WEEKLY UPDATE 16 MAY 2025

No update last week, as only 2 games were played, and one of them not until Friday night. However, all 6 semi finals have been played over the past 10 days or so and are covered in this update - ahead of the Finals Night and Prize Presentation, which takes place on Tuesday (20th May) at Gt Horton Conservative Club. Spectators welcome.

The reports are grouped by competition and therefore do not necessarily reflect in the order the games were played, but we start with the Snooker semi final between Chris Jarvis and Brian Robinson, which was the one game played on Tuesday 6th May. Chris - the current trophy holder - was conceding 34 points on handicap in each frame. The first one seemed to be just a steady catch up, with Brian potting a few balls along the way. In fact, he potted a very good yellow, leaving green and brown in very potable positions - but unfortunately, the cue ball was close to the side cushion, and even using the shortest cue available at Princeville, was inconvenienced by the wall. Perhaps as a result he missed the green and Chris gradually took the colours over a number of visits, until an excellent pink gave Chris the frame 66-53. Brian was off to good start in the second frame and had added 20 to his start while Chris was potting a couple of reds. He was still 40 in front on the last red but, in a long frame, Chris laid some snookers and made some difficult pots, although this time it was Brian's turn to take the pink for the frame 74-62. The third frame went completely the other way at the start, with Chris being first to 40 and building up a significant lead. Brian only scored 12 points all frame and with 4 colours left and 29 in arrears he shook his opponents hand and congratulated him on a very good performance.

The other snooker semi final was something of an embarrassment - at least for me. I started 21 points in arrears to John Bedford and by some quirk scored exactly (or should that be only) 21 points in each frame!! John's potting was excellent and his knowledge of the game quite superior to mine, so a relatively quick 2 - 0 (73-21, 66-21) - with all colours still on the table in both frames and a red or two as well in the second one. Well played John, I can't compete with that

John Bedford was also in action earlier in the evening in the billiards semi final, and after his two performances  I was left wondering about drugs testing in billiards!!. He started 25 in arrears to Gareth Kershaw, who played a perfectly acceptable opening shot, but the start disappeared as John replied with a cannon at nice pace, gently pushing the red ball into the corner, from where he made a 27 break. His billiards continued to flow nicely, with Gareth getting few opportunities. Things looked like they might be changing, with Gareth starting to get more scoring opportunities, when John got in again and ran out with an unfinished break of 36 - which would have been more had he not reached 200 (in less than 45 minutes.)

The other billiards semi final between Jeremy Dixon and Sid Ash was a much closer fought affair, despite a wider difference in handicaps. Jeremy started 85 behind but was soon on his game and caught his opponent around the 120 mark. Sid, however, was very steady when his chances eventually came and the scores remained close up to the 180's, when a session of safety play ended in Jeremy's favour and he went on to win 200-188 in a tight finish

The Pairs semi finals were both at Pudsey but not played on the same night. Edward Lawson and I visited to play Peter Allan and Dave Howarth, with the Pudsey players appearing to be full of confidence after team successes in both leagues. Peter looked better than his 85 handicap, certainly in the early stages, and raced away from Edward. Just when it looked like the running might be changing, Peter knocked in break of 21 and went on to reach 200 with Edward on 159. With handicaps added I was trailing 119 - 267 and after scoring a double figure break from where Peter had left him, Dave seemed to get the best of the early chances. A bit of good fortune eventually got me going with a 30 plus break but I was never within striking distance and the Pudsey pair deservedly won 400-345.

I am indebted to Dave Howarth for the following report on the second Pairs semi final where John Allan and Sid Ash had home advantage against Trevor and Gareth Kershaw:

Gareth was quick to make up the 10 conceded to Sid on their handicaps and was 20 plus in front early on. Despite this, Sid continued to battle and with both making breaks in the twenties, he still found himself behind. However, he took advantage of a change in the running when catching Gareth and then tenaciously taking the lead as the 200 target approached. His more regular scoring continued and a 201-176 win for him belied how close the game was at times.

In the second game, with both John and Trevor starting on -5, John had the early 20+ advantage from Sid's win. Trevor, though, was soon up to speed with an early break in the low 20's. However, with some early good running and with Trevor often having little to go at, John skipped into a lead which soon increased from 20 and eventually all the way up to 70 plus. This lead was assisted by a 33 break. It looked like John would win comfortably, until Trevor staged an impressive fightback, also making a 33 break in the process. A further break in the twenties got him into a slight lead around the 140+ mark, but John immediately regained control and steamed ahead again, with double figure breaks at most visits. Needing 25 to win, John made a break on all reds which just about saw him home, but it broke down at 21. He scored the remaining 4 points very soon after and left Trevor stranded on 352. Both games were good to watch (and to referee). An all Pudsey final next Tuesday should provide an interesting spectacle!

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary