Kirkham stars with 63-break during latest league fixtures
Report by Mike Crook:
Peter Kirkham was the star of week four in the Mann Crane Hire Snooker League.
His 63 break in a deciding frame smashed the previous league high.
Meanwhile, Blinders maintained their 100 percent record but couldn’t overhaul Malew who top the league by a single point.
Scott Campion 59-47 Marc Morley - Scott hit a very nice 21 and Marc needed a snooker on the brown. Scott went in-off when playing safe and Marc potted brown, blue and pink, the latter being an excellent pot into the middle but the position on the black fell short. Playing safe, he left the white glued to the baulk cushion with the black around the pink spot. Scott then played one of the shots of the night, stroking it in. Harry Ellis 50-74 Terry Tobin - Harry started well but as some misses crept in, they were proving more costly as Terry found his groove and ran out a comfortable winner. Shaun Roberts 46-60 Andrew Hutchison - Shaun just missed one too many colours but the frame still went to the black as Shaun brought it back. In the end Andrew potted a great pink and black to edge the Legion ahead. Conor Mahon 68-22 Ben Clarke - Conor was quickly in a nice flow accumulating breaks of 21 and 22 with the win looking a formality against Ben in his first league frame. However, Ben did string some good pots and safety shots together and will only get better with experience. Darryl Hill 104-88 Terry Boyle - Darryl set off well and was in the balls on 34 before missing a routine shot. A fluked frame ball brown saw Terry needing snookers, however he laid an excellent one on the blue which Hill failed to escape from and it was game on. Terry then potted the blue before a safety battle commenced on the pink, only for Hill to slot a nice one into the green pocket to give the Blinders their fourth match win from four.
This win was just enough to leave Malew heading the league on their own by a single point. Tony Cubbon was, ‘comfortable’ in chasing Steve Cowin’s 56 start before winning on the pink. The undefeated match winner, James Goodwin is in uncharted territory, leading the individual league alongside Peter Kirkham (Mob) and Rodger Clague (Rockets). Paul McKinstry won a black ball finale for Wannabes but it wasn’t enough to get them off the bottom. Frame scores: Steve Cowin 94-102 Tony Cubbon, David Callister 81-33 Alec Oates, James Teare 61-81 Mark Quinn, Michael Creer 25-64 James Goodwin and Paul McKinstry 67-65 Tony Pring.
An amazingly close match where the last four frames went to the black after frame one ended Pat Maher 57-42 Jamie Wilson. Matt Dodd 60-58 Paul Westhead - Dodd was slow to get going but in the end didn’t disappoint. Left with a tough pink to the middle he potted it, sending his white off four cushions to land perfect on the black. Paul played well, but some unlucky in-offs ultimately cost him. Paul Tangeman 61-72 Nialls Wilson - A cracker of a frame, both played extremely well, Paul hit a 22 break but was cruelly denied by Nialls with a 25 effort. Calum Gardner 75-65 Danny Kane - Danny played very well on league debut, but his 35 start wasn’t quite enough as Calum nicked it with a 22 clearance for frame and match. Vinny Dale 42-45 Rob Cowin - Both played well in a tactical frame.
More black balls here with frames two and three going all the way. Chris Reynolds finished well, taking the last two balls to deny William Hogg who gave him a really good game. Mark Davenport handed Lee Hunt frame three with a very costly error, going in-off after potting the black! But by far the highlight came from the Mob’s Peter Kirkham in the decider. After a couple of visits to the table he was off with a 63 break, by far the highest so far this season, very impressive and good to watch. Frame scores: Chris Lawless 29-45 Alan Heath, Chris Reynolds 72-66 William Hogg, Mark Davenport 50-60 Lee Hunt, Andy Moore 84-52 Steve Finnegan and Gary Williams 71-118 Peter Kirkham.
The Rockets registered a first win of the season at the fourth attempt to help their title defence. Lee Gale was the only player from the slightly under-par Cue Ballers to show his true form with a 32 break during frame two and level the match. Rodger Clague, (now four from four) and first wins of the season from Marc Bolton and Doug Kinrade saw the Rockets home. Frame scores: John Spellman 39-25 Alex Sinclair, Paddy Delaney 38-64 Lee Gale, Rodger Clague 43-21 Richard Hillier, Marc Bolton 58-27 Kam Virk and Doug Kinrade 54-14 Dave Welsh.
Port St Mary Strollers 1-4 St Olave's
Harry Boyle 18-60 Dave Kelly - After some disappointing performances, Kelly was fully charged up on this occasion, running away with the frame with multiple double figure breaks. Max Barnes 52-85 Geoff Hall - Having demolished your correspondent in practice the previous night, Hall kept on in the same vain, finishing off with a long blue, long pink, landing his white on the cushion, right behind black on its spot which he thumped into the yellow pocket for a worldie clearance. Garey Ellison 83-65 Paul Smyth - Smyth racked up the most league wins last campaign but has suffered this time around, drawing a blank with his resultant low handicap. He closed the 56 start to within touching distance, but Ellison nailed a full length final pink to deny him. Mike Boyle 27-97 Stuart Sandford - Boyle senior was chasing 42 but missed two blacks off the spot. Sandford mopped up some points from these misses and pushed further ahead. Late work commitments left the Strollers a man short, giving the northerners the final point and an early start back home.
The Miscues 2-3 Cue Zone Masters
The Masters made it three wins from four after taking this Cue Zone derby. Jez Hill was their standout performer, winning by a distance yet again. Les Briggs was the match winner for the second week running, taking a close final frame. Frame scores: Dale Walker 36-70 Brendan Clague, Rob Dolby 57-45 Tommy Clague, David Kelly 11-63 Jez Hill, Mark Corlett 65-56 Ivan McMaw and Ben Peach 37-59 Les Briggs.
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