WEDNESDAY 16th JULY 2008

HOME

DANBURY SSC

With Trevor away on business together with his anniversary over the weekend, Andy has stepped into the breach and provided a report. Normal reporting will be resumed by Trevor for the Tulip Allstars match.

45’s 1

With Ian having to leave early for work it was decided that 45’s would be played first with Ian and Waspy pairing up.

With the opponents getting first look in at the start, they quickly knock in a 14 break. This was to be their only sizeable break with Ian then getting the Tulip pair back into the match with an 11 and later on, a fourteen break. In a game that had its fair share of safety play the Tulip pair eventually get to the target of 45 with Ian outscoring Waspy 2 to 1. Ian looks like he is back to his potting best getting 30 points (2 pts foul) to Waspy’s 15 with the opponents scoring 29. 2-0

Single 1

Ian up next and potting from the break picks yellows. A game that could have gone either way both players soon get down to their last colour. After a few safety exchanges the opponent gets first chance at potting his red at which he duly achieves. With Ian’s ball on the baulk cushion and away from the long pot the player has on the black, you would be forgiven for thinking that Ian wouldn’t get another chance at the table. However attempting the pot the Danbury player manages to miss the top pocket and send the black back down the table to dislodge Ian’s ball from the cushion back into the middle of the table to set up a pot to the bottom corner. With the black settling somewhere near where Ian’s ball was it looked a formality for Ian to pot both for game. Unfortunately with his pot being just off straight, Ian attempted to pot and travel across the table twice to land on the black. While the idea was right the power wasn’t and left Ian no option but to roll up to the black. A few or these nip/tuck shots later and Ian left the opponent a chance of a pot along the bottom cushion which the player accepts. 2-1

Single 2

Waspy up next sees his opponent get into the frame first. With the Danbury player left with one ball on the table compared to Waspy’s three, the opponent gives Waspy a chance to clear, handing him two shots. Potting the first two balls with ease his positional play on the third invites the in off to the middle. With the white ball accepting the invitation, the Danbury player uses his two shots for game. 2-2

45’s 2

The next 45’s see Andy and Keith pair up. Strangely with Keith not at his best and missing balls which he would normally class as gimmies, the Danbury pair very quickly gets 15 to 20 points ahead. Andy not particularly showing his best in 45’s over recent weeks manages to get his highest break to get the pair back into the game. Unfortunately, someone (Trevor) forgot to add it to the results sheet at the time so we are unsure what it is but will credit Andy with 14. With the scores close right up to the end it was the Danbury pair that gets first chance to close out the game. This they manage to do with a break of 8 and take the game 41-45. 2-4

Single 3 and 4

The third and fourth singles games see Craig and Keith play. Craig not having played since the first game of the summer season sees him play some solid pool for his win and Keith although getting over his 45’s debacle and by his own admission still not playing great shows his class for his win. 4-4

45’s 3

Throughout the match it had become apparent that the visiting team had only travelled with 5 players and we had now reached the last 45’s - a pairs game.

Fortunately for us we had Trevor and his rule book which catered for just this situation. The rules state that in a game of 45’s where there is the incorrect amount of players, the game can still go ahead.

With effect Tulip having two visits to Danbury’ one, Trevor and Craig quickly managed to make 45 with Trevor scoring 27 and Craig 14 (2 Pt foul) with the lone Danbury 45’s player managing a respectable 15 points. 6-4

Single 5

With Andy and Trevor flipping a coin for the last singles Walkover, Trevor loses and gets to play the fifth singles game. Against a player who showed good potting in the second 45’s, the opponent quickly gets through his colours and down to the black. Unable to pot the black, Trevor has to go on the defensive of pot, move ball/snooker. Managing to get back into the frame this way and putting all his remaining balls in a potable position he then lays another snooker (see Figure 1). With the opponents only escape route up the table and hitting the black on the way down Trevor was hoping for another chance. Amazingly though and playing it at speed, his opponent manages to find the angle so as to pot the black into the bottom pocket. 6-5

Figure 1

Single 6

Walkover for Andy

FINAL SCORE

TULIP ‘C’ 7 - 5 DANBURY SSC