Sussex Inter-League Fixtures 2022/2023 (Wk10) - 07/05/2023

["Silent"]

Fixtures for (last) Series 10:-

DIVISION 1
Tunbridge Wells 3 v 4 Brighton B
Worthing A 5 v 2 Redhill A
Brighton A have the bye

DIVISION 2
Littlehampton 4 v 3 Worthing B
Mid Sussex 4.5 v 2.5 Lewes
Redhill B 4 v 3 West Sussex

[billiardsmichael]

It is usual for that these reports start with a table of results followed by some mildly witty (well, hopefully witty) commentary to describe whatever shenanigans had gone on. This game, though, was so spectacular, brilliant and entertaining that hopefully this report will take you through the rollercoaster of the night.

Indeed it was clear this would be no normal night on arrival at the Salfords club, despite being aware that there was a "disco" on, the home side were rather surprised to find the venue awash with alcohol, banging tunes and shouty kids. Clearly this was no kids disco - as Michael had expected - but a full on coronation bash for the C's, (Charlie and Camilla - why, what did you think I meant by the C's??). Plentiful discussion was had and, despite the potential to move to a much more sedate South Park atmosphere, the teams agreed to stick to the wild west of Salford.

To further complicate matter, Redhill captain Fritz had buggered off to possibly the grimmest place on earth... Derbyshire. Given there is nothing attractive about that place it was a poor effort not to turn out for the seasons final game and so Redhill had seven equal captains, although Michael assumed responsibility of writing down some names on paper. In fact Michael had gone one step further, doing some research into West Sussex's likely order and so had come up with a masterplan to win and secure second spot in the table!

First up, Alex took the break for only the second time this season and set about compiling a good opener against Alan. Well when I say a good opener what I really mean is a pretty faultless 4k, then he lost the balls down the back and a shot that would have made Martin P wince was hit too hard, with one of the balls taking out the RH peg. Naf all to start. Alan was on and got the break back, adding a couple of k to build a lead. The back of the table was now the key, and with a random frame of snooker causing some minor disruptions, neither player could get the break back. But then, as the music reached its crescendo - or in bar billiards parlance "with the bar in sight" - Alan got the balls back and added another couple of k to seal the deal and put the visitors one up.
Alex Hornby* 260 - 5190 Alan Hitchman :: 0-1

So the visitors were up and away and next up was Ian, with the break, against Nev. Ian's opening salvo was a quick one, his first one-up was short - something Fritz often says is impossible, and Nev was at the table in a flash. A couple of good shots into the hundred took Nev into the lead but he couldn't got the break back, once again starting a battle of the back. The lead went one way then the other, both players knowing the break could be so crucial, and with very little in it it was Ian, happy Ian, who got it back and raced into the lead. He wasn't too far in front though but, despite his best efforts, Nev couldn't get the break and a second leg slipped away from the bees.
Nev Blackman 1940 - 3060 *Ian Cross :: 0-2

So the home side were well up against it, with the awesome foursome still to come, their impressive home record appeared to be in jeopardy. Michaels master plan had been predicated on only needing to break once, and the third leg was to target to get that. So the plan was always for Anita to power past any score she was set and get that crucial break. Kevin stepped up with the break and, despite managing to impressively hang on for a good while, he was off with just 2k on the board. Anita is an opponent to be feared on the Salford's top and she powered into the lead with an excellent opener of 4k. From then on it was a case of could Kevin catch? Despite his best efforts and flamboyant style he could not, Anita pulling back a frame for a rather stunned Redhill B.
Anita Blackman 4870 - 3060 *Kevin Charlton :: 1-2

So now it was time for Mr. Dependable, Martin Pellett. Despite turning down the opportunity to take the first break, citing lack of form, he started off promisingly against the undefeated Barry Holt. But a miss with the ball behind the 30 rather set the sad tone of Martins evening. Barry got the balls back but was off with only 2k. Martin still couldn't get on the board and Barry set about another break. Despite the balls going in it always seemed possible that the pegs would be in play, Barry was leaving the red high and hitting the split fairly thin, the red only just catching the 50 hole to drop. On a few occasions it slid inside the 50, and then after adjusting for a cleaner 50, the 100 whipped and shaved the peg. Nervous moments. Barry added some more and despite going down the back and coming off, he once again had a close call with a peg. Thankfully for the West Sussex lads Barry hadn't brought his axe, and so his lead was up to an insurmountable 8k. Just to add further insult to injury Martin still couldn't get on the board. Barry then playing it out for a far cleaner 4k.
Martin Pellett* 0 - 12970 Barry Holt :: 1-3

So now a remarkable unbeaten streak at home was under grave threat. Redhill B had not lost a home game since early 2018 - a period of five years - when they lost 4-3 to... West Sussex. With the added uncertainty of whether Lewes could catch up to them and Michael's masterplan in tatters, caution had to be thrown to the wind. Acting captain Wilson had to buck the trend and win against the U35s champ Dan against the break. Dan looked comfortable to start, much better on the split early on than Barry and Michael had to content himself with watch the Miami GP. Dan broke down on a visit to the back of the table, but with 4k up on the board. Michael quickly got them back and set about the chase, but a misjudged split and he was off at a shade under 3k. It felt like one of those games where the next player to get the break would go on and win, and Dan was the man who got it. He, however, looked far less comfortable now and was off with only a further k added. Michael now trailed by 2k, but with time on his side and got the break back to set about the chase. A cool 4.5k and tap with no time left for Dan sealed the leg, but could it swing the momentum away from the visitors?
Michael Wilson 7310 - 5460 *Daniel Wheal :: 2-3

After an excellent leg, West Sussex still knew they had two bites at the cherry to finish the game off. Chris had the break against newly capped Ladies international Karen. Chris was happy to crack on with things - despite the arrival of 5 tonnes of pizza - but was on and off fairly quickly on 2k after really struggling to work out the split. Karen, who was making her first appearance of the season, was in no mood to roll over to Chris though, who'd now decided a bite of Pizza may well be a good idea. Karen got the break back via a couple of wonderful/outrageous/ingenious 100 shots (although that only equalled up two Chris had managed in his opener) and added just over 2k to take a slender lead. Once again the battle of the back commenced, but unlike the last two games it stayed scrappy. With a variety of smalls breaks held and lost and one ball making its way to lie between the 100 and the 200. Despite it being left there for a few minutes, Chris felt the impetuous to move it. This, however, was a spectacular misjudgement. Trying to split the ball around the pegs he got greedy, taking out the black and both object ball and cue ball careering into the white pegs!! Three pegs and score lost for Chris meant Karen was 2.5k up but it was far from over. Some nervy visits from both players followed, but Chris just couldn't get them back. Karen was, in fact, the one who did and a calm break of 1.5k was enough to finish the game, Chris taking out the black going for the 200 with the leg gone and next to nothing on the scoreboard.
Karen Bacchus 4460 - 0 *Chris Cox :: 3-3

At 2-0 and 3-1 down, Redhill thought they were buried. In fact with Dan at the table in leg five there were jokes of "at least we got one leg". But now we were at a decider. Martin G, Redhill's finisher, was looking for revenge against the might of Martin C who'd made a rather handy 12k without reply at the PoW. (Prince of Wales, not Prisoner of War camp!! Stop leaping to conclusions, anyway we all know where the PoW camp really is, it's ***. Yeh probably best I leave that censored, Mr Pearce would not be impressed with me.) This time MG had the break, sadly he didn't fancy making much use of it, his first split was too thin and both balls were left agonisingly close. MC came to the table, he really should have been rocking the dancefloor with the DJ, and made no mistake in mopping up the balls there. He went about his business with the sort of grace you'd expect. A smooth 5k but suddenly he was off. MG had a way back into it - to salvage Redhill's record at home. Martin got the break and, despite getting the split comfortably this time, he was off after pushing the red beyond the 50 on the split. Still 3k behind, but MC didn't look quite as comfortable this time, MG once again getting the break back first and went about adding just over 2k. This time the one-up was short, but that's not as bad as you may think. The Salfords table has a bit of a quirk when playing towards the RH 50, and MC fell foul of it like many others have before him. He once again was off without scoring and another battle commenced, both players getting small scores and losing them. With a minute to go MG got the break back, the impossible was on! He was just 600 behind and a superb clear, including a well played red in the 100 got the break back. Three breaks went down and CLONK! the bar goes. MG leads by 140 points. One-up, 190 up. Tap the red in the 50, 290 up. White in the 50, 340. Another white in the 50 and another is rolling towards the 100... it's short! 390 up, four whites left. The final white is popping it's head out but is at that awkward angle where it's easy the knock it into the 100 and take the peg out. MG needed to keep his break and rolled up to the white dead weight, pushing the object ball just beyond the 100. MC comes to the table - slightly in shock that he is now behind and in need of 400 points from four balls to win. One white is still dangling over the 100, tap and it's in. Another easy 100 then goes. 190 behind, two balls left. The 100 shot is no longer on, so the order of the day is to make sure one ball stays up. MC made sure that was the case... by keeping them both up. MG now need to just pot one ball to win, in anything other than the 10 hole. You know what's happening here don't you? Straight in the 10, the other stays up. 200 in it. MG has first crack and is just wide of the 100. MC - roared on by the now mesmerised crowd - shaped up for the 200 to tie. He'd seen Chris take out the black and so tried to adjust by going further up the cushion. You can imagine JV shouting on comms "It has the pace but does it have the line?? It has the pace, but DOES IT HAVE THE LINE???" Clunk. A wooden clunk. Down went the black, up went the Redhill roar. A quite ridiculous end to a ridiculous game.
Martin Greenway* 5510 - 0 Martin Cole :: 4-3

