Snooker: Jacksons close gap at top of the league

Only two points now separate top four 

Report by Mike Crook:

Long time leaders, Cue Zone Blinders had their bye in this week’s Mac’s Builders Merchants snooker league, giving Finch Hill Rockets who joined them at the top before the Christmas break the chance to move clear and the chasing pack to close in.

Jacksons 3-2 Finch Hill Rockets

Jacksons, fourth going into this and the Rockets will both be happy enough with this result. Dave Welsh had the most convincing win on the night and now leads the individual wins league on his own. Frame scores: David Notman 55-34 Marek Kenny, Alex Sinclair 25-67 Graham Ashton, Dave Welsh 86-36 John Spellman, Richard Hillier 68-52 Jonny Hogg, Kam Virk 22-71 Marc Bolton - Jacksons move just two points from the top.

Peel Legion 2-3 Finch Hill Musicians B

Tom Randall 67-45 Mike Doherty - Randall was away well to stretch his lead to 27. Doc dug deep and mainly because of some very good safety play he was level by the colours. Randall then got potting again and a long brown left him 17 ahead. For once, Doc misjudged his safety shot on the blue and Randall was left a straight shot to the centre for frame. John Kelly 39-83 Martin Rigby - No high breaks from Rigby junior but he was the player of the night pulling off a series of excellent pots. A long final red, holding for the pink and yellow followed left Kelly needing a snooker. However it was Rigby who played an excellent snooker on Kelly leaving the white glued to the black and it was soon over. Barton Beaumont 45-37 Vic Rigby - Beaumont didn’t fancy his draw as he’d been given a lesson in matchplay snooker last time out against Rigby and for a while a repeat looked on the cards. Rigby was getting the best of the tactical exchanges and potting steadily. Beaumont came good on the colours, floating the pink in from mid-range to hold for a near tap-in black. He nearly missed it though, only just dropping in off the jaws. Mike Crook 39-72 Pat Maher - Crook’s potting was all over the place and Maher hit a timely 21 break to leave his opponent needing three snookers on the colours. Crook did actually force the fouls required but in-between Maher had cut in the finest of browns to leave even more snookers required. It didn’t happen. Geoff Hall 50-54 Matt Dodd - The decider was a very nervy affair and all square with two reds remaining. On to the colours and both players were in ‘Shredsville’. Hall then pulled himself together to pot brown and a lovely long blue to leave match ball pink. It was a far from easy cut to the middle but he had appeared to leave Dodd an outside chance. The pink was just above the blue spot and white in the D. and the black hanging over the green bag. Dodd produced his best shot cutting the pink to centre and the white tracked down and back up the table and for a moment looked like it may knock the black in or leave himself in the only place on the table he couldn’t make the pot. The cueball just held up though for a very relieved Dodd. An enjoyable night played in a good spirit throughout. Musicians B join the Rockets in pole position. 

Cue Zone Masters 2-3 Malew

Malew stay bottom after claiming their third win of the season. Ivan McMaw of the Masters showed what he’s capable of with a 32 break against Postie who, ‘took one for the team’. Scores: Brendan Clague 48-16 Eric Drinkwater, Tommy Clague 62-71 James Goodwin, Ivan McMaw 68-16 Mark Quinn, Jez Hill 40-55 Alec Oates, Martin Rigg 34-65 Tony Pring - The Masters are first to reach the halfway point of the season and have a bye next week. Consistent so far, they’ve won six and lost six matches and in frames played, won 30 and lost 30.   

Finch Hill Mob 3-2 St Olave's

Report by Peter Crellin:

Peter Crellin 92-105 Dave Kelly - Dave's 77 start became a 90 lead with 91 left on the table. Pete on a 46 break finally looked at the scoreboard to see he needed a snooker, 44 behind with 43 on, Pete potted nearly all the remaining balls in a couple of visits, laid the snooker and could win on the black. He tried a thin safety on the black and completely missed the ball! Steve Finnegan 90-31 Paul Smyth - Finn complied a lovely 57 which could have been more. Paul only really had one proper chance to score in the frame. Lee Hunt 52-78 Mike Heathcote - Mike played well never giving Blade much of a sniff. Alan Heath 76-3 James Kerr - A reversal of the previous frame. Al was really solid in beating James who never got going. Peter Kirkham 86-65 Dan Crawley - Peter, (23 break) got the start back early on and it was very nip and tuck to the colours. Dan didn't get a sight of a pot at the end of the frame and Peter was a comfortable winner. A good laugh against a good team and the Mob stop their losing run. 

Finch Hill Musicians A 4-1 Port St Mary Legion

Report by Terry Boyle:

Peter Collister 88-75 Matty Astall - Peter was steady and Matty had a lot of bad run going in-off several times. Peter closed the frame out when Matty left pink over a pocket. Chris Brown 25-48 Marc Morley - Marc potted nine of the reds but not with many colours, Chris tried hard but never got going, Marc won on the pink. Vinny Dale 66-52 Phil Joynes - it's fair to say Vinny frustrated Phil with some good reds and colours and some fortunate safety. Phil, 18 behind took blue and pink but after some safety Vinny rolled in the black. John Kennish 84-75 Dave Pickersgill - Dave started well but when potting a good red and cueing over the pack for a baulk colour dropped the rest which resulted in a 28 break for John. Although John wasn't at his brilliant best he controlled the frame from then on, laying some good snookers and winning on the pink. Zain Abideen 77-76 Terry Boyle - Zain was 38 behind, took the last red with a black and laid a good snooker. I missed and he then cleared the colours for a 27 break to win by a point, very well played Zain!

DSB Wannabes 1-4 The Hurricanes

Two teams going in opposite directions, Wannabes winless now in seven and after a very slow start to the season, a third win in a row for the Hurricanes. Some close frames, one and four going to the pink and the third settled on the black. Scores: Fred Corris 66-56 Paul Smith, Dave Corris 30-56 Freddie Dancox, Steve Cowin 90-104 Jamie Wilson (29), Paul McKinstry 77-86 Ste MacDonald (34) and James Teare 54-85 Steve Munk. 

Top league standings

Finch Hill Rockets - 33 points
Finch Hill Musicians B - 33 points
Jacksons - 31 points
Cue Zone Blinders - 31 points