Redhill League 23/24 - Week 17 - 20/02/2024

[billiardsmichael]

Week 17		-		20/02/2024
Salfords Y	5	v	0	Merstham VC A
Merstham VC B	3	v	2	South Park CC A
Jolly Brickmakers	3	v	2	Old Oak
Salfords B		-		BYE
South Park CC B	2	v	3	Nomads
Horley CC	4	v	1	Salfords A

[tommo III]

Jolly Bricks 3, Old Oak 2
(in order played)
*Steve 1120, Clive 4260 (I struggled to make an impact early on but settled once I got the break back)
Wobbly 700, *Rebecca 410 (close game, Wobbly on at the end won by just 300)
*Peter 2670, Charlie 1860 (Charlie lost one decent break, Peter (with damaged thumb on bridge hand) coped better and better as the game went on)
John 2160, *Paul 1940 (closest game of the night, ball came back quickly onto left peg 3 times to deny Paul when going well, John winning on last ball at 2nd attempt after Paul short on the 200)
Steve (4 plyr) 1130, *Nick 2230 (Steve having same trouble as Paul, 2 good breaks lost on that same pesky peg, allowing Nick to maintain a 1k lead to the end)

An enjoyable match played on a good (yes, good - table). With some friendly banter between the teams.

[billiardsmichael]

Insomniatic reports are pleased to announce their star/only writer is back after a short fight with their tonsils. We hope that BBWarrior and "Silent" did an acceptable job during this absence, and they can both look forward to a healthy cheque at the standard fee of £0 per report.

SPCC B	2	v	3	Nomads
Genette	4970	-	4470	*Jim
Mick	250	-	16240	*Michael
Martin	2160	-	8800	*Dave
Denise	0	-	15360	*Max
Pete	8320	-	2840	*James

With the Nomads steadily slipping down the table to a more familiar position, they faced up against the team whose position they must target: South Park CC B.

First up Jim, who'd arrived in very good time.. only an hour early, was the first of five (yes, five) Nomads breakers. What bandits. Jim's opening salvo had his typical flair, but after 1.5k he was off. Both he and Genette had a bit of a scrap, both with chances to get back to the break, but the shoeless Nicholls won the tombola and proceeded to make a frame winning break. But no, with 3.5k on the board a little excursion down the back ended the break and Jim had time! He had 2.5k to chase and got the balls straight back, but a rather baffling choice of shot (50 potting rather than 10 splitting) saw him come off with only 800. No problem though as Jim got them back immediately, but his penchant for the 50 pot meant he scored too slowly, 760 behind when the bar went. It was too much and, with 400 required on the last shot, Jim had to hope the final ball would be dropped in Dave's tin of red paint. 1-0

Second up was the mouse derby, with Mick and Michael facing off. Mick has an excellent record at South Park, so when Michael put his first one up behind he thought that may be the end. But Mick couldn't take advantage and Michael, baffled both by this second chance and the back of the table roll, managed to get the balls back. Initially the break was scrappy, lots of concentration was put into the one up and multiple thick splits (Michaels specialty at South Park)  led to well executed recovery shots. At about 6k things calmed down and Michael set of in chase of DJs break and score. Having wasted alot of time he had to go through the gears quickly, and he 100-split his way to 15k before leaving the red short on the break and coming off down the back - scorer Max had his head in his hands as a double kiss provided a scary moment with a peg. 15,030 break. Mick scored a couple of points but it was Michaels game, and he finished off to top his overall score up to 16k. 1-1

Third on was the young wizard Dave. Thankfully that magic touch meant the one up went in first time and Dave set about making a frame winning break first visit. A mixture of 50 potting and 100-splitting saw Dave plod his way to 7k, before the one up required a little more blackcurrant water. With 10.5 minutes gone, Martin couldn't catch and it looked like he may have about as much table time as Mick when he didn't clear up first time. Dave added a k but from there on it was Martin who did the running getting the break back a couple of times to bulk up his score a little. 1-2

So, what could Maxi taxi do? He who is the biggest bandit of them all. After seeing Michael's break Max was unsure whether to tap up when he had enough or to go for it and try and run the table out. His captain told him he had no qualms either way but also "you've got to get to 8k first". Ha, he of little faith. Denise, who had shape shifted from the first person Max had greeted as "Denise" that evening, encouraged Max to go for it and so we were on. Max loves the South Park top, from his infamous "win" against Slee when he put the balls down four times, to magnificent wins against Geoff and a 12k break against Gary & Linda, this is his hunting ground. He started off well, one  up going in clean and only the one excursion to potting on the 50 hole. The ks ticked by and it got to that point of will Max go big? Well, thankfully for the crowd they were going to see a second attempt at a big break as Max proceeded past the 10k mark. With the Div B highest neutral break and score in the bag, it was just a question of could Max reach the end? On 12k, trouble. The split was underhit and the red hung over the 50. Max tried to push it down the table but it sat between 20 and 30. No matter, a butchers cut (only the finest!!) saw one more ball go in. A couple of shots later though and bigger trouble. Ball stuck behind the 30. Max likes to avoid the side cushion route - more practice required - and so opted for the spin round the 30 option. It was on the edge of not being on but he played/lucked it perfectly and a double kiss saw both balls fly into the holes. From their Max started to tire, the one up just going in. But he kept going. Bar drops. One up with two white balls on the table - don't do the Slee shot.. thank god. A second table playout for Max and his highest break so far... 15,360. Well done mate. 1-3

