s push for the win. James Kerr 82-66 Tom Miller, Kerr made small breaks to extend his 21 start. After a brief safety battle these two big potters were at it again sharing pots back and forth but it was Kerr who held on for the match winning frame against an in form Miller. Dan Crawley 49-94 Peter Crellin, Crawley started the better extending his lead but could have made more of his chances to push on. He paid the price for this when Crellin sunk the highest break of the night with a well constructed 39 to close it right up again. A rattled Crawley couldn't hold Crellin back as he closed out the frame for a possible vital point for his team.

The Hurricanes 3-2 Cue Zone Masters

A sixth consecutive 3-2 loss for early front-runners CZ Masters. Brendan Clague did put them ahead and put himself alone at the top of the individual league in beating Ste MacDonald 30-55. The next two frames were shared, Shaun Roberts 62-45 Paul Russell and Jamie Wilson 49-64 Alan Heath, then Gary Conwell beat Ivan McMaw 55-29 to leave the latter joint bottom of the individual league, his luck must change soon. The decider was a scratch game between Steve Munk, recalled for the first time since October and Martin Rigg, Munk winning out 61-27. 

Finch Hill Reprobates 4-1 Finch Hill Musicians

Both teams were tied in 4th going into this derby match. Reprobates’ new recruits for this season Frankie Pitts and Andy Taubman put them 2 up beating the Rigby’s, Martin and Vic, 59-27 and 49-31 respectively, then Rhys Moore doubled the pink to win frame and match 62-46 over Dave Hanlon. Dollin Mercer’s minus handicap hasn’t stopped him winning and he made it 4-0, from 42 behind to again win on the pink, 87-66 Matthew Dodd. Zain Abideen prevented the whitewash in the last beating Paul Tangeman 55-75 on a night of hard fought frames.

Port St Mary Legion 3-2 Malew 

By Terry Boyle

Matthew Astill 19-62 Tony Cubbon, Cubbon was in fine form here, Matty tried hard but I don't think anyone would have beaten him on the night. Marc Morley 94-40 Tony Pring, Morley played very well and with a 24 break ensured that Pring never really got into it. Phil Joynes 80-42 Alec Oates, two of snooker’s gentlemen doing battle. Both played well until Joynes fluked a snooker on the last red and trying to escape, Oates hit the pink. Needing a snooker on the colours Oates tried hard but Joynes closed the frame out. Dave Pickersgill 55-42 Mark Quinn, an unusual start to this frame with only one red potted and the score was 15-14, the other scores all fouls. Pickersgill playing steady was 31 ahead with the colours but then Postie started delivering and after some snookers and the odd pot was actually 5 ahead with three colours left. Pickersgill got the last colours in one visit to take the frame and deny Postie an all time low handicap mark. Terry Boyle 60-71 James Goodwin, Goodwin started well and at 56 behind Boyle had a mountain to climb. Boyle hung in and had a very tricky black to win, however Boyle went for it and left it hanging for Goodwin. Goodwin played well however Boyle was reprimanded by his teammates for attempting a one in ten shot! Happy New Year everyone.

Finch Hill Rockets 2-3 DSB Wannabes

By Graham Ashton

An excellent away win for last season’s wooden spoon winners over the reigning champions. 

Marek Kenny 38-51 Jason Campbell, a couple of fluky snookers towards the end helped Marek stay in touch, but a good long blue by Jason ended his chances of stealing the frame. Graham Ashton 52-79 Steve Cowin, far too many missed pots from Ashton. A late break of 15 wasn’t enough as Steve took blue, pink and black with great pots. Jonny Hogg 77-66 Fred Corris, some fine early long reds by Fred but no colours. Jonny potted well making good teen breaks, one ending on a self declared push shot on the black, but a good win for Jonny. Marc Bolton 56-29 Paul McKinstry, a slow game early on as both struggled. Eventually good safety by Marc, finding the baulk cushion on a few occasions and making good of his chances with a couple of teen breaks to take the frame. Sean Murphy 43-60 Dave Corris, a very good win for Corris though Murphy in his own words said, “it was the worst I’ve played all season”.

Top league standings, Jacksons 38 points, Reprobates 34, Blinders, Mob, St Olaves and Hurricanes 33. Individual league: Brendan Clague 11 wins, Dan Crawley and Lee Gale 10. Break league: Darryl Hill 26 points, Tom Miller 24.5 and Peter Crellin 22. 

Report by Mike Crook.