WEEKLY UPDATE 7TH APRIL 2025

Firstly apologies for the late update - a combination of the nice weather and a busy weekend

This is the third year, of the end of season Play Offs, and the first time that the teams finishing first and second in the league table have also reached the Play Off Final. Champions Pudsey B have taken a pretty straightforward route, beating Deaf Centre B 3 - 1 in the Qualification Play Off and Deaf Centre A 4 - 0 in last weeks semi final. Princeville C, who finished second in the regular season, have taken a more circuitous route to the final. Missing captain Keith Tomlinson, they lost their Qualification Play off 3 - 1 at home to Pudsey A, who therefore took the home semi final spot. Princeville C's captain returned, however, for the quarter final, and led from the front as he won by 68, playing first against Princeville A, before his teammates completed a 3 - 1 victory. In the semi finals they came up against Pudsey A again, but not in a repeat of the original fixture, as this time it was the Pudsey team with home advantage. Princeville's captain again got them off to winning start, for another 3 - 1 victory. So the final will be Pudsey B against Princeville C, and is scheduled for Tuesday 15th April, but as there is a bowls match at Littlemoor that night, and so we are currently looking to agree an alternative date.

I am indebted to Dave Howarth for the following report on the two semi finals

Pudsey A v Princeville C

Peter (Allan) said his own game wasn't really up to scratch as he lost by 27 to Keith Tomlinson. Ralph (Allan) said the games between him & Graham (Bentley) are always close & he just edged it. Despite an early 46 break, John (Allan) said he did very little afterward that & said there wasn't much left for him to go at, plus he said Paul (Devitt) played tactically very well to ensure his lead was maintained. (3-1 to Princeville C)

In our match (Pudsey B v Deaf Centre A), Sid (Ash) played well after a slow start. A 24 break got him back in front & although Peter (O'Connell) threatened to re-take the lead, he didn't quite get there. Sid played his best billiards close to the end to extend his lead to win nicely.

Graham (Tudor)'s visits to the table were generally more productive than Brian (Robinson)'s. However, Brian somehow managed to stay in touch. It was a nail-biting finish but Graham just clung on.

In my game, it took me a few visits to get some composure & this gave Ihjaz (Hussain) a few chances. He got to within about 5 points adrift. But then once I'd managed to string a few shots together, the running then changed & stayed with me. I established a lead which was around 40+ at one stage with 3 or 4 double figure breaks, followed up with very little to go at for Ihjaz. I then adopted a tactically safe game when the time was running out & Ihjaz then probably played his best billiards, when doing his best to get back in. But the lead was just too much for him to claw it all back. The 4-0 scoreline makes it look like we won easily, but I only felt confident about it with about 5 minutes to spare.

This coming week (8th April) sees the Quarter Finals of the Billiards Pairs competition. Trevor & Gareth Kershaw have brought their match against Jeremy Dixon and Ian Ford forward to Monday, to accommodate a theatre visit on Tuesday, leaving space for two matches at Princeville on Tuesday - Ihjaz Hussain & Brian Robinson v John Allan & Sid Ash and Richard Bowes & Ralph Allan v Stephen Kershaw & Edward Lawson. The other quarter final, at Pudsey, is Dave Howarth & Peter Allan against holders Chris Jarvis & Mick Cockcroft.

The draws for the Individual Billiards and Snooker Quarter Finals were made last week and if you've not seen them on Facebook, they are now showing on the Merit and Pairs page. I am also able to confirm that the Finals Night and Prize Presentation on Tuesday 20th May will again be held at Gt Horton Conservative Club and we are very grateful to the club for again hosting our end of season event. Spectators will be welcome

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary