CARDIFF & DISTRICT SNOOKER ASSOCIATION

Mackies Lost Boys beat Cuesaders in a thrilling match by just 8 points.

John Huggins 67 v 79 Graeme Prance

Mike Watts 51 v 107 Graham Jenkins

Ken Linsey 67 v 76 Mike Kinman

Skippy 104 v 37 Ryan Bowgen

Chris Johnson 73 v 55 Leon Giles

Final score: Mackies Lost Boys 362 v 354 Cuesaders

Graeme Prance won a close first frame against John Huggins; John managed to keep his 20 point advantage for most of the frame but Graeme was able to go ahead when it mattered, after failing to cannon the black off the cushion in potting the pink Graeme was faced with a difficult safety and instead chose to attempt a full length of the table double which he potted to win the frame by 12 points.

Mike Watts had a good start to frame two building on his 20 point start with a 14 break and some good safety. However, Graham Jenkins produced some great snooker from that point on to get back into the frame with a 16 break then followed that with a 35 break, which was the highest of the night, and a clearance of the colours looked to be a crucial 27 point. Graham won the frame by 56 points.

In the longest frame of the evening which included great safety play by both players, Ken built on his lead early in the frame but some key fouls and unlucky in-offs allowed Mike back into the frame. Mike began to up his game towards the end of the clearing the colours up to the pink, however a surprising miss on the pink meant the frame was still alive. Ken, after potting the pink, was faced with a difficult black down the cushion, which wobbled and finished safe. After a few safety shots Ken attempted a long black which he missed and left a simple black into the middle for Mike. Mike won the frame by 9 points.

Trailing by 77, Skippy needed to a good performance to give Chris a realistic chance in the last frame. An excellent display of potting by Skippy meant he was 50 points ahead at the halfway point of the frame. Ryan Bowgen had a few chance but failed to capitalise and get back into the frame partly due to some bad luck with cannons and positional shots not quite working out. An important fluke on the last red meant Skippy increased his lead, and a brown to black clearance was a vital extra 22 points for the Mackies. Skippy won the frame by 67.

Cuesaders up by 10 meant the Mackies had a 10 point start in the final frame due to their 20 per frame handicap. With the aid of some impressive long potting Chris increased his lead to 30 points but a missed pink gave Leon a chance to get back into the frame. Thanks to some good safety play Leon created more opportunities for himself and got back to all level on the green. Chris potted green, brown and blue to go 12 points ahead with 13 remaining. A long pink missed by Chris gave Leon a chance to steal the frame, with the black over the pocket an awkward pink down the rail was the key shot for Leon. Leon rattled the pink and didn’t leave it safe; Chris held his nerve to pot match ball pink.

Congratulations to the Mackies Lost Boys who deserved their win and always play the game in great spirit.