WEEKLY UPDATE 27 MARCH 2025

All eight games in the Individual Billiards Merit competition were played this week, 4 at Princeville and 4 at Pudsey. It was a good night for the players drawn away from home, as all 4 won at Pudsey and 2 more at Princeville.

I am indebted to Dave Howarth for his comments on the games at Pudsey as follows:

'In the Dad v Lad match (John Allan against his son Peter), the Lad was a long way in front for most of it, after getting off to a flyer. Dad fought back quite well late on, but was just a little too late to stop the Lad from recording a ''famous victory'' (200-183).

In my game against Jeremy Dixon, my game just wasn't up to scratch and Jeremy generally played well throughout, aided by some good running (J Dixon 200 D Howarth 136)

Although I didn't see Gareth Kershaw's game, I'm advised he also played very well. ''The 24 break ought to have been quite a few more... - apparently'' (G Kershaw 200- I Hussain 120)'

There was also another game at Pudsey between Brian Robinson and John Bedford, which John won 200-160.

For the games on the first table at Princeville, Chris Jarvis posted:

Ian (Ford) played well against Ralph (Allan) with some good potting - Ralph struggled to make up the handicap difference, which remained throughout their game ( 200-179 to Ian Ford).

Mick Cockcroft had one of his best games of the season and was unlucky to lose a very close game (C Jarvis 200 M Cockcroft 191)'

Chris omits to mention his final shot to win the game which was an attempted pot red in one pocket which disappeared down another!!

I could have down with a bit of that good fortune at the end of  my game against Sid Ash, on the other table. I had plenty of good openings for most of the game, but contrived to break down in the 20's when I looked set. Having said that, I was nicely placed at 177-175 in front, but my chances then dried up and Sid, who had struggled for openings throughout, held himself together exceptionally well to make the points he needed in his the last few visits (200-182 to Sid).

Trevor Kershaw started 85 in front of Richard Bowes and played nicely in the early stages, a break of 32 taking him over 100 in front. What Richard was thinking was reflected in him writing the break very small against Trevor's name  on the scoreboard - leaving room for more as the game progressed. Richard did get going however, and after a few runs into the teens, a 49 break got him on terms and from then he led. Trevor got going again and almost caught up, until both players were in the 170's and it became a case of whichever player got the next good leave would win. That turned out to be Richard for a 200-175 victory. A good game to watch and referee.

The draw for the next round of both the Individual Billiards and Snooker competitions will be made on Tuesday, and then later that day will be the semi finals of the team Play Off competition. Both matches are at Pudsey, with Pudsey B taking on Deaf Centre A and Pudsey A playing Princeville C. The winners will meet in the final, two weeks later (15 April) , on the table of whichever of them finished highest in the Final League Table of the regular season

Tuesday 8th April is the Quarter Finals of the Billiards Pairs competition, the draw for which is on the Individual Merit and Pairs page

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 21 MARCH 2025

All the action was at Princeville this week, with 3 matches spread across two nights. 

On Monday, Deaf Centre A notionally had home advantage against Princeville B, in a delayed Elimination Play Off match. Brian Robinson had a 15 point handicap advantage against Princeville B's John Bedford, and while Brian had the best of the early exchanges, he never got far enough in front to be totally confident of victory, John however never managed to get the difference down to less than where they started and with. Brian accumulating some valuable late points, he eventually won by 34. The central heating was on for an event elsewhere in the building, but before the second games started, it had gone off, and the table reacted badly, with cushions appearing to hang on to the balls at every opportunity - possibly to try and keep warm!! During this time breaks over about 10 were in short supply. Once the problem was identified and with the electric heaters now on, things started to warm up towards the end of the game, with Ihjaz Hussain's last visit being 30 and me responding with 16 unfinished at the bell. Ihjaz winning by 41 to put Deaf Centre A 2 - 0 in front and 75 points in front on aggregate. Even with Don Hardcastle starting 55 in front of Peter O'Connell, it was still a big ask for the home man and although he won by 29, a Princeville victory never looked likely, meaning Deaf Centre A were to return on Tuesday for a Quarter Final against Deaf Centre B

The other quarter final on Tuesday was between Princeville C and Princeville A, and the match followed a similar pattern to the one on Monday. C team captain Keith Tomlinson was in very focused mood and passed 200 as he defeated Edward Lawson by 68. Paul Devitt (C team) and Trevor Kershaw (A team) started close on handicap, and remained so, until a bountiful spell for Paul in the middle of the game  - which included runs of 28 and 24 - saw him establish a significant lead. Despite a late comeback by Trevor a 140-101 victory for Paul saw the C team 2 - 0 up and over 100 ahead. The A team's Gareth Kershaw had the better of the last game against Graham Bentley but a 100 point victory never looked like happening, his eventual winning margin being 15, so 3 - 1 to the C team