So a night filled with great drama, there was so much going on it would be difficult to summarise into a few lines. So what can be said? Well West Sussex have had a superb campaign deservedly taking the title, only losing two games, and four of their players have taken the top four spots in the averages. Redhill B have also had a great season, losing just the three times and maintaining that long unbeaten home record that stretches back five years and seventeen games. A great season for both teams and a wonderful game to finish it off played in great spirits. Michael's masterplan may have failed, but the Redhill Bs still managed to find a way to celebrate the evening with a remarkable performance on the disco dancefloor.

[bigtj]

Littlehampton 4 - 3 Worthing B

Not quiet the drama there was at Redhill but a good night at the Locomotive with plenty of pegs and many laughs. Table playable despite being a fair bit uphill which caused many balls to fly back down the table and a few inconsistent rolls to overcome. Thanks to Richard the landlord for rustling up burger and chips last moment as he said he was not aware that there was a game on last night!!! Also thanks to West Ham for doing Brighton a favour last night.

1) Colin Green * 5730 - 1280 Dave Jones. Littlehampton captain going first to show his team the way but off early, Dave despite his best efforts unable to retrieve the balls, Colin doing so twice to make sure of the win.

2) Eric Mole 220 - 7340 James Whittle *. James off at 2k, Eric balls back but off losing his score, James 2 more breaks to seal a good win.

3) Dave Simmons 340 - 6040 Brian Richards *. Brian suffering with a bad back so much appreciated he turned out last night, opened with a 3k break, Dave unable to get the balls back and Brian battling through the pain to bring home the spoils with 2 more breaks.

4) Chris Lawman * 7530 - 2610 Alan Mepham. Home captain looking towards Chris to level the game but Chris off early caught by the inconsistent role. Alan like previous games despite some good shots unable to get the balls back, Chris making sure again with 2 breaks. Alan balls back with a couple of minutes left and looked comfortable finishing the game of with 2k + break.

5) Kayleigh Tizzard 960 - 5190 Tony Jenner *. Worthings captain with team pressure deciding to go on and try to level the game. TJ opened with 2k+ and touched. Then game played in a friendly manner with Kayleigh playing some good shots but not getting the pace of the table so losing scores when the balls flew back of the back cushion. TJ adding a few and touching throughout the rest of the game. The table definitely getting harder with the white cutting in front of the hole on the break more and more especially if you took the pace of.

6) John Dynes 1080 - 930 Rick Cunningham *. Fully expected Steve Beach`s name to go down here but with Colin saying they would settle foe a 4 -3 loss on went John (classic look on Steve`s face that he wasn`t playing). I had gone to the bar to buy Kayleigh a drink and when I turned back Rick was off at 250. The game than became very scrappy, neither player able to get the break back. John being first to do so stayed on the table to 1k but had left one behind the 10 hole that he missed. Then the game ended with 5 balls in and around the right hand white peg. So as the bar goes Rick is 100 in front 900 - 800. John cleared the ball expertly and need 2 down to win but left them both up so 50 in it. Rick sinks nothing, John sinks one ball but takes the white peg with the other so Rick first shot at the 100 to win but comes in front, John does the same, Rick again the same, John goes behind and Rick follows suit. John 3rd attempt hits the 100 but bounces out, Rick misses in front and John this time gets the pace right and makes sure the match goes to a decider.

7) Steve Beach * 3590 - 1840 Steve Aylmore. Steve B off at 1.5k (with remarks from behind that would have won the last game). Steve A did get the break back 4 times but unable to build any sort of momentum or break and Steve B getting 2 more goes at the break making sure of a home win.

Must say well done to both sides on fielding a team for all games played as I know both I and Colin have depended on 4 to 5 players regularly and then depended on the support from others who did not particularly want to play a full inter league season but have stepped up and filled in when asked.

[tengu]

Mid Sussex	4½	2½	Lewes
* Paul Moyes-Robb	1910	4150	Ric Bithell
Derek Taylor	2420	900	Dave Knight *
Paul Jobbins	4640	1430	Richard Todd *
* Ros Appleby	6230	2330	Colin Southouse
Barry West	5810	1250	Huw Lincoln *
Andy Farmer-Wright	1870	1870	Trevor Rees *
* Graham Sparksman	710	7160	Chase Newman

Match played at Hassocks Hotel.

[Pete S]

Tunbridge Wells 3 Brighton B 4

Pete Sainsbury 14030 Steve Burns 430
Bryan Stevens 2750 Alan Brackenridge 10090
Brian Mason 1930 Bella Stoner 6220
Richard Corbould 2200 Mark Scott 7760
Ian Wright 9880 Stuart Carruthers 0
Martin Russell 10900 Jean Brackenridge 2630
Marcus Chipman W/o

Well Played Brighton.

