Challengers, PSM Legion lose out on final day
Report by Mike Crook:
Congratulations to The Hurricanes, they just needed to equal or better the result of Port St Mary Legion in the final week of the Mann Crane Hire Snooker League and they duly achieved it to become the 2025-26 champions!
The Hurricanes 3-2 Port St Mary Strollers
The Hurricanes didn’t get an ideal start with a narrow defeat for Brandon Forrester, but wins for Danny Kane and fittingly, captain Nialls Wilson effectively gave them the title. A black ball win for Paul Westhead, capping a fine debut season made sure and with word coming through from PSM Legion that fellow Bob’s Bar team the Bar-barians were on top I’m sure the celebrations had already started. A final frame loss for Jamie Wilson didn’t matter. Frame scores: Brandon Forrester 37-46 Ian Brookfield, Danny Kane 73-60 Max Barnes, Nialls Wilson 83-34 Mike Boyle, Paul Westhead 52-46 Harry Boyle and Jamie Wilson 52-78 Garey Ellison.
Marc Morley 29-68 Chris Reynolds - Marc has been our most improved player this season, his handicap dropping from 42 to 21. However, he wasn't on his game here, Chris played very well and deserved the win. Phil Joynes 67-95 Gary Williams - This ran for 80 minutes! Phil missed a few blacks looking for position, costly when chasing a 49 start. Gary potted some wonderful reds, mostly fine cuts to the middle. Phil needed snookers with one red left, but with much persistence finally got them, he potted yellow, green and brown but when the blue bounced out of a centre pocket his goose was finally cooked. Andrew Hutchison 75-55 Chris Lawless - Close early on, both playing well until Andy produced the only break of the night of 20. Chris replied with some good pots but Andy took charge on the colours. Dave Pickersgill 45-78 Andy Moore - Chasing 35, Dave took a few good reds with colours but in trying reds into the baulk pockets left some at the top of the table with safety no longer available. Andy found his potting boots and Dave, trying hard just couldn't reply. Terry Boyle 54-48 Mark Davenport - With any hopes of the league already gone I started badly. Mark was soon 30 points ahead, however he left me a few good opportunities and by the colours I had sneaked ahead. Mark took the first four colours, I potted the pink making it a black ball frame. I missed it with the cue ball tight on the cushion, but Mark on his next visit was unlucky to leave me and an easy pot. Disappointing night for us, but well played the Barbarians and congratulations to the Hurricanes on winning the league, well done!
The Blinders end the season empty-handed for the first time in their four-year history, already out of the Wakefield Cup they could mathematically tie for the league, starting the final night five points behind the Hurricanes. It wasn’t to be and they end in third place, the Musicians in equal-sixth. Oddly, both teams alongside the runners up lost less matches than the new champions, Blinders losing eight, Musicians and PSM Legion nine, Hurricanes ten. Frame scores: Harry Ellis 64-36 Dave Hanlon, David Hill 74-51 Vic Rigby, Conor Mahon 54-70 Matt Dodd (20 break), Shaun Roberts 38-69 Pat Maher and Scott Campion 49-38 Vinny Dale.
Ollie Byrne 59-37 Brendan Clague - Ollie, with solid potting closed down the gap quickly, but didn't have it all his own way as Brendan started to make it competitive, but it was just too little too late. Paul Smyth 74-72 Ivan McMaw - Ivan hardly missed a ball in the first half, leading 63-3 with only four reds left. Great safety and snookers from Paul followed, the final one where Ivan fouled the black meant Paul could win with all the colours. Paul, (20 break) cleared to the black but jiggled it on an attempted double, but potted it next visit for a real steal! Geoff Hall 53-44 Martin Rigg - Martin made a 24 break, hitting the leather hard in this great battle. He was to be denied by another of Geoff’s wonder clearances, this started with a blue glued on the cushion between middle and yellow pocket and white near the far corner black pocket which disappeared at pace, shot of the night or even season? He then cut in a long thin pink to land six inches from a straight black which was over a pocket and stun Martin. Mike Doherty 7-50 Jez Hill - Just reds from Docker whereas Jez had no trouble adding colours to push ahead. Notably, Jez laid a great snooker from which Docker delivered more than a full ball swerve at short distance to hit the object ball full in the face. Cracking shot, but Jez potted the next couple of balls prompting the handshake. Stuart Sandford 65-89 Tommy Clague - Stuart started fast, catching up more than half Tommy’s 63 start with not much resistance. However, from thereon in he left one too many in view with Tommy potting a few to take it to the colours. Stuart played a great shot leaving the pink middle of the baulk cushion and white glued to the black cushion just off centre, safe as houses? Tommy got down and slowly doubled it into a black pocket to rapturous applause, only just having the legs to drop.
Malew 3-2 Finch Hill Mob
Tony Pring 76-90 Peter Kirkham* - Pete, (24 break) played well to pull back a big gap in handicaps and win on the black. (*Unfortunately, we later discovered that Pete had played off the wrong handicap, giving the frame to Malew as a walkover). James Goodwin 68-78 Alan Heath - Jimmy did his best but didn't really compete. Alan was the better player, overcoming the 42 start for a black ball win. Alec Oates 29-66 Lee Hunt - A level handicap frame and close up to the last red. Lee took it with a black, then after he potted green and brown I needed snookers and knew the end was nigh. Mark Quinn 86-41 Steve Finnegan - Finn wasn't quite on the good form he had against me earlier in the season, although he did make a nice 23 break. Mark played well enough to maintain his start and get over the line. Tony Cubbon 56-21 Jonny Hogg - Jonny made some good pots early on but Tony was the better player on the night. Jonny threw in the towel on the blue.
The outgoing champions ended the league season on a high but the Wannabes can take some consolation in again avoiding the wooden spoon which they owned for many years until last year. It’s not the end for these two teams as they will meet again in the final of the Wakefield Cup, (team knockout) which is played with handicaps and the winning team is the one with the most points scored on aggregate. Rockets would have won by a mere 29 points on this result. Frame scores: Paddy Delaney 57-42 Dave Corris, Rodger Clague 53-38 David Callister, John Spellman 101-90 Steve Cowin, Marc Bolton 87-79 Paul McKinstry and Doug Kinrade 64-84 James Teare.
The Cue Ballers gained revenge for a defeat earlier in the season at the hands of their opponents in this Cue Zone derby match. Their victory wasn’t enough to overhaul the Miscues who end in 11th, Cue Ballers four points back in 12th. Both will be hoping for better next season. Frame scores: Dave Notman 35-58 Ollie Pickford, Alex Sinclair 61-47 Kelvin Revere, Matt Monks 66-45 Dale Walker, Richard Hillier 57-33 David Kelly and Lee Gale 85-65 Ben Peach.
2.) PSM Legion - 79 points
3.) Cue Zone Blinders - 76 points
4.) Cue Zone Masters - 71 points
5.) Malew - 69 points
6.) Finch Hill Mob - 68 points
=.) Finch Hill Musicians - 68 points
8.) PSM Strollers - 64 points
9.) Finch Hill Rockets - 62 points
=.) St Olave's - 62 points
11.) The Miscues - 58 points
12.) The Cue Ballers - 54 points
13.) Snooker Bar-barians - 50 points
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