League Week 17 saw the A Team host Challow B (in a repeat of the John Evans Cup Quarter final of a few weeks back) & the B Team travel (the long distance!) to Fawley.
At Wallingford, the opening frame was a cracker with Pete 'Captain' v Adam Bruce (one of the up & coming future stars). Adam made a useful 12 break at the start & built a 20 point lead before Pete came back with a lovely 40 break mid frame (sorry Nigel, that trumps three 32's!) to take the lead. A thin safety shot on the yellow left Adam with a chance & he duly cleared yellow to pink (the pink he potted down the rail was awesome), but bobbled the black which went across the cushion to the opposite pocket leaving a really really fine cut (with side)! Pete potted the difficult black only to see the cue ball came across & drop in the opposite corner! Die like a Viking (but by only 54-56!)! 0-1 down, but even one of the Challow players said it was the best frame of the season!
In the 2nd frame Nigel pulled an early lead v Barry Alexander & (probably... NO, definitely!) steeled by seeing his high break go, tried several attempts to claw it back during a demolition frame, 68-7 to level the match at 1-1! He walked back to the A Team seating area with the BIGGEST grin, knowing that despite losing the (equal with Andy Rance) high break, he had now jumped to the top of the Averages! Keep it there VC!
Tom was on 3rd v the new father, Ian Izzard (who his Dad, Gordon had noticed nodding off in the earlier frames! Obviously sleepless nights?). Tom was playing silky smooth, potting well & playing good safety. He also showed good etiquette when he called a foul on himself on the pink. Such a gentlemans game! It made little difference to the result as Tom slotted in good pots on the little colours to secure the 3rd frame 59-30 & make it 2-1 to the A Team.
Dave 'Anchorman' was on a bit earlier in 4th this week & faced Challow stalwart Paul Finch. Dave took full advantage of Paul being a bit off his game at the start & pulled a healthy lead. With some trademark blues to the corner, Dave held the lead to the end despite a spirited come back from Paul on the colours. Dave snicked in a lovely (very) fine 'dennis' ('finnon!) blue for frame, 58-32! 3-1 up!
Kev 'Cuz' played a blinder in the last frame v Gordon Izzard (new Grandad!) & looked to be playing with such confidnce demonstrated good solid match play, some lovely 'touch' pots & positional play before an enthralling late safety exchange (with the frame already won). Cuz cleared yellow to blue & ran out a convincing winner by 67-19, making it a 4-1 win for the A Team!
All the way over at Fawley (& with last weeks very late finish much in mind), the B Team got off to the ideal start when 'Captain' Kevin played Nigel 'Billiards' Winney. Kevin was 10 points behind on the colours & played very steady, taking what was there & won on the Pink 43-32. 0-1 up!
Frame 2 saw Dave Rowe far too strong for Pete Lambourne & aided by mini breaks of 16 & 15 came out an easy winner by 61-7. 0-2 up!
In frame 3 Pete Beaumont made a much heralded return to the team & played Neil (son of Nigel) Winney. Pete did well to stay in with a chance as Neil put together some good breaks & he did little wrong but lost 46-76 (come in for a Sunday night practice session Pete! We miss you!). 1-2 up.
In the 4th frame 4 Andy Rance faced Neil Murphy & according to Captain Kev played his best frame of the season by far, never looking like missing & winning 67-23. 3-1 up & the win secure!
The last frame saw Rob House play Ricky Delahunt & Rob showed his class with a nice 19 break along the way to run out eventual winner by 47-25 & a very useful 4-1 away win!
Good to see the B Team back home early (before 11:00pm!... what no breakfast this week?) & with a much needed 4 point haul!
More league fixtures next week with the A Team travelling to Crown Technology & the B Team hosting the Champions elect, Abingdon Con A.
At Wallingford, the opening frame was a cracker with Pete 'Captain' v Adam Bruce (one of the up & coming future stars). Adam made a useful 12 break at the start & built a 20 point lead before Pete came back with a lovely 40 break mid frame (sorry Nigel, that trumps three 32's!) to take the lead. A thin safety shot on the yellow left Adam with a chance & he duly cleared yellow to pink (the pink he potted down the rail was awesome), but bobbled the black which went across the cushion to the opposite pocket leaving a really really fine cut (with side)! Pete potted the difficult black only to see the cue ball came across & drop in the opposite corner! Die like a Viking (but by only 54-56!)! 0-1 down, but even one of the Challow players said it was the best frame of the season!
In the 2nd frame Nigel pulled an early lead v Barry Alexander & (probably... NO, definitely!) steeled by seeing his high break go, tried several attempts to claw it back during a demolition frame, 68-7 to level the match at 1-1! He walked back to the A Team seating area with the BIGGEST grin, knowing that despite losing the (equal with Andy Rance) high break, he had now jumped to the top of the Averages! Keep it there VC!
Tom was on 3rd v the new father, Ian Izzard (who his Dad, Gordon had noticed nodding off in the earlier frames! Obviously sleepless nights?). Tom was playing silky smooth, potting well & playing good safety. He also showed good etiquette when he called a foul on himself on the pink. Such a gentlemans game! It made little difference to the result as Tom slotted in good pots on the little colours to secure the 3rd frame 59-30 & make it 2-1 to the A Team.
Dave 'Anchorman' was on a bit earlier in 4th this week & faced Challow stalwart Paul Finch. Dave took full advantage of Paul being a bit off his game at the start & pulled a healthy lead. With some trademark blues to the corner, Dave held the lead to the end despite a spirited come back from Paul on the colours. Dave snicked in a lovely (very) fine 'dennis' ('finnon!) blue for frame, 58-32! 3-1 up!
Kev 'Cuz' played a blinder in the last frame v Gordon Izzard (new Grandad!) & looked to be playing with such confidnce demonstrated good solid match play, some lovely 'touch' pots & positional play before an enthralling late safety exchange (with the frame already won). Cuz cleared yellow to blue & ran out a convincing winner by 67-19, making it a 4-1 win for the A Team!
All the way over at Fawley (& with last weeks very late finish much in mind), the B Team got off to the ideal start when 'Captain' Kevin played Nigel 'Billiards' Winney. Kevin was 10 points behind on the colours & played very steady, taking what was there & won on the Pink 43-32. 0-1 up!
Frame 2 saw Dave Rowe far too strong for Pete Lambourne & aided by mini breaks of 16 & 15 came out an easy winner by 61-7. 0-2 up!
In frame 3 Pete Beaumont made a much heralded return to the team & played Neil (son of Nigel) Winney. Pete did well to stay in with a chance as Neil put together some good breaks & he did little wrong but lost 46-76 (come in for a Sunday night practice session Pete! We miss you!). 1-2 up.
In the 4th frame 4 Andy Rance faced Neil Murphy & according to Captain Kev played his best frame of the season by far, never looking like missing & winning 67-23. 3-1 up & the win secure!
The last frame saw Rob House play Ricky Delahunt & Rob showed his class with a nice 19 break along the way to run out eventual winner by 47-25 & a very useful 4-1 away win!
Good to see the B Team back home early (before 11:00pm!... what no breakfast this week?) & with a much needed 4 point haul!
More league fixtures next week with the A Team travelling to Crown Technology & the B Team hosting the Champions elect, Abingdon Con A.
