DSC's lead cut after derby defeat to Hurricanes

Week 8 snooker round-up

Newbys DSC’s lead has been cut by one point after week eight of the Macs Builders Merchants snooker league. Newbys entertained the Hurricanes in a derby match at the recently renamed Douglas Snooker Bar. Jamie Wilson (27 break) took the first for the Hurricanes 95-38 over Calum Gardner (29) subjecting Gardner to his first defeat of the season. Johnny Myers, making his first league appearance in over two years then narrowly lost out 39-52 to the Hurricane’s Nigel Kermode. Adam Dooley pulled one back for the leaders 87-29 against Chris Dagnall. Paul Smith (22, 22) then guaranteed a third win in a row for the Hurricanes 87-54 to Steve McDonald. The final frame was evenly poised between Zain Abideen and Steve Munk before Abideen produced a 25 clearance, taking it 89-68 and another important point for the Newby’s. A 3-2 win for the Hurricanes but not a bad result either for the leaders.

At the same venue the Wannabes played second placed St Olaves. Dave Kelly for the away team picked up his sixth win in eight, 79-45 over Steve Cowin. Paul McKinstry must have been on fire to level with a 100-59 win versus Darrell Thacker (20). It was then James Teare 87-94 James Kerr. Kerr just managing to claw back Teare’s 63 start. Sean Corkish overcame an even bigger 77 deficit and confirm a St Olaves win 98-88 Stephen Harvey. With the scores level in the final frame and one ball remaining, Wannabes Dave Corris got the better of the safety exchange by cutting in a lovely black across the baulk cushion from the bottom left corner, 74-67 Paul Smyth (24). A 3-2 away win for St Olaves and just 3 points separating the teams aggregate scores 394-397. 

Third placed Peel Legion headed down to Malew and got off to a good start with Mike Crook taking the first frame fairly comfortably 75-33 over Tom Collister. Nick Crouchman levelled 53-10 against a below par Jim Caley, some solid potting gradually easing Crouchman away. Next up was Tony Cubbon v Don Humphries. The turning point in this frame was when Cubbon rattled a planted red which then flew diagonally the length of the table into the green pocket. Cubbon cashed in on his luck by turning this into a nice 22 break. Despite all the efforts of Humphries, Cubbon prevailed 82-60. A near one hour battle followed between John Faragher and Geoff Hall. Hall did well to pull back a frame which looked to be going away from him, taking the lead on the blue. Faragher wasn’t finished though and cut in a long pink and with no obvious shot on black pointed at the green bag. He then calmly doubled the black the length of the table into his nominated pocket! A great way to win the match. It was nearly 11pm by now and Peel’s John Kelly’s, out of cough sweets and his man flu worsening dug deep, to pip Eric Drinkwater 49-39 on the pink. Final score Malew 3-2 Peel Legion.

Further down south Port St Mary Legion inflicted Finch Hill Mob’s third defeat in a row, this one by the maximum, 5-0. No breaks here but some close frames. Dave Pickersgill took the first 82-62 from Peter Kirkham, followed by Phil Joynes 67-42 Steve Finnegan. Terry Boyle took his sixth win in eight winning 54-42 against Lee Hunt, before Marc Morley made it 4-0, 77-25 over Peter Crellin. Sean Roberts rounded off a great evening for the home team taking the closest frame of the night 65-54 from Steve Oates.

Highest break of the week came from Finch Hill Musician’s John Kennish fresh from retaining his Champion of Champions title, a 46 clearance following an earlier run of 24 saw him past Malew 2’s David Quayle in the final frame at Finch Hill, 96-74. This saved the home team from a whitewash as Malew 2 were already four up with wins for Ian Quine 69-33 Peter Glover, Alec Oates 82-35 Mike Doherety and Tony Pring 62-51 over Matthew Dodd. In the fourth frame James Hynes 30 break wasn’t enough to stop in form Mark Quinn who ran out a 70-58 winner. A 4-1 away win for Malew 2.

Also at Finch Hill the Rockets took on the Young Guns in another derby. Matt Radley was up against Michael Lowe in the first which saw some good safety and single ball pots from both players, which got scrappy as nearly all the colours went to the baulk end. Radley eventually got the better go the safety exchanges and the concession was made on the brown, and a 64-34 win to Radley from the Rockets. Next, it was good to see the return of ‘The Rocket’ himself, Ron Grogan in a frame played in good spirits against Rhys Moore. This one always had the potential to go the distance and despite The Rocket edging 20 ahead at one point Moore fought back and potted a good pink to take it to the black. Eventually, Grogan steadied himself and rolled it into the middle bag to win 59-49. Next up was Graham Ashton v Chris Nash, this had lots of safety, reds splattered everywhere but the colours nearly all safe. It was Nash who ended with the win by trebling the pink into the middle when apparently playing safe and then fluking the black off at least four cushions into the green bag! Doug Kinrade put in a very strong performance against Bredan Clague, making a series of teen breaks to secure the frame and match 56-9. In a one sided finale, Paddy Delaney caught Young Guns Dolin Mercer on decent form, the latter potting some excellent long balls and clearing with a 25 break to take the frame 97-35, and bring the score back to just 3-2 in favour of the Rockets.

Newbys DSC now lead St Olaves by two points with DSC Hurricanes, Peel Legion and Port St Mary Legion three further points back in a three-way tie for third place. Next week’s ties include leaders Newbys travelling to Peel, St Olaves facing the Musicians and the Hurricanes taking on Port St Mary.

In the individual breaks league Sean Corkish is now joined at the top by John Kennish on 17 points, with Chris Dagnall third on 10.5. The individual player stats sees Calum Gardner and Mike Crook narrowly above a host of players, tied at the top with six wins from seven matches played.