Two new teams also part of gameweek one of 24/25 season
Report by Mike Crook:
Two new teams full of players new to the league, Snooker Bar-Barians and The Miscues have replaced Jacksons and the defunct Peel Legion for the 2024/25 Manx Car Store Snooker League.
Along with a new league sponsor there were thirteen players in total making their debuts in week one.
Sean Rolt 72-34 Brandon Forrester - Sean started well, soon amongst the balls to make a very good 41 break. This proved to be the difference with Sean taking the win with some excellent pots towards the end of the frame. Peter Collister 24-71 David Hill - David started 21 ahead and he soon increased this with some good pots and at the same time not giving much for Peter to go at. Peter had a couple of half chances to get back into it during the second half but didn’t capitalise and David took a comfortable victory. John Kennish 70-59 Darryl Hill - Darryl was first in after a great long red and not long after was in again to build up a 40 point lead with the help of a 24 break. A long thin clipped red resulted in a 34 break from John in response. After a few good safety shots and pots were exchanged, John took a mid-range brown and cleared to pink to take the frame. Mike Doherty 38-51 Harry Ellis - Scrappy with most of the reds going awkward. After picking off reds here and there both were unable to capitalise by taking colours. This was the theme until the end when Harry sealed his first league win with a well taken pink. Zain Abideen 76-72 Scott Campion - With the match score at 2-2 the result came down to a decider. Scott, receiving a 28 start from Zain, extended his lead with a couple of good small breaks. Zain didn’t let his head drop and responded with a fantastic 46 break. Both players continued to cue and play very well, waiting for the right opportunity to score. Down to the colours Scott took the advantage by taking yellow to blue which included great pots on brown and blue. Scott narrowly missed frame ball pink but Zain had it all to do. Zain stepped up and potted a superb pink and just as good black to seal the match. A great frame to watch from both players.
Snooker Bar-Barians - who are based at Douglas Snooker Bar - didn’t get off to the best of starts away at the more seasoned Rockets. Chris Reynolds, son of the late four-time island champion and snooker legend Peter ‘Potsy’ Reynolds was the only winner for the Bar-Barians. Chenji Ratnavel was also a convincing winner for the Rockets on debut. Frame scores: John Spellman 75-52 Chris Lawless, Chenji Ratnavel 57-17 Paul Craine, Graham Ashton 57-34 Mark Davenport, Doug Kinrade 31-81 Chris Reynolds and Paddy Delaney 80-24 Stephen Berry.
Something of a surprise result as the Mob had won on their last eight visits. Tommy Lawler 24-46 Alan Heath - On paper this looked like a win for Heath and this is how it turned out. Heath made some good pots including a 28 break to get him over the line although Lawler still had a chance. Heath was 22 points ahead with 22 on the table when Lawler oddly decided to shake Heath’s hand. Mark Quinn 86-22 Steve Finnegan - A 49 point start for Quinn was always going to be a tall order for Finn to overcome. Finn struggled to get going and Quinn potted well and the handicap difference was enough to give Quinn to get win. James Goodwin 71-56 Lee Hunt - Hunt played very well in this frame, but once again the handicap helped Goodwin to get a good win. Do you see what I did there? Alec Oates 71-31 Jonny Hogg - I don't think either player would say that this was the best frame of snooker they've ever played. At one stage the black was in the jaws of a corner pocket and the reds were beginning to gather around it. Unfortunately for Hogg it was he that broke the deadlock by potting the black with a red. With a few snookers needed for Hogg. It was Oates that took the win for Malew and ended Hogg’s winning streak of 10 going back to last season when playing for the Rockets. Tony Cubbon 91-67 Peter Kirkham - A bad break-off from Cubbon left Kirkham in amongst the reds. Kirkham took full advantage of the situation by building a break of 24 to close the 49 start. Cubbon slowly started to recover from his error and made some very good pots in the way we know he can. Kirkham wasn’t that bad himself but Cubbon saw it through. A great start to the season for Malew, but we are not counting our chickens!
Matthew Astall 22-64 Steve Cowin - Giving away a 28 start Matt decided to attack and unfortunately left Steve seven easy reds which he happily potted with the odd colour. With two reds still on the table Matt needed snookers, frame over. Phil Joynes 56-74 David Callister - Phil wasn’t on his game, 42 behind with 2 reds still on the table, he got both reds with blacks and the yellow and green. A safety battle on the brown before David left it on, Phil took brown and blue and was perfect on the pink and black over a bag but alas the pink settled over the pocket and David put it away. It must be said David potted some great reds during the frame. Denis Boyle 21-61 Paul McKinstry - Paul potted well and had the run of the balls, one red left and Denis was 36 behind. Denis potted this but in going down for the black went in-off in the corner pocket, handshake time. Andrew Hutchison 65-27 Dave Corris - Andrew, playing his first ever league frame started really well potting reds with high colours and good safety. Dave tried hard to get back but Andrew was not to be denied, on this form he won't be on 42 handicap for long. Dave Pickersgill 53-41 Harry Minor - Close affair this, nothing in it with four colours left. Dave got the brown but attempting a thin cut on the blue missed it. Needing blue and pink for the frame Harry was unlucky to see the blue settle in the jaws of the green pocket. Dave took blue and pink to edge the best frame on the night. Well done to the Wannabes and good luck for the rest of the season.
St Olaves have lost of couple of last season’s regulars and brought Travis Bignell and Anthony Bayle back, both winning on their return. My correspondent says it could’ve been 5-0 but Dan Crawley spurned his chance. Frame scores: Travis Bignell 65-32 Martin Rigby, Paul Smyth (27 break) 97-48 Vic Rigby, Dave Kelly 51-33 Matthew Dodd, Anthony Bayle 66-38 Paul Tangeman and Dan Crawley 39-76 Dave Hanlon (25 break).
The Hurricanes were quiet last season but experience told against The Miscues. Ollie Pickford did at least prevent the whitewash by taking the finale. Hurricanes had a debutant of their own, Nialls Wilson who hit a 35 break during his victory. Frame scores: Jamie Wilson 80-67 Rob Dolby, Nialls Wilson 88-19 Luca McDermott, Lee Butterworth 56-42 Kieran Horrox, Shaun Roberts (20 break) 59-42 Ben Peach and Steve Munk 37-74 Ollie Pickford.
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