The Deaf Centre derby was a far closer and more exciting affair. Peter O'Connell was again giving plenty of start (45 to Graham Lambert) but in a tortoise and hare type of game, he was gradually knocking off the deficit as the game progressed. With seconds remaining Peter was left a pot red, at more than arm's length, to level the scores, but the extension was needed for his cue and the rest also had to be extended as well, and by the time he had got it all organised the bell had gone, giving Graham a 3 point victory. To make matters worse Peter played the shot anyway, and got the score, which would have brought the scores level and no doubt added to the frustration. Second game was Brian Robinson (A team) against Ian Ford (B team). I didn't see much of this one, as I was intent on the other table, but the balls certainly seemed to get plenty of mileage in. Ian won 199- 183, so 2 - 0 to the B team - but only 19 in the aggregate. Ihjaz Hussain (A team) seemed to continue where he had left off the previous night and recorded a comfortable 47 point victory over Jeremy Dixon. So 2 - 2 and a shoot out. It looked like it could run deep into the night, as both players sunk their regulation 3 attempts with no alarms, but after Ihjaz had equally confidently converted a fourth, Jeremy was a bit heavy on his strike and missed, giving the A team a narrow victory, which brought applause from all present.

As the two Pudsey teams both won their Qualification Play Offs,  both semi finals will be at Pudsey on Tuesday 1st April. Champions Pudsey B play Deaf Centre A, while Pudsey A entertain Princeville C. Full details can be found on the League Tables page. And all scorecards are now available to view on he Scorecards page

This coming week (25 March) is the first round of the Individual Billiards Merit, with 4 games at Princeville and 4 at Pudsey. Details of these games can be found on the Individual Merit and Pairs page.

A League Committee Meeting was due to be held this coming Wednesday, but with the Deaf Centre still unavailable, and following a series of telephone calls, it has been agreed not to meet in person, but the Chairman and Secretary will again carry out the draws, which will be available to watch on Facebook, while Secretary and Treasurer will agree a budget for prizes, and Gt Horton Conservative Club will be approached to see if their billiards room will be available again for the League's Finals Night and Prize Presentation in May

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 

 WEEKLY UPDATE 12 MARCH 2025

Last 16 of the Individual Snooker this week, and with the Deaf Centre still not available, there were 4 games at Princeville and 4 in Pudsey. It was a long night at Princeville, with all 4 games going to 3 frames - and not all players seeing potting the balls as the main priority (no names!!).

First up John Bedford against Trevor Kershaw and Ihjaz Hussain against Brian Robinson. Both frames started slowly, but Trevor then began to catch John, although John repeatedly got his advantage back to the 21 point handicap difference. On the other table Ihjaz seemed to get into his stride, before Brian started to take evasive action. Trevor took most of the colours, and with blue followed by pink, took the frame. Ihjaz and Brian's first frame continued, Ihjaz eventually taking blue and pink, leaving a tight cut back on the black into the middle pocket for the frame. Although he made a valiant attempt,  the black lipped and Brian knocked it in for a 1 - 0 lead. By now John and Trevor's second frame was following the pattern of the first, and so I went to brew some tea. As I stood up from my seat however, an outrageous piece of misfortune ended up with the black in the pocket, from an unlikely position tight to the top cushion, following a missed red by Trevor and several subsequent kisses. This seemed to change the flow of the game and another unfortunate kiss, a short time later, left Trevor, having potted a red, snookered on what was going to be a straightforward blue. John seemed to sense his moment and played very steadily from then on, to take the frame for 1 - 1. The second frame on the other table looked like being another close affair. John and Trevor's third frame was anything but, as John led from start to finish and Trevor conceded with the last red still on the table. Brian and Ihjaz's second frame was as close as the first, with this time Brian taking the black for another 1 - 1 score line. Time for tea!!

After a brief pause for tea, Brian and Ihjaz resumed, and the third frame was largely one way traffic towards Brian who won it comfortably around 9.20pm (both games had started at 7.20). It was my turn to play now, against Ian Ford, so I didn't see much of the game between Jeremy Dixon and Gareth Kershaw, except for the end of the third frame, when Jeremy potted an outstanding black to win the match - only to see the cue ball disappear down the pocket well - so game to Gareth 2 - 1. After a very poor billiards season, I seemed to be playing OK at snooker in my first frames for over a year, and I sneaked the first one on the colours. The second went Ian's way, with most of the colours still on the table. In the third I had the best of the early chances and so was soon more or less on terms. Ian didn't seem to play as well in this one, but I was assisted by a fair amount of good fortune, particularly in keeping the balls safe without really trying. 2 - 1 to me

