Both A & B Teams in action this week fighting for places in the semi finals of the John Evans Cup. The A Team were drawn away at fellow Prem/1st Division team Challow B, while the B Team had a home draw to face Marlboro B (again!) in an all 1st Division clash.
With the familiar travel to Challow for the A Team & with opponents being 'drawn', it fell to 'Super Sub' Kev Gray to start off v 'on form' Adam Bruce (in a repeat of the League fixture from earlier in the season). With that match still fresh in his mind, it was obvious that KG was in determined mood! Despite Adam having had a good run in the Novices Cup & Singles, Kev played good solid match play & raced to a comprehensive lead. With 2 reds left Kev was in control & Adam near to needing snookers. Kev ran out the winner (very comfortably) by 55-16. The ideal start on an away match, 0-1 to the A Team!
Next up was Dave 'Anchorman' Greathead playing in an unusual 2nd frame position v Barry (Son of Chris) Alexander. Barry started to edge into the lead, rallied by his team mates, but Dave is made of stern (solid?) stuff & hung in on a table he later confessed to not being able to fathom. On to the colours, Dave was 24 behind with 25 remaining! Cue 'Anchorman' to lay a sweet snooker which Barry didn't manage to escape from. 20 behind, 25 on! Barry then had a stab at the green, but having missed & put a bit too much pace on it, the green came round over a middle bag. Dave slotted it in, potted the brown with the rest, stroked the blue in to drop nicely on the pink, screwed back from a corner bag pot on the pink...& dropped in a lovely 'pressure' frame ball black in the yellow bag! Classic 'Never Say Die' from the oldest member of the Team for a 47-42 win & a 0-2 scoreline!
Next on was Kev 'Cuz' Higgs to face Duncan Wolage. Cuz started well & pulled a lead, but really didn't look comfortable. Duncan, realising he had to 'stop the rot', potted a nice 29 break to nip back to the lead & slowly extended that lead to the end, winning 62-32 making it 1-2. Never mind Cuz, you can have the week off next week... for your operation to extract a wisdom tooth! Ouch, I think I'd rather be playing!
Step up 'in form' Tom Williams (hot from making the semi finals of the Novices & Singles & playing some lovely practice frames). Tom faced Ian Izzard (soon to be a father... & that would make his Dad, League Match Card Secretary Gordon a Grandfather! Excellent!). Tom stroked the cue ball around nicely & despite the table going a bit scrappy, edged in front & held the lead throughout. Ian potted some spirited balls, again rallied by his team mates, but Tom was not to be denied the 'glory leg' & ran out a convincing winner 53-19! 1-3 to the A Team & (another) Team semi final place secured!
In the final 'dead rubber' frame, Paul Finch faced Pete 'Captain' Billingham. With the match result secured it was a 'friendly affair'... but of course, there's always stats to think of! Paul was missing a few & verbally chastising himself so Captain capitalised & knocked in a modest 23 break to take the lead. Then, it was as if Paul had 'thrown a switch' & he started nailing his pots, middle of the pocket! Paul came back & when it looked like he was about to clear the colours for frame & some honour for Challow, he wobbled a brown & left Captain a chance! No second invitation needed as brown, blue & pink were sunk to secure a 53-27 win & a 1-4 scoreline!
Meanwhile (back at the ranch), the B Team were also in determined mood (having narrowly missed a spot in the semi finals of the Jim Taylor).
In a familiar starting position, David 'Club Champion' Rowe started frame 1 v Steve Wetherall. It was a close game all the way with Dave being 3 behind with the last 4 balls on the table. Dave pulled out a wonderful brown & putted blue & pink to win 47-35 & the all important first frame, 1-0
Frame two saw Andy Rance against Laurence Harvey. Now Andy's been putting in some serious practice (with 'The Hawkinator') & it obviously paid off as he was far too good for Lawrence on the night & won very convincingly 57-23 to put the B Team 2-0 up!
Next up was Kev 'Captain' Pickworth v Tony Rushton. Having been (lightly) chastised for a losing red square in the stats last week, Captain Kev produced a solid performance in a scrappy frame & being 7 points in the lead on the final black, held his nerve to secure the all important 3 frame winning margin & take his team into the semi fianls! Frame score was 48-34 & the B Team in the semis! Brilliant!
In the 'dead rubbers', Dave Glave beat G Harper 51-32 & Rob House beat M Burton 48-21, both playing steady frames to finish the night with a whopping 5-0 scoreline (hmm, could do with a few of those scorelines in the League lads!).
So, with Abingdon Con beating Fairmile & Wantage beating Abingdon RBL in the other QFs, the John Evans semi finalists will be...
Abingdon Con, Wallingford A, Wallingford B & Wantage.
Matches to be played on Thursday 7th March at a venue TBA (keep an eye on the Club Snooker Notice Board). Don't forget the dress code (NO JEANS!) & draw for opponents will be at 7.20! Good luck & see you there!
With the familiar travel to Challow for the A Team & with opponents being 'drawn', it fell to 'Super Sub' Kev Gray to start off v 'on form' Adam Bruce (in a repeat of the League fixture from earlier in the season). With that match still fresh in his mind, it was obvious that KG was in determined mood! Despite Adam having had a good run in the Novices Cup & Singles, Kev played good solid match play & raced to a comprehensive lead. With 2 reds left Kev was in control & Adam near to needing snookers. Kev ran out the winner (very comfortably) by 55-16. The ideal start on an away match, 0-1 to the A Team!
Next up was Dave 'Anchorman' Greathead playing in an unusual 2nd frame position v Barry (Son of Chris) Alexander. Barry started to edge into the lead, rallied by his team mates, but Dave is made of stern (solid?) stuff & hung in on a table he later confessed to not being able to fathom. On to the colours, Dave was 24 behind with 25 remaining! Cue 'Anchorman' to lay a sweet snooker which Barry didn't manage to escape from. 20 behind, 25 on! Barry then had a stab at the green, but having missed & put a bit too much pace on it, the green came round over a middle bag. Dave slotted it in, potted the brown with the rest, stroked the blue in to drop nicely on the pink, screwed back from a corner bag pot on the pink...& dropped in a lovely 'pressure' frame ball black in the yellow bag! Classic 'Never Say Die' from the oldest member of the Team for a 47-42 win & a 0-2 scoreline!
Next on was Kev 'Cuz' Higgs to face Duncan Wolage. Cuz started well & pulled a lead, but really didn't look comfortable. Duncan, realising he had to 'stop the rot', potted a nice 29 break to nip back to the lead & slowly extended that lead to the end, winning 62-32 making it 1-2. Never mind Cuz, you can have the week off next week... for your operation to extract a wisdom tooth! Ouch, I think I'd rather be playing!
Step up 'in form' Tom Williams (hot from making the semi finals of the Novices & Singles & playing some lovely practice frames). Tom faced Ian Izzard (soon to be a father... & that would make his Dad, League Match Card Secretary Gordon a Grandfather! Excellent!). Tom stroked the cue ball around nicely & despite the table going a bit scrappy, edged in front & held the lead throughout. Ian potted some spirited balls, again rallied by his team mates, but Tom was not to be denied the 'glory leg' & ran out a convincing winner 53-19! 1-3 to the A Team & (another) Team semi final place secured!
In the final 'dead rubber' frame, Paul Finch faced Pete 'Captain' Billingham. With the match result secured it was a 'friendly affair'... but of course, there's always stats to think of! Paul was missing a few & verbally chastising himself so Captain capitalised & knocked in a modest 23 break to take the lead. Then, it was as if Paul had 'thrown a switch' & he started nailing his pots, middle of the pocket! Paul came back & when it looked like he was about to clear the colours for frame & some honour for Challow, he wobbled a brown & left Captain a chance! No second invitation needed as brown, blue & pink were sunk to secure a 53-27 win & a 1-4 scoreline!
Meanwhile (back at the ranch), the B Team were also in determined mood (having narrowly missed a spot in the semi finals of the Jim Taylor).
In a familiar starting position, David 'Club Champion' Rowe started frame 1 v Steve Wetherall. It was a close game all the way with Dave being 3 behind with the last 4 balls on the table. Dave pulled out a wonderful brown & putted blue & pink to win 47-35 & the all important first frame, 1-0
Frame two saw Andy Rance against Laurence Harvey. Now Andy's been putting in some serious practice (with 'The Hawkinator') & it obviously paid off as he was far too good for Lawrence on the night & won very convincingly 57-23 to put the B Team 2-0 up!
Next up was Kev 'Captain' Pickworth v Tony Rushton. Having been (lightly) chastised for a losing red square in the stats last week, Captain Kev produced a solid performance in a scrappy frame & being 7 points in the lead on the final black, held his nerve to secure the all important 3 frame winning margin & take his team into the semi fianls! Frame score was 48-34 & the B Team in the semis! Brilliant!
In the 'dead rubbers', Dave Glave beat G Harper 51-32 & Rob House beat M Burton 48-21, both playing steady frames to finish the night with a whopping 5-0 scoreline (hmm, could do with a few of those scorelines in the League lads!).
So, with Abingdon Con beating Fairmile & Wantage beating Abingdon RBL in the other QFs, the John Evans semi finalists will be...
Abingdon Con, Wallingford A, Wallingford B & Wantage.
Matches to be played on Thursday 7th March at a venue TBA (keep an eye on the Club Snooker Notice Board). Don't forget the dress code (NO JEANS!) & draw for opponents will be at 7.20! Good luck & see you there!
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