CARDIFF & DISTRICT SNOOKER ASSOCIATION

Congratulations to Ronnie Allen and Alan Hurley of Mackintosh after they won the 2018 Cardiff Open Pairs title with a 3-1 victory over Senghenydd’s Mike Boucher and John-Henry Griffiths.

The first frame is always crucial in a best of 5 match, and this proved no different with the Mackintosh pair building a 20 point lead that they built on to leave Boucher and Griffiths needing snookers on the colours, which they were unable to get to put Allen and Hurley one up.

The second frame started with a few reds potted without colours, but then came the pivotal moment of the match as Hurley went for a long red, which cannoned back up the table and into the green pocket leaving a path through the reds to the green over the corner. Hurley then took advantage of being in amongst the reds and produced a classy 68 break, which ended on the penultimate red with a failed double to establish a two frame lead.

The next frame was the best of the night, with Cardiff Open champion Griffiths taking advantage of an early fluke to establish a 30 point lead. However, Allen managed to get in next and make a lovely 35 break to give the Mackintosh duo the advantage, but Griffiths got another chance and sealed the frame with an excellent 42 break to make it 2-1.

Boucher and Griffiths were looking to build on this in the next frame, but Mackintosh got in first with a break by Allen that gave them a 20 point lead, which they didn’t relinquish and sealed victory with a clearance on the colours by Hurley to win 3-1.