WEEKLY UPDATE 11 APRIL 2024

An early update this week, as I'll be in Ireland for the next 8 days (so probably a late update next week!!).

Just the one match to report on, and it was a closely contested affair in the final of the Play Off competition. The scores were close throughout and the match was not short of  excitement, possibly in part because it was played in the regular league format with all three games on one table. First up were Peter O'Connell (85) for Deaf Centre B and Steve Gatenby (90) for Princeville D. Steve was always in front but never by more than about 20, and that was the state of play with 6 minutes to go, when Peter mounted a late charge. With time running  out and Steve by now only 4 in front, Peter scores 3 and then in his haste to get in another shot miscues, at which point the bell sounds before the balls can be spotted up, leaving Steve the winner by 3. 1 - 0 to Princeville D but only 3 points in the aggregate.

Next up were Peter Wood (85) against Mick Cockcroft (20). For the middle 30 minutes of this game scoring was very even, but only after a first 10 minutes in which Mick had reduced the deficit to 20. With around 10 minutes to go and still trailing by 11 Mick made a break of 31 - the highest of the night - to go 20 in front, and then pulled further away to win by 33. 2 - 0 to Princeville D and 36 in the aggregate.

However, there was a big handicap difference in the final game, with Ihjaz Hussain on 40 and Chris Jarvis on minus 40, meaning that the home man needed to hang onto 36 of the 80 he started in front for a home victory.. At halfway the difference was down to 50 but still all to play for, and from that point scoring was fairly even, until a break of 24 from Chris reduced the deficit to 28 with less than a minute to go. Ihjaz hurriedly scored three but a rushed final shot failed to produce a score, leaving him the victor by 31, but the aggregate to Princeville D by 5 for a 3 - 1 away win. Congratulations to Princeville D

This result means that one trophy goes to each of our three venues this season. League Champions Pudsey A. Knock Out Competition winners Bfd Deaf Centre. Play Off winners Princeville D

This coming week is the quarter finals of the Individual Billiards Merit. The draw can be found on the Merit and Pairs page. There should be two games at Princeville and two games at Pudsey, but it might not work out quite that way. Results and reports on all four games next week when I'll also do an update to the Players Table to take account of the final match reported above

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary