Defending Champions dumped out in night of scotch double 8 ball feast!
League action was put on hold as doubles merits took centre stage on Thursday.
Rounds 1 to 3 were played over 4 venues, resulting in qualifying semi-finalists. 23 pairs started out, only 4 remain who play down to a winner on 3 November.
The Lamb Results:
Rd 1 (32)
- Gaz Cummings/Mark Mark Perry BYE
- Ben Warrilow/Neil Rowley 2 Alan Brown/Nick Backhouse 0
- Anthony Whitehead/John Grobnik 2 Russ Johnson/Kevin Plant 1
- Rob Hughes/Colin Paterson BYE
Rd 2 (16)
- Gaz Cummings/Mark Perry 2 Ben Warrilow/Neil Rowley 0
- Ant Whitehead/John Grobnik 2 Rob Hughes/Colin Paterson 1
Rd 3 – QF (8)
- Gaz Cummings/Mark Perry 2 Ant Whitehead/John Grobnik 1
Qualifiers: Gaz Cummings/Mark Perry
Last years runners up came through a very tough group to earn a shot at going one step better this season. Their QF against Whitehead & on form Grobnik was a tense affair but The Joker duo showed their class, and patience, to come through.
Stone CC Results:
Rd 1 (32)
- Andy Gibson/Phil Smith BYE
- Leigh Marshall/Steve Guildford 2 Charlie Kirkham/Phil Ratheram 0
- Tom Sharman/Lynn Bromley 2 Anthony Gibson/Keith Wake 0
- Nick Griffin/Russ Britton BYE
Rd 2 (16)
- Leigh Marshall/Steve Guildford 2 Andy Gibson/Phil Smith 0
- Nick Griffin/Russ Britton 2 Tom Sharman/Lynne Bromley 0
Rd 3 QF (8)
- Leigh Marshall/Steve Guildford 2 Nick Griffin/Russ Britton 0
Qualifiers: Leigh Marshall/Steve Guildford
The ever steady Eccleshall pair came through at Stone CC beating fancied young gun Charlie Kirkham, a twice Junior champion, and his partner Singles Merits champion Phil Ratherham in round one. Their round two opponents were also high quality, Labours Phil Smith and Andy Gibson, but were vanquished. With Lee Walker on holiday, Little Stokes top doubles pairing were similarly dispatched to give Marshall & Guildford a spot in the semi-final.
The Joker Results:
Rd 1 (32)
- P Loughhead/S Loughhead BYE
- P Paul Knight/Andy Conner 2 Darryl Norman/Gavin Davies 0
- A Smith/G Gilbert 2 D Roberts/S Doolan 0
- Chris Banks/Richard Chandler BYE
Rd 2 (16)
- P Loughhead/S Loughhead 2 Paul Knight/Andy Conner 0
- A Smith/Gilbert 2 C Banks/R Chandler 1
Rd 3 QF (8)
An issue has arisen regarding this match and the outcome will be communicated as soon as possible
The Joker qualifier was spoiled as the Rd 3 qualifiers relocated to The Lamb to play their QF, which is not allowed as all matches have to be completed at the drawn venue. The League committee are deliberating on how to proceed with a decision expected shortly. In form Gav Davies was delayed at work so their round one match was gifted to Knight & Conner. Round two threw up two surprising results, with the Loughhead’s and Andy Smith/Graham Gilbert coming through against expectation.
Longton Snooker results:
Rd 1 (32)
- Melvin Archer/Tony Douthwaite 2 Shaun Brian/Duncan Christer 1
- Mark Bradshaw/Mark Welton BYE
- Justin Kirkham/Nick Beech BYE
- Ben Smith/Alan Pinkstone BYE
Rd 2 (16)
- Justin Kirkham/Nick Beech 2 Ben Smith/Alan Pinkstone 0
- Mark Bradshaw/Mark Welton 2 Melvin Archer/Tony Doutwaite 0
Rd 3 (QF)
- Mark Bradshaw / Mark Welton 2 Nick Beech / Justin Kirkham 1
Qualifiers: Mark Bradshaw/Mark Welton
In a very high quality evening of pool, the defending champions came unstuck against an in-form committee pairing. Before that, Archer & Douthwaite had overcome dogged resistance from former runners up Christer and Brian, who had chances to win. Kirkham/Beech were excellent in beating Smith/Pinkstone: a well worked scotch 8 ball clearance from the Jokaz pair put them one up, but an ambitious double on the black by Ben The Force Smith gifted them the win in frame two. Archer/Douthwaite were on an 8 ball themselves in frame one of round 2, but ran out of position on the black.Several good snookers were laid by the two Marks who took the frame with their two shots. The match was quickly won via an 8 off the break, notable for 3 excellent positional shots towards the end to get prime position on the final object ball and the black. In the final qualifier, The Law and The Doc swept through frame one, and were favourites in frame two until a roll off gave Kirkham/Beech 2 shots and the frame via a good clearance. In the decider the committee members were forced into a difficult clearance which they managed via a fortunate quadruple on the black!
[box type=”shadow” ]Next week: It’s singles merits, played down to 8 quarter-finalists over 8 venues. Defending champion Melvin Archer finds himself at Eccleshall in a very tough group with John Grobnik, Darryl Norman, Phil Ratherham and Jack Walker. Tony Douthwaite will be favourite to qualify from his home venue The Joker. Longton Snooker hosts ‘the group of death’ with Paul Knight facing Nick Backhouse, Rich Lewis, Dave Roberts,Neil Rowley and Lee Walker.[/box]