I don't have much information about the games at Pudsey. Richard Bowes says on Facebook that he beat John Allan by about 20 in each of two 'scratchy' frames, for a 2 - 0 win with the only notable contribution a 28 by him  as he took last red to pink (I don't remember anything approaching a 28 break at Princeville!!). Current holder Chris Jarvis beat Sid Ash 2 - 0, but commented on Facebook that Sid was unlucky to lose a close second frame. After a season in which billiards wins have been like hen's teeth, Mick Cockcroft got off to a winning start at snooker, beating Peter Allan 2 - 1, while Ralph Allan beat Dave Howarth 2 - 1 on a third frame black. All done and dusted and home to bed from Pudsey by the time we finished at Princeville, I imagine, as Dave Howarth had posted the results to Facebook before Ian Ford and I had started our third frame

This coming week all the action in the team Play Off's is at Princeville. On Monday Deaf Centre A, who should have had home advantage, take on Princeville B,  in their delayed Elimination match (which table will they choose?). While on Tuesday, the winners will return, to play Princeville C or Deaf Centre B (who have also chosen to play their home quarter final at Princeville). The other participants in the quarter finals are Princeville A, who won through last week, but who plays who depends on Monday's result. The two Pudsey teams await this week's winners in the semi finals.

The following week (25 March) is the first round of the Individual Billiards Merit, and with Deaf Centre premises still unlikely to be available, I have reallocated the games due to be played there, so that there are 4 games at Princeville and 4 in Pudsey

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 7 MARCH 2025

The play offs got off to an early start this week, as the Elimination Play Off between Princeville A and Princeville D was played on Monday - and what an exciting finale it produced. Trevor Kershaw tells me that it was not a great game between him and Chris Jarvis - but it did produce a close finish, as Chris got home by 5 (108 - 103), to put the D team just in front. Steve Gatenby picked up a second point for the D team, beating Edward Lawson by 23, but with only 28 in it, an in-form Gareth Kershaw was certainly in with a chance against Mick Cockcroft, whose season - like his health - has gone from bad to worse. As often happens in such games, the in-form man got the early chances, and Gareth was soon a lot more than his 60 point handicap advantage in front. With the clock ticking, Mick never looked like pulling back the huge deficit and Gareth won by 104, for a 2-2 and a shootout. Gareth had converted a 'practice' attempt during the game, after Mick had fouled, and the first 5 attempts by both players comfortably disappeared down the top left hand pocket. The 6th attempt, Mick's third, was a fraction hard, rattled the angles and stayed up, to give Princeville A the win. It doesn't get much closer than that. Congratulations to the A team and commiserations to the D team.

The other Elimination Play Off match, between Deaf Centre A and Princeville B has been postponed until Monday 17th March,  due to Deaf Centre's current shortage of players, and will now be played at Princeville.

In the Qualification Play Off match at Princeville on Tuesday, Princeville C were inconvenienced  by the withdrawal of captain Keith Tomlinson, due to  a family health issue, and Don Hardcastle was drafted in as a replacement. Opponents Pudsey A were at full strength, which meant Don was up against Peter Allan, who had beaten him 260 - 183 in a league match at Pudsey the previous week. Don was doubtless hoping for a better outcome with home advantage this time, but Pete scored only slightly less than the previous week with 248, while Don finished on one less at 182 to put Pudsey A in the driving seat. The crucial game was probably the second one, where despite a break of 39, Paul Devitt lost out to John Allan by 4, to put Pudsey A 70 points up and 2 - 0 in front. A big ask then for Graham Bentley against Ralph Allan. When I arrived with about 10 minutes to go, Graham was about 30 in front, and so still not impossible, but Ralph then did the majority of the late scoring, and lost by only 12, to see Pudsey A into the semi finals and leave Princeville C with a quarter final to negotiate on 18th March.

Champions Pudsey B won the other Qualification Play Off,  with a 3 - 1 win at home to Deaf Centre B - who are also left with a quarter final to negotiate. Graham Tudor got Pudsey B off to a good start, beating Ian Ford by 40, before Sid Ash suffered a slightly surprising 20 point defeat to Graham Lambert, who accumulated a very creditable  237, his best of the season. Jeremy Dixon, with only one defeat all season before last week, must have been hopeful of overturning the remaining 20 point deficit (plus a handicap difference of 60) but Dave Howarth does not appear to have let him anywhere near, winning by 79.

So both Pudsey teams will be in the semi finals on 1st April - with Princeville C, Deaf Centre B, Princeville A, and winners of  Deaf Centre A and Princeville B to contest the quarter finals on 18th March. Princeville C and Deaf Centre B will be the home teams. Play Off results and fixtures can be found on the League Tables page along with the Rules for a shoot out should one be required

This coming week (11th March) is the start of the Individual Snooker competition and the draw can be found on the Individual Merit and Pairs page. With the Deaf Centre still not available there will be 4 games at Princeville and 4 games at Pudsey

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary