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