Week 19 results
Mackintosh Sports 4 v 1 Fairwater Cons
Rumney British Legion 2 v 3 Canton Libs
Cathays Cons 3 v 2 Mackintosh Snooker
Savoy 1 v 4 Cuesaders Z
Trecenydd Snooker 3 v 2 Taff’s Well
RBL Warriors v Bye
Breaks
Mark Bennett 80 (Savoy)
Jason Hewett 63 (Mackintosh Sports)
Alan Hurley 53 (Mackintosh Sports)
Brian Rees 42 (Mackintosh Sports)
Declan O’Callaghan 40 (Canton Libs)
Mackintosh Sports produced the performance of the season this week to beat champions Fairwater Cons 4-1 and reduce the gap at the top of the Premier League with only three weeks remaining in the 2021-22 campaign.
Knowing only a win would keep their title chances alive, they started strongly with Brian Rees registering breaks of 42 and 32 to defeat Twm Sion Jones, before Jason Hewett showed why he is Cardiff Open champion with a 63 break to beat Steve Flanagan and give Mackintosh a 2-0 lead. The third frame was a close battle between Alan Hurley and Steffan Davies, but a break of 53 for Hurley was enough to seal the frame and the match win. With two frames remaining, Fairwater knew every point was crucial but some excellent potting from Khurram Khan saw him comfortably beat in-form Terry Garland to make it 4-0. The final frame saw Mackintosh captain Ronnie Allen face Ben Griffiths and with the difference between the sides either three or five points depending on the outcome, it was a very tense affair. The frame was close throughout but after Allen potted blue and pink he had a thin cut on the black to complete the whitewash. However, trying to find the edge he missed the ball completely to hand the frame to his opponent leaving Fairwater five points ahead of their rivals, but having played a game more it remains to be seen how pivotal that black ball frame could be in determining the destiny of the title.
Third-placed Canton Libs could have a crucial say in where the title ends up as they play Mackintosh Sports next week, but their own hopes of a maiden title have faded after they could only win 3-2 against bottom side Rumney British Legion. They had to work hard to gain the victory after losing the first two frames on the black after Luke Haines lost to Justin Behnan and Andy Magill beat James Facey. James Wigmore then won against Tony Parkin and a 40 break from Declan O’Callaghan versus Alex Ellis levelled the match, before Tony Chick beat Frank Deriu to seal the points for Canton.
Cathays Cons remain in fourth place after they won 3-2 against Mackintosh Snooker, although they had to come from 2-0 behind after Satinder Singh beat Dan Jones and Craig Bolton defeated Darren Gill. Mike Rathkey pulled one back with victory over Carlos Schiazza, before Dave Standage made it 2-2 with a win against Mike Nessbert and Johnny Davies completed the win by beating Nathan Dunne.
Trecenydd Snooker are just behind Cathays after they won 3-2 against Taff’s Well, who look like finishing the season at the foot of the Premier League. Nick Jones performed well to beat Dan Bridle in the opener, but some good potting from Tony Williams levelled things after he defeated Jimmy Llewellyn. Dai Rideout won on the black against Kevin Brown, before Dai Birkenshaw sealed the win after he beat Tom Cross, but Rob Hayes won against Trecenydd captain Chris Garwood in the final frame.
Savoy’s disappointing season continued after they lost 4-1 at home to Cuesaders Z, but the match saw the individual performance of the week with Mark Bennett’s 80 break enough to defeat Ryan Bowgen in the first frame. Wins for Rob Richards against Jason Summerhayes and Paul Chichester versus Lee Greening put Cuesaders ahead, before Dave Reynolds beat Geoff Sheppard to make it 3-1 and Mike Kinman won the last frame against Dave Hurn to complete the win.