So after that fine effort, Max in his usual good humour had to compare this experience to something. "The blood was going from my hands. If the table ran for 28 minutes I think I'd have passed out. I haven't felt like that since I did a parkrun in Singapore!!" 5km in Singapore = table playout. Remeber that if you're ever feeling like you need a little exercise. Anyway James pulled the short straw in having to follow that Nomad bombardment of South Park and he contrived to miss both balls on the break! Oops. Pete took his time but after a few visits he got the balls back and tap tapped at 6k, the first tippy tapping of the night. From there both players had a go, with James finding his rhythm in the end - shame he didn't manage a sneaky second bar pull. 2-3

So an amazing evening at South Park. The Bs will be happy with the two points after their opponents scabbed all five breaks, and despite the fireworks they only dropped one point to their podium challengers. As for the Nomads, after consecutive 2-3 defeats it was good for them to return to winning ways, and with three matches against Div B sides next up, they'll fancy keeping the pressure on South Park Bs.

[tommo III]

Feb 21, 2024 8:11:14 GMT billiardsmichael said:

michael set off in chase of DJs break and score. Having wasted a lot of time he had to go through the gears quickly, and he 100-split his way to 15k before leaving the red short on the break and coming off down the back - scorer Max had his head in his hands as a double kiss provided a scary moment with a peg. 15,030 break.

A second table playout for Max and his highest break so far... 15,360. Well done mate. 1-3

You were very severe on my former teammates Mick and Denise, but Michael and Max - WOW !

Welcome back to the Forum's resident troubadour, btw.

[billiardsmichael]

Feb 21, 2024 10:45:21 GMT tommo III said:

You were very severe on my former teammates Mick and Denise, but Michael and Max - WOW !

I was off after 450... very generous  

[Martin Pellett]

Denise did have to give her break away to Max, then he plays the table out !!! pray tell me how this works ?

[magners]

MVC B 3 v SPCC A 2
I tense night as the division leaders went head to head.
We scraped a win, but had the balls run slightly different, a 4-1 or even a 5-0 loss may have occurred.
Geoff beat Ricky - Great comeback from Ricky after Geoff's 6k start , but ran out of time (short clock!)
Tracy beat Bud - Arguably Tracy played the table as well as anyone and pulled the bar correctly.
Tony beat Laurie - Great shots off the cushion and down the middle gave Tony the win, as the bar dropped.
Gary beat John - Neither of us looking comfortable. Loads of goes each. just pipping my Interleague buddy.
DC beat Colin - The master ground out the win. (Colin still reveling in the pairs win)
As always a great night, lots of laughs and a fine array of food from Karl

[sleezy]

Mvc  B     3       Spçc  A        2

Geoff   6970    Ricky   3720
Bud       150     Tracy   7150
Tony    4450    Laurie  3840
Gary     5840   John    2320
Colin    2340    Dave   5500


First up with the break Geoff against Ricky and Geoff off with a steady 5k allowing for a few hairy excursions. Ricky on with a chance
But couldn't clear the final white. Eventually Ricky made a good clear and set about chasing geoffs score down. Going along well on
3k a bit surprised the Bar went a bit short and Geoff had enough. 

Game 2 Tracy and Bud. Tracy on the top first and off with a very good 3k. Bud Struggling to get them back Tracy Playing well added some
More. Eventually Bud cleared the balls and going along till he surprisingly broke down.  Tracy Playing  really well  was never  in danger 
From there on.

Third on Tony and Loz. Laurie's start and like skipper off with 3k. Plenty of top of the table stuff till Tony made a good clear  and caught 
Laurie's score. Time running short a close game looked sure to play out and so it did. Things really tense with the tightest of finishes
The leg going either way. Tony taking a chancey shot paid off and he nicked it. 

Next on me and Gaz. Gary's break and off with 2k. Happy with that l thought but merstham can be tricky and whippy up the top. Could get 
Them back. Eventually I got them back but broke down on the fifty. Gary Playing some steady stuff saw the frame out as for myself not
One of my finest. Disappointing.

Last but not least Dc and Col.  Dcs start and as previous a steady start but realistically not enough he thought. Yet another tight slog for
Quite a while with both players having No luck. Eventually the game swung in our favour.  

A Fun evening as always with our mates always competitive. Plenty of friendly banter. Fair to say the draw didn't do us any favours and
First leg may have been closer with a bit more bar time. Pivotal 3rd leg. Going to be tough to Catch up now but we'll give it our best shot. 
Leg 1 of a quick trio with postponed game and Burwood Semi soon.