WEEKLY UPDATE 6 DECEMBER 2024

Some sad news to start with this week. The funeral of former Gt Horton player Pete Bennett took place yesterday (Thursday) following his recent death. Pete played most of his billiards in the South Bradford League, initially for Lidget Green Liberals, and then, as clubs in the Lidget Green area closed, he moved to Gt Horton Conservatives. It was after the Gt Horton Meths team moved from the church to to the Conservative Club that he started to appear in the Sunday School League, mainly in the period 2008 to 2016, playing over 100 games in total - but even when not involved in matches he could often be seen in the billiard room at the club. RIP Pete.

Two more 4 - 0's this week, both at Princeville. Princeville A, who had won 4 - 0 the previous week, went down 4 - 0 to league leaders Pudsey B, while Pudsey A, who had won 4 - 0 the previous week, went down by the same score to Princeville C. At the Deaf Centre both home teams went down 3 - 1, to Princeville B and D respectively.

Princeville A were missing top board man Trevor Kershaw, while Pudsey B were strengthened by another appearance from Richard Bowes, and it proved a telling combination. Princeville A were off to a bad start, when Edward Lawson went down by 74 to the high scoring Sid Ash. Brian Haigh, making his first league start of the season, lost a tight game with Dave Howarth by 7 but Richard Bowes included four breaks over 30 in a score of 227, against stand in top board man Gareth Kershaw - who scored 100 points himself in getting to 180. So the league leaders Pudsey B march on as we head towards the half way point of the season

Keith Tomlinson got Princeville C off to a winning start, by beating Peter Allan by 14, and he was supported by Graham Bentley, who beat Ralph Allan by 16, and Paul Devitt, who included a break of 45 in a 7 point win over John Allan

It seemed to be the week for top board men going missing, as Jeremy Dixon was not available at the Deaf Centre after a hospital procedure (don't ask - but some of his teammates seemed to be mildly amused!). With no reserve available, Ian ford was called upon to play twice and started with a win against Princeville D's stand in at the top of the order - Mick Cockcroft. For the next game, Graham Lambert without a win all season playing off 120, must have been a bit surprised to find himself  conceding a 20 point handicap difference to Peter Turner, but gradually he pulled back the difference to be more or less level going into the final few shots. I have to admit that I was sat a long way from the action but it looked as if Peter missed a simple pot red into the baulk pocket leaving the red ball on the pocket lip, with the yellow almost touching it and snookering Graham. Graham took the plant to pot the red but ran his ball  up towards the middle pocket, with yellow ball staying in the pocket mouth, but instead of potting it, he chose to play the red which he missed. Cue the bell and Peter had won by a single point. I didn't see a lot of the last game, as I was playing, but Ian Ford and Steve Gatenby started level and seemed to remain close for much of the game. With time running out my attention was focused elsewhere (see below) but the final score showed that Steve had won by 21 and with it took the aggregate point for Princeville D by just 4 points

First up in the match between Deaf Centre A and Princeville B were Peter O'Connell and Don Hardcastle. Don started 55 in front on handicap, and while Peter looked at one stage as if he might overhaul the deficit, the game ended with him still 12 points in arrears. In the next game Princeville's John Bedford, without a win all season, looked a bit more like his normal self, while opponent Brian Robinson struggled throughout, with John recording a first win of the campaign by a healthy 40 points. This left the team 52 in front as I attempted to overcome an 80 point handicap difference against Ihjaz Hussain. An early 36 break gave me cause for optimism but the game then became more notable for shots missed on both sides, until going into the last 2 or 3 minutes I had a good opportunity with 32 points to make up. With the break on 26 I played a loose canon, which lost position, missed a tricky middle pocket pot red and Ihjaz held the table to win by 10 points.

So Pudsey B now lead he table by four and a half points, from both Princeville A and Princeville C ,while Princeville B are joined by Deaf Centre B at the bottom only another five and a half points away. This coming week it's Pudsey A against Princeville A and league leaders Pudsey B against Princeville C. Princeville B entertain Deaf Centre B, while the match between Princeville D and Deaf Centre A has been postponed until January, as several players start their Christmas holidays early.

This week's scorecards can be seen on the Scorecards page and all the usual tables are up to date, including the Past Winners page which I've brought up to date this week

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary