But three others stay firmly in contention
Report by Mike Crook:
Three weeks to go in the 2023-24 Mac’s Builders Merchants snooker league and a win for Blinders over Jacksons in the Cue Zone derby leaves them marginal favourites to retain their title, the top of the table now reads: Blinders 63 points, Rockets, Jacksons and St Olave’s 59. Peel Legion 58, Musicians B and PSM Legion - Blinders have played a game extra.
David Hill 47-49 Kam Virk - An early 14 break from Kam brought back the difference and it stayed close for the majority until Dave managed to pull away leaving Kam requiring snookers on the brown. Kam then pulled off an excellent snooker which Dave fouled and Kam duly fluked the brown. Nothing flukey about the blue and pink though, Kam showed superb skill to pot both with the cue ball tight to the cushion! Black ball game and Dave, while attempting to cut in the black to the middle went in-off. Conor Mahon 64-15 Lee Gale - Conor was away better in this one, adding bit by bit to his 28 start. Lee struggled to get going with the black tied up and a tough table the break he was looking for wasn’t going to be easy! Conor reached snookers required with two reds and that was enough to seal the win. Harry Ellis 34-56 Paul Kell - This scratch match was only Harry's second ever league match. The promising young player didn’t get off to the best start with some really bad luck. Cannoning in a red off a really well potted blue left him 20 points down. Despite some good potting from Harry, Paul kept that advantage. A foul from Paul on the green was a pivotal point. Harry elected to put Paul back in and he rattled in an excellent long pot. That left snookers required and even with a spirited fight back, Paul held on for the win. Nick Stephens 61-13 Alex Sinclair - This was a game of fouls for the most part. Both players gifting points into double figures for each other! Nick though showed his true potting prowess which brought his handicap down to 14 this year and took his chances well to leave a 2-2 showdown. Scott Campion 66-20 Dave Welsh - Scott's safety play early on helped him extend his advantage. Both players missed big chances in this nervy affair as Scott managed to keep Dave at arms length. The Blinders take a 4 point lead into the last 3 weeks with Peel, Jacksons and the Rockets chasing!
There were groans of, ‘that’s cost us the league’ from a nameless Rockets player after this. But it’s far from over as they still have Jacksons and Peel to play in the final two weeks, plus Wannabes next week who have only won one match in their last fifteen. There’s no doubt more twists and turns to come. Sean Murphy 38-70 Peter Collister - A great snooker by Peter on the yellow give him a free ball to put him ahead on the colours, he went on the clear yellow up to the pink to clinch the frame. Graham Ashton 56-66 Simon Gardner - Graham eventually managed a couple of teen breaks to go 16 ahead, lots of safety on the colours but Simon came back well. A great pink to force a black ball game, then an amazing long pot by Simon for frame. John Spellman 48-78 John Kennish - Both struggled to find their ‘A’ game and colours near cushions didn’t help. Kennish did enough to be 30 ahead with last few balls remaining and Spellman conceded. Jonny Hogg 72-47 Vinny Dale - Good early potting from Vinny and a couple of unlucky in-offs by Jonny. However, Jonny soon began to dominate the frame with several teen breaks continuing his recent good run to nine wins in a row, picking up what could still be a valuable point for the home team. Marc Bolton 39-51 Paul Tangeman - No news on this as my correspondent had gone home with his tail between his legs!
