Redhill League 23/24 - Week 10 - 05/12/2023

[billiardsmichael]

Week 10		-		05/12/2023
Jolly Brickmakers	2	-	3	Salfords Y
BYE		-		Merstham VC B
Salfords B	2	v	3	South Park CC B
Old Oak	3	v	2	Horley CC
South Park CC A	4	v	1	Salfords A
Merstham VC A	3	v	2	Nomads

Note: Jolly Bs v Salfords Y pp'd by Salfords Y. Rearranged date 10/01/2024.

[Dave J]

Salfords B (2-3) SPCC-B

*Melissa 480 - 5030 Genette
Dave 13000 - 3230 *Mick (one visit each)
Tom 5520 - 6800 *Pete
*Caroline 5390 - 1250 Martin
*Mark 780 - 4510 Denise

[tommo III]

Old Oak 3, Horley CC 2
Once again Fortress Old Oak's defences weren't breached (though whenever we go away on crusade we seem to fall to infidels)

Clive 3890 *Luke 880 (a story of lost opportunities for both players until I managed to get a few at the end)
Charlie 1620 *Nev 1760 (tragic ending as Charlie needed to keep one on the table - red for a win or white for a tie - but contrived to pot two 20's)
Paul 4780 *Josh 3900 (Josh lost a 1k which would have pulled him level, giving Paul the break back from which he was able to make it count) 
*Nick 2120 Aaron 3740 (best game of the night, Nick defending a 1.5k lead until Aaron burst into life towards the end to take it)
Martin 3620 *Roland 1760 (Roland, leading the rearguard, wielded his cue named Durandel, but thought better of blowing his olifant-horn - just as well for all concerned.... Ok - Google it ...... Seriously, both players lost what looked like might be winning breaks, but Martin on the table at the right time at the end.) 

[billiardsmichael]

MVC A	3	v	2	Nomads
Neil*	2610	-	1850	Max
Colin	1910	-	1000	*JP
Benny	3750	-	1100	*Abbey
Chris*	460	-	6660	Jim
Grahame*	3120	-	4840	Michael

A first trip to Merstham for the season for the table-topping Nomads, but they came unstuck against the B-division leaders who have been in fine touch themselves.

As Max was running late, the boy never stops working(!), Colin and JP were promoted to the opening game. JP left his first one-up short and Colin showed some excellent hundred play to sneak back to level pegging. From there on in the Nomads knew it could be a long night - while Colin built and kept scores down the back, nothing would go right for JP with the typically tough rear end of the Merstham top doing it's best to alienate the opposition. Colin did enough and came through, with the balls never returning to the break. 1-0

Max turned up 10 minutes into the opening frame, so got a quick look at what the table was doing, but sadly for him his Merstham nightmare continued from a couple of weeks previous. Neil opened up with break, one-up and then thicked the split leaving both balls up and the white nestled on the LH peg, it was only moveable from behind. Max played a couple of ambitious shots to try and move it, but this just allowed Neil to extend his advantage. Eventually Max play a superbly innovate shot to move the awkward white, but luck was against him as none of the three moving balls went in. With time against him he had to find the break, Neil had stretched his advantage to 1.5k and Max got it back but too late. The bar went after the second break shot - Max could have won with all six balls down the 200, but that was deemed a little ambitious! 2-0

So the Nomads were on the brink. Having already suffered a 3-2 loss in the Presidents Cup to MVC A, and their only other defeat coming at the hands of MVC B, the Merstham curse loomed large over their heads. Abbey seemingly wasn't aware of this, as she made a fantastic opener. Expertly leaving the red on the lip of the 50 on the third break shot. But at 1.5k she left a ball awkwardly inside the 30, it can be tough to judge the Merstham cushions and Abbey went a mm too high on the cushion, miss, no score. To add insult to injury Benny managed to play the ball direct and get the break back from that very shot. Abs spirit couldn;t even be brightened by Miss Piggy and Simba, who were cheering on their hero, but as a different spirit arrived, in the form of a G&T, Abbey got the break back needing 2k to get to parity. It wasn;t to be though, both balls on the break dangled on the lip of the 50s and that was goodnight Vienna. 3-0

So the match was done, only a second league loss of the season but the Nomads knew any points they could salvage could be invaluable. Jim was first up and he was given the perfect chance to right the wrongs of the previous hour as Chris four-timed the break. But Jemima sneaked out for a quick visit and Jim pegged his opener, 0-0. A bit of a back of the table battled commenced and Jim found himself 700 up when he got the break back. JP and Michael were watching intently and were begging Jim to tap up at 3k, but he kept going and going and going... the bar went and Jim came off just before Jemima could return from the bar, a lovely 5320 break - the highest of the night. 3-1

So one frame clawed back, could it be two? Naturally there was plenty of chat about how it wasn;t a 19k table tonight, but Michael was looking like he may not even get to 190. Grahame started well and his opening contribution of 1.9k put him in command. Michael struggled with the back of the table, as many had before, and it looked like he was doomed to failure when seven balls were on the table. Grahame stretched his lead out to 2.7k, Michael not even at the 200 mark, with an excellent near clear. This, however, was fatal. With only two balls now on the table Michael found a way to get them back and set about making a winning break, 4.2k later (although with a couple of thick splits on the way) and Michael tapped up, a minute to go with a 1.5k lead, brow could be mopped. 3-2

So a tough night at Merstham for the Division A leaders, but another scalp for the Division B leaders who are firmly in control with Christmas fast approaching. The Nomads' lead at the top is 4 points over MVC A and 5 points over MVC B, but they have two games in hand against the South Parks - it's all looking tasty at the top.

[sleezy]

Spcc  A       4 Salfords   A   1

Tracy    2020  Yvonne     620
Laurie   6930  Les            900
Dick         630  Terri         3090
Dave    10330  Ĺinda         160
Junkie   6340  Barry        1140

First up Tracy and Yvonne.  Yvonne's break and started well till she was very unlucky to loose
Them. Game got really bogged down with both players struggling to get going. Tracy next to clear 
The balls back and going well but broke down. With time running out Trace just kept her nose in front. 

Game 2  Loz and Les. Les off with the break but off early. Laurie revitalised from his excursion to
France played Well to take a good lead. Les trying his hardest but to no avail. Loz balls back and 3k
To the Bar sealed it.

Next on Dick and Terri. Terri off with a very useful start put Dick under pressure. Plenty of goes each 
The odd peg and not a lot happening till Terri cleared the top. Going along with a terrific 3.5 k break 
And eyeing up B league highest neutral break and score when the crowd went silent and disaster 
Struck 4 down ( oh no ). Enough on the board for victory though. 

4th on Dc and Linda with Linda's break. Linda losing her opening break gave dave a great chance. 
Balls back and 5k and tap giving Linda another chance. A few more goes each and dc rattled some
More to The Bar.

Last but not least Barry and Junkie. Barry's break and going ok but off. Junkie head down made a good 
3k. Game soon got bogged down till Junks playing well made another good break to sew things up.

A smashing evening with Sheila and the Salfords A team. Terri  was so unlucky in her Game.
Myself and Ricky rested on the bench so no injury worries ahead of next week's encounter 🤣🤣🤣

 

[tommo III]

Quote:

Chris* 460 - 6660 Jim

LOL  - 666 = the sign of the beast !