Unfortunately a below strength team with Gerry and Curt both having got Covid in Guernsey

[SirKT]

Worthing A 5 RedhillA 2

Well the impossible nearly happened, the visitors unable to cope with the pace of the Henty table almost gave as the 7-0 that we required to snatch the title from them.
All day I was planning my order of play and it almost paid off.

Mike 9620 v 1080 Colin - Mike took three attempts before he settled finishing with a 6k bk
Terry 8370 v 3940 Geoff - Jukesy off on first one up and Molly settled it with a 7k bk
KT 11450 v 1500 Dave J - Jonesy off quickly as well and I made two breaks if 5k+ to keep the dream alive
Roger 5840 v 3330 Gary - I thought it strange that they played Gary against the break in this one, neither player really settled but super sub Roger done enough for the 4-0 lead

Now at this point you could feel the tension from the visitors, who to play next against rising star Joe. It was Sleazy

Joe 1420 v 2390 John - so halfway through this game it was 200 v 800, captain’s nerves starting to fray but the balls favoured John in the end with Joe unable to get the break back.
Congrats to Redhill on their title, without doubt the win away at Brighton A their crowning moment

Martin 11320 v 3200 Denise - Den unable to handle the pace early and Martin showed us how to play the table with a 10k break. A nice 3k from Denise at the end
Chocie 2960 v 7340 DC - would Stu have missed a straight pot on the 50 if we had been 6-0 up ? We will never know. Dave made a steady 7k for a more respectable score

[johnslee]

Worthing A   5      Redhill   2

A difficult tense evening for our boys and girl  at the Henty last night. The final night and one leg
Needed. As the old cliche goes the last hurdle to get you over the line is often the hardest. And so
It was. We knewI it wasn't a done deal facing a great side on their own table. At 0-4 down the pendulum 
Was swinging in Worthings favour. 
Me and Joe up 5  with balls awkward and the top very tricky at times it was an awful, scrappy game but
With Joe unlucky not to get the balls back I won the leg and title. As for Chocie missing a straight 50 it
Had happened on more than one occasion earlier. As for one match on probably one of the best tables 
Around at Brighton it takes a whole seasons play to win the interleague. 
Its been a great interleague that went to the wire. A great result for us and very unlucky Worthing.

["Silent"]

Last series completed, as mentioned previously the Series 4 match between Littlehampton v Lewes will be adjudicated on by the Committee. It won't affect the winners or runner-up positions

[Duncan Disorderly]

Point of note:-
Lewis have cancelled this fixture twice, once due to the snow and the other due to covid.
From what I understand Colin has been trying to get this fixture rearranged and played before the deadline without success.

[tengu]

May 8, 2023 20:13:38 GMT Duncan Disorderly said:

Point of note:-
Lewis have cancelled this fixture twice, once due to the snow and the other due to covid.

Point of correction:-

Lewes cancelled the original fixture due to snow. The rearranged fixture on 26 March was cancelled by Littlehampton due to covid.

[johnslee]

Sorry to hear from Pete's report that Curt and Gerry have caught Covid.
Hope you aren't to unwell and get back to normal well lads x
John.

[StuC]

Congratulations to Redhill A on winning Division One taking the leg they needed against Worthing A, who finished runners-up.

West Sussex had already secured the Division Two title before this series and Redhill B take the runners-up spot with their win over the champions.

The final table in Division Two is still to be finalised with the outcome of the Lewes and Littlehampton match to be decided by the committee.

Full results, tables and averages are available on the SCBBA website

DIVISION ONE TABLE

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Aggregate	Team Ave	Player Ave	PTS
1	Redhill A	8	6	0	2	35	21	301070	37634	5376	12
2	Worthing A	8	6	0	2	32	24	366910	45864	6552	12
3	Brighton A	8	3	0	5	29	27	393200	49150	7021	6
4	Tunbridge Wells	8	3	0	5	25	31	329200	41150	5879	6
5	Brighton B	8	2	0	6	19	37	234540	29318	4188	4

DIVISION TWO TABLE

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Aggregate	Team Ave	Player Ave	PTS
1	West Sussex	10	8	0	2	42	28	428800	42880	6126	16
2	Redhill B	10	7	0	3	38	32	272320	27232	3890	14
3	Mid Sussex	10	5	0	5	36.5	33.5	210830	21083	3012	10
4	Lewes	9	4	0	5	31.5	31.5	227090	25232	3605	8
5	Littlehampton	9	4	0	5	28	35	205790	22866	3267	8
6	Worthing B	10	1	0	9	27	43	240950	24095	3442	2