Paul Smyth 77-74 Tony Pring - Paul was giving away 49 and started the quicker and closed the gap. Into the colours with Paul with still chasing a small lead, went in-off the pink so needed a snooker with the black right in the jaws of the corner pocket. Tony played some great safety shots, but Paul's only option was to keep putting the pink close to the black, until Tony potted the black by accident, leaving Paul a couple of pots for the win. Dave Kelly 68-46 Alec Oates - Alec started very well, potting well with his two cheerleaders in support to close the gap. Each time his lead was threatened Dave would pull away again. This continued until Alec found himself needing a snooker, he got a few but Dave escaped and eventually Alec stuck the pink up for Dave to claim it. Mike Heathcote 61-32 Mark Quinn - Postie didn't find his potting boots early on, but Mike did, and with the help of a nice 27 took a healthy lead. Postie then got his eye in as they battled through the colours but it wasn't enough as Mike held on for a good win. James Kerr 66-34 Tony Cubbon - Tony Cubbon was potting long reds down the cushion repeatedly but then missing colours off their spots. James was also potting well and with a 29 break extended his lead. A few safety battles and couple of nice snookers from James, got him some more points but more importantly the chance to clear some colours for another win. Dan Crawley 91-80 James Goodwin - Dan giving away 63 had to start well, and he did, with a few small breaks then a 23 to close the gap right up. Goodwin started to pot long reds but didn't get the colours, enabling Dan the man to close out the win for a timely 5-0 whitewash, their second this season against Malew.
Finch Hill Musicians B 3-2 DSB Wannabes
A win for Musicians B despite being a player short. The highlight performance came from Doddsy as he hit 2 x 24 breaks! Scores: Pat Maher 96-68 Steve Cowin, Matt Dodd 71-38 Dave Callister, Dave Hanlon 22-59 Dave Corris and Vic Rigby 56-42 James Teare.
Matty Astall 64-24 Jez Hill - Potting well, Matty soon increased his lead and with one red left Jez needed snookers. He battled on but Matty was not to be denied. Marc Morley 63-51 Tommy Clague - Tommy started well and with Marc going in-off a good pot on the blue and later fouling the pink helping put Tommy 49 ahead. However the run seemed to change and battling hard, Marc got back in it with a few teen breaks. With three colours left Marc potted blue to go ahead for the first time and after a few shots got the pink for frame. Terry Boyle 44-71 Brendan Clague - Both missed some easy pots and nothing in it down to the colours. Terry potted yellow only to go in-off and with four balls left was three points ahead. Brendan fluked the brown and played a profitable snooker. Needing the last three balls to win Terry left blue on and Brendan potted it with pink and black off its spot for the frame. Dave Pickersgill 20-64 Les Briggs - Dave didn't do a lot wrong but Les was unplayable on the night certainly the best 42 handicapper I have ever seen! Mike Boyle 75-68 Ivan McMaw - This frame had everything, reds all round the right hand top pocket and the main colours all safe. Mike’s first opportunity with deep screw to try and free the black left us searching for the white on the floor! Lots of good safety with Ivan picking off the reds to increase his 35 start, however after a red, a clip to safety off the black ended in the middle pocket. Several more good safeties followed before Ivan potted a red and in doing so opened things up bringing black and pink back in play. Mike made a 22 break to get back in the frame, then on the colours Ivan was unlucky to go in-off a safety shot on the blue. Mike got the blue to go ahead but with no position on the pink played safe. After a lot of cat and mouse Ivan got the pink to level the scores, then more safety before Mike got a chance on the black to steal the frame.
Hurricanes 2-3 Finch Hill Mob
The only game with no title interest from either team as the Mob gained revenge for a 5-0 home defeat earlier in the season. Peter Kirkham hit the week’s highest break, a modest 34 and albeit with a 56 start, Steve Munk thumped Tom Miller. The Mob nicked the match win courtesy of a narrow Lee Butterworth victory in the finale. Scores: Ste MacDonald 58-37 Steve Finnegan, Stu Littlewood 34-72 Peter Kirkham, Freddie Dancox 42-66 Lee Hunt, Steve Munk 106-28 Tom Miller and Jamie Wilson 59-68 Lee Butterworth.
Finch Hill Rockets - 59 points
Jacksons - 59 points
St Olaves - 59 points
John Kelly - 14 wins
Conor Mahon - 14 wins
Final day beckons for 2024 Manx Classic
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Rugby: Big day at Mooragh Park for Manx cup finals
Football: Hospital Cup & Junior Cup first rounds proper await
Crowe brothers encouraged by early preparations for TT 2024
