Snooker: Finch Hill Musicians now only unbeaten side

They inflicted first loss for Finch Hill Mob

Finch Hill Musicians, refreshed from last week’s bye, are now the only unbeaten after inflicting the Mob’s first defeat. Meanwhile, Cue Zone Blinders picked up maximum points to leap from fourth to lead after week 6 of the Mac’s Builders Merchants Snooker League.

Finch Hill Musicians 4-1 Finch Hill Mob 

This was a bit of a battering for the pre-match leaders who failed to cope with Musicians higher handicaps. Trevor Peace 86-40 Peter Kirkham was all over by the colours with Peace holding onto his start well. Mike Doherty 80-38 Steve Finnegan, Doc was potting very well to double the lead. Tom Miller was the only winner for the Mob with run of 29, (which was the best in a poor week for high breaks) to pull back Vic Rigby’s start. Rigby still could have won it but left the final pink over the hole, Rigby 73-90 Miller. Matthew Dodd 90-52 Peter Crellin, by all accounts Dodd played really well and it was all over by the blue with Crellin, feeling he’d been “battered….by a pro” and requiring numerous snookers. Dodd’s most memorable strike was a plant into the top pocket. Dodd’s prize is another handicap cut to 35 after his next match, some achievement as he was off 63 not long ago. The final frame between Dave Hanlon and Steve Oates had it all, snookers, some amazing fouls plus another break from Oates, a 24 to draw level. It looked like it was going Oates way until he potted the brown but also the black at the same time, Hanlon went on to win 84-53.

Finch Hill Reprobates 2-3 Finch Hill Rockets 

This win leaves the Rockets just 3 points off the top, and similarly to the Reprobates, have played one game less than their rivals. Paul Tangeman’s win in frame 3 took him to the top of the individual league and two black ball frames, the last of which ended Rhys Moore’s 100% record shows how close this was. Frame scores, Ashley Howard 43-67 Matt Radley, Chris Killey 23-52 Marek Kenny, Paul Tangeman 77-40 Graham Ashton, Danny Russett 66-60 John Spellman and Rhys Moore 68-69 Doug Kinrade. 

Port St Mary Legion 2-3 Newbys Douglas Snooker Bar

Dave Pickersgill played very well to restrict the previously unbeaten Mikey Booth to just four reds in taking the first frame 49-4. Phil Joynes was sadly off his game again as Johnny Myers was too strong and levelled the match 23-59. Perhaps Joynes new handicap of 35 from next week will help? Matty Astill 38-66 Ste MacDonald, Astill just couldn't get going despite his 21 start and MacDonald ran out an easy winner to put Newbys ahead. In frame four Zain Abideen of Newbys was going well just needing the last red with a black to leave Marc Morley needing a snooker, but he went in-off the black meaning there was 20 in the frame with the colours left. After two in-offs on the blue the scores were tied, Morley got the pink and after a few good safety shots on the black Abideen potted frame and match ball to win 67-68. The unlucky Morley has now lost three black ball frames. The two respective captains, Terry Boyle and Simon Gardner played out what could best be described as a scrappy final frame which Boyle edged on the pink 56-41. Overall, a deserved Newbys win.

The Hurricanes 0-5 Cue Zone Blinders

An impressive display from the Blinders who go top after giving the Hurricanes their biggest defeat in over five years. The closest Hurricanes came was in frame three when Darran Creer, last seen playing competitively in 2017 took the very handy Martin Rigg close. Other frame scores, Jamie Wilson 26-57 Brandon Forrester, Gary Conwell 32-56 Ivan McMaw, Paul Smith 28-51 Calum Gardner and Chris Dagnall 49-88 Scott Campion.  

Malew 2-3 Peel Legion

Peel made it 10 wins from their last 11 meetings with Malew. James Goodwin 48-76 Don Humphries, Goodwin was limited to half chances and although he only potted a couple of reds could still win with the last three balls. A relieved Humphries took blue with a fluked pink for good measure. Alec Oates 24-58 Mike Crook, a fast start from the latter put him 40 ahead before his demons set in. Oates made things tricky thereafter, especially getting the required snooker on the final green only to see Crook eventually sink brown and blue after a protracted battle. Tony Pring 67-38 Geoff Hall, the decisive moment of this frame was Hall’s unlucky in-off when cutting a nice red to centre and ricocheting into the same bag off another red on the way back down the table. Pring helped himself to a couple of reds with pink and black to go well clear. David Quayle 42-76 John Kelly, Quayle had some unbelievable bad luck. Somehow seeing a red disappear after potting a pink in particular. A 22 break from Kelly which included a black, played in-off the yellow situated six inches off a middle pocket being the highlight. The final frame somehow escaped Peel, Jim Caley had a long pink for the win but could only go in-off. Opponent Mark Quinn’s snooker on the pink was excellent, leaving Caley tight in behind the black. Quinn eventually took it 60-50.

Jacksons 2-3 DSB Wannabes

And finally, after a losing run going back to 28th April, Wannabes picked up a win after Paul McKinstry won a deciding frame against Lee Gale (20 break) 69-78. Other frame scores, Alex Sinclair 57-45 David Callister, Dave Cavanagh 67-79 Steve Cowin, Richard Hillier 42-43 Dave Corris and Kam Virk, recovering from last week’s mauling to win well 61-28 Harry Minor. Jacksons are now the only winless team in the league and next face a tough trip to face the Rockets.

Cue Zone Blinders lead on 19 points followed by Finch Hill Mob and Newbys DSB both on 18.

The match-up of week 7 sees leaders Blinders vs unbeaten Musicians. The others ties are Newbys vs Malew, St Olaves vs Reprobates, Peel Legion vs Hurricanes and PSM Legion vs Wannabes. The Mob have their bye.

Paul Tangeman heads the individual league standings with five wins from five, Tom Miller, Rhys Moore, Calum Gardner and Mikey Booth all have five wins from six.

High break league points: 12 Tom Miller, 9.5 Darryl Hill, 5.5 Peter Kirkham and James Kerr.

A full list of the IoMBSA 2021-22 rankings after ranking event 2 is available in the ‘documents’ section of the Isle of Man Snooker website - iom2011.leaguerepublic.com

Darryl Hill leads on 120 points from Peter Kirkham 80, Calum Gardner 69, Tom Miller and Jamie Wilson 61.

Event three takes place on 28th November at The Cue Zone IoM