Redhill League 23/24 - Week 6 - 31/10/2023

[billiardsmichael]

Week 6		-		31/10/2023
Merstham VC A	4	v	1	Salfords Y
South Park CC A	2	v	3	Merstham VC B
Old Oak	3	v	2	Jolly Brickmakers
BYE		-		Salfords B
Nomads	5	v	0	South Park CC B
Salfords A	1	v	4	Horley CC

Note: SPCC A v MVC B pp'd by MVC B. Rearranged date Thursday 21st March.

[tommo III]

Old Oak 3, Jolly Bricks 2
Nick 2300, Wobbly 1020
Clive 7390, John 1660
Martin 2960, Steve 2940 (skipper potting last ball to win by 20)
Rebeccaccacca 540, Iain 2100 (Rebecca faced with a Mountain to climb)
Charlie 1290, Bob 3750 (consolation for Chas with a £70 jackpot win on the fruit machine)

A good sociable evening with the Jolly ones.

[billiardsmichael]

Nomads	5	v	0	SPCC B
Dave*	7510	-	1370	Genette
Jim*	3310	-	1140	Martin
James*	3250	-	2830	Pete
Michael*	4850	-	4080	Denise
JP*	4050	-	3390	Denise (P5)

The table topping Nomads won the jackpot against SPCC B with everything going their way. It all started with a remarkable draw that gave the home side all five breaks and favourable match-ups and didn't stop there...

First up the weather-watching wizardly warrior Dave took to the baise and he struggled his way to an opening 4k, his main issue being the white popping out on the break, or coming inside if he played it softer. Genette, though, has a history of disliking the tricky top at the Garland, and that showed as she managed to get the balls back but a thick break and she was off. Dave did get them back and added a further couple of k, before Genette's break struggles returned with another thick break and off once the game was gone. 1-0

Next up the Nomads resident bandit of the season, Jim, took to the baise and started well. A fairly fluent 3k off the bat showing he'd really been lucky to pinch the break off Martin. With the balls now going towards the back, the nights theme began to emerge, that being a series of misjudgments with regards to the roll on the tricky LH side of the table. Martin was caught out twice when close to getting the break back, but he was given a lifeline well a ball was left up the centre. Instead of practicing a Jersey shot with his decent lead, Jemima reared her ugly head for an appearance and slammed the black peg. Disaster. Martin, though couldn't get them back and Jim made no mistake when he did return to the break, 2 and a bit k and scarper was enough to see him across the line! 2-0

So two up, three to play and the Nomads knew they were on the verge of victory. James was first to try and get them to that mark and an opening break of a k started him off. Perhaps the writing was on the wall in this game for Pete, as he took out the two pegs either side of the 100 with his opening two shots. James steadily built a lead of about 2k, but Pete isn't one to give up lightly. He first chipped away at the lead with a 1.5k break before getting the break back again right at the death. He drew level with the one up to play but, disaster, he'd not hit it hard enough and it hung over the hole! James just had 20 seconds to play and he did so successfully, adding enough and keeping them to seal a win and retain his 100% record - although he had used his get out of jail free card. 3-0

So with victory in the bag the next question was how big could the Nomads go? With captain Michael up next there was a good chance of 4-0, but his splitting woes returned and after 1.7k he was off. Denise got the balls back but she lacked pace of the break and was quickly off. From there on both players struggled but Michael was the first to get the break back and he added 2.5k before a ropey break shot whipped out and he was off. Denise, in no mood to go down without a fight, got the balls back and had 5½ minutes to chase Michaels 4k lead. Despite hitting the break thick three times, missing the red, Denise kept fighting and stayed on track for victory. But with the bar imminent and just a few hundred behind the fourth thick break spelt disaster. This time she couldn't recover and Michael's get out of jail free card had also been used up! 4-0

So a potential white wash was now on the cards, and JP was looking to inflict it while kick start his season. An opening k was good but after having watched Denise seem to get some sort of rhythm on the table in the leg before, there was the possibility of the game soon being put out of sight. Denise sneaked herself in front, but the familiar break issues returned and she was off. Both players had a go at getting the break back, but Denise built up a lead of a k before JP got them back and brought the scores all square again. He was off, though, and Denise once again returned to the break to try and build the decisive lead. But again she was off, still really struggling with the table and JP superbly got them back with 2 mins to go. He was just 1.2k behind and he looked super assured in making a fabulous 1.7k and tap after the bar to seal not only his first victory of the season, but a remarkable 5-0 win for the Nomads. 5-0

So the Nomads had every bit of fortune on offer, particularly with the draw, but when opportunities present themselves you have to grab them with both hands, and that is what the leaders did. With Merstham B and Salfords B not playing, they are nigh-on guaranteed to be in top spot when Jersey comes up shortly. As for their opponents, a tough night that will no doubt be forgotten quickly.

[cross]

Spcc A 2 v 3 Merstham b
John 5000 v 1690 Colin
Rick 5830 v 9000 Geoff
Dave 610 v 11240 Tony
Dick 4260 v 10000 Gary
Tracey 3310 v 1900 Bud
Good night with Spcc Table was great And sandwiches was very good from John.