WEEKLY UPDATE 10th MAY 2023

Individual Billiards and Snooker semi finals this week, and with two players in the semi finals of both competitions there was an an early start to the billiards at Princeville, to enable Chris Jarvis to get off in good time for his snooker match at the Deaf Centre.

His opponent in the billiards at Princeville was Dave Howarth, who summed up the game in one word 'outclassed', as Chris ran in breaks of  38, 31, 30 and 30 unfinished to win 200-127. Dave also mentioned that the 30 unfinished was actually 32, the last shot being a 15th hazard. So very well done to Chris. Richard Bowes and I were playing on the other table, with Richard starting 40 behind on handicap. I failed to make the most of some early chances, and a break of 32 allowed Richard to draw close. A break of 30 got me away again until Richard's 31 got him just in front around the 150 mark, from where he soon seemed to get to 200, leaving me on 158. So Chris Jarvis v Richard Bowes in the billiards final

Chris headed off to the Deaf Centre for his snooker match, against Jeremy Dixon, and Richard swapped tables for a snooker semi final against Mick Cockcroft. Richard started 21 behind, in each frame of this one, and was soon into his stride, reaching nearly 50 while Mick potted just the one red. At this point Richard fouled the green with the rest, which seemed to get Mick going, and the scores were even with all the colours remaining. Mick took yellow, green and brown, and looked like he might steal the frame, but then went in off the blue, leaving Richard to quickly take the blue and pink for the frame. The second frame got off to a scrappy start with a plethora of fouls on both sides and then a touching ball, all of which left Mick leading 46-16 with plenty of reds still on the table. Richard then got going, and with one red left both players were in the 40's. In among a bit of cat and mouse, the colours only disappeared slowly before Richard again took blue and pink for the frame.

At the Deaf Centre Chris Jarvis's good form appears to have continued. A close first frame just went his way 54-42, but he says he potted better in the second frame to win 59-23 with the last 3 colours still on the table. Ian Ford's comment was 'eyes like a hawk'. So the snooker final is also Richard Bowes v Chris Jarvis

As far as I am aware, this is the first time in the league's history that the same two players will have appeared in both finals in the same season - although there have been multiple instances of one players in both finals . I'm pretty certain it has not happened since I first entered in 1962, so if it has happened, it must have been in the 10 years or so before that, as the Snooker competition only started in 1950. Well done to both players, who should provide a good spectacle for the finals at the presentation evening on Tuesday 21st May at Gt Horton Conservative Club

On Wednesday, at Princeville, Richard Bowes won the H Kershaw Memorial Trophy - his fifth success in this competition. As the lowest handicap player in the league, he probably started as favourite in this scratch competition, but the story of the night was  the other finalist Mick Cockcroft, who only came into the competition as a late replacement for Jeremy Dixon. He beat Paul Devitt and Chris Jarvis, in what they described as the 'Eastbrook group', to set up a final against Richard who appeared to justify his favourite tag with a break of 50 at this first scoring visit, but Mick struck to the task and with a 31 break of his own was on level terms at 82. From then on Richard pulled ahead to win 172-114 in the 40 minute game. Well done to both players

This coming week is the semi finals of the billiards pairs and both matches are drawn at the Deaf Centre. Jeremy Dixon and Ian Ford take on  Chris Jarvis and Mick Cockcroft, while Ihjaz Hussain and Brain Robinson meet Trevor and Gareth Kershaw,  all of which promises another good evening of billiards for players and spectators alike. 

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary