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Tierney versus Wells

Sadly the sponsor of this trophy, Tony Stone, passed away earlier in the year.  Tony, an Honorary Life Member of the Parochial and Home Guard Snooker Club, set up this tournament, which has a restricted entry, to give those members of the club who hadn’t won a trophy a better chance to win.   A good deed by an honourable man. 

The final was played on 8 December between Dave Tierney and John Wells.  A Scotland v England match up.  Wells’ handicap gave him a 12 start. Would that be enough to keep ahead of Tierney, who, on reaching the final beat this year’s winner of the President’ Trophy? 

The first phase of the game saw some good safety play with the cue ball returning from the pack of reds to the baulk area of the table. Then Tierney was given a few opportunities to reduce the deficit, potted some good reds and colours, and overtook Wells on the scoreboard.  Just as it looked as if Tierney was to dominate the next phase of the game, he had some back luck – cannoning the pink into the pocket when playing a red.  This and a missed red which hit the middle pocket knuckles four times before staying out, suggested now was the time for Wells to put pressure on Tierney.    Unfortunately, whilst potting some reds, Wells wasn’t able to find his ‘A’ game and couldn’t take advantage of Tierney’s bad luck.

Both players looked to snookers on the last few reds and honours were pretty even on the scoreboard as a result.   Wells was still in touch with Tierney when the last red went down.  The score was 36 to 23.  However, snookers were required by the time the brown was potted.  Wells potted the blue and tried to get a snooker with the pink and black in mid table positions.  Alas, he failed and when Tierney potted the pink it was all over at 54 to 30.  On the day, Dave Tierney deserved his win and John Wells was disappointed with his performance. 

With this being an annual tournament, Tony Stone will be missed but not forgotten.         

Reported by Dave Sykes

12 December 2022.

BHAMRA VERSUS MCMANUS: 30 NOVEMBER 2022. 

The Spring Handicap took a while to get going this year, but there was nothing slow about Jas Bhamra’s start to the final.  On his second shot of the frame he consummately stroked in a thirty break with four reds, three blacks and a blue.  James McManus’ handicap lead of 5 was washed away with the blink of an eye when he came back to the table for only his second shot.

Undaunted by this sudden setback, McManus soon potted two very good long reds.  Unfortunately, with no colours to follow these reds, Bhamra was still in the ‘box seat’.  And yet after a lull in the scoring, and some good safety play from both players, Bhamra showed some frustration when he missed an easy blue.  Just when it looked like McManus might make a couple of good scores and bridge the scoreboard gap, he was unlucky with two unforeseeable ‘in off’ fouls.

With these foul shots, Bhamra was able to capitalise with some red/colour combinations.  This  meant that it was 58 to 19 in favour of Bhamra when the last red was potted.  Three snookers required by McManus for a re-spotted black.    A tall order made impossible when Bhamra calmly potted yellow, green and brown in one break with good positional play.  Blue was missed, McManus did the only thing available to him and conceded.                

This final was won by some accomplished potting and skilful positional play from Bhamra.  That said, he did have some fortune at the start of the frame.  Having split the reds from his break off, this would normally leaving a pot on.  However, he managed to cover all the pockets and also give McManus no real option to get back to baulk.  Consequently there looked like a lot of ‘hit and hope’ in McManus’ very first shot.  His ‘hope’ was then dashed when the cue ball was left amongst the reds with many now available. The rest is history – reported above.   Sport would be much less interesting without ‘What ifs’, but they don’t win games!!!!! 

CONGRATULATIONS TO JAS, WINNER BY 67 TO 19.  CONCESSION ON BLUE.       

Reported by Dave Sykes   

Presidents Handicap Trophy Final 2022.

From a field of 32, Martin McWilliams and Paul Brockway won three single frame handicapped matches over the summer and autumn, to reach the final of the President’s Trophy on 18 November 2022.   Prior to the final, the clubs AGM was held and the mood in the club was on a high, after turning the 2021 ‘Covid driven’ financial gloom into a bumper year for membership and revenue.    

The game was billed as the ‘new kid on the block’ against the ‘old timer’.  Martin, a member of the club for nearly 40 years, against Paul, who joined the club only last year.    McWilliams broke off with a seven start on the handicap.   It was a tense start, with neither player showing their best game.  Brockway began to pot reds, but couldn’t get position on the colours.  Another red potted and Brockway found his cue ball embedded in the pack of reds with only the black on its spot for his next shot.  Perhaps he should have taken out the long tackle, but he chose to lean over to the centre of the table and with his bridge hand up in the air he miscued and gave 7 points away.

McWilliams’ consequent lead was short lived, as he continued to misfire with several reds hitting the pocket jaws, and Brockway beginning to find his form.  As Brockway developed a good lead, it was noticeable that McWilliams was taking his time with shots to try and get back into the match.  Unfortunately this didn’t happen and it wasn’t till well into the frame that he potted his first red.  He gave an ironic cheer and held aloft his arms with some relief.

The middle of the game ran into a bit of a stalemate with both players matching each other with good safety play.  The stalemate was broken when Brockway produced two brilliant snookers from his safety play.  Both ‘touching ball’ snookers meant that McWilliams had no other option than to play away from the touching and the object ball and use at least three cushions to get out of the snooker.  Gallant, but ultimately failed attempts were made.  The writing was on the wall, it wasn’t McWilliams day.  

Insult was added to McWilliams’ misery when Brockway fluked the yellow following the ball ‘jawing’ the middle pocket, then rolling along the cushion only to pot perfectly in corner baulk end pocket.  At 43 behind, needing 5 snookers, Martin conceded and congratulated Paul on his win.   Reporter: Dave Sykes    

Our league night is held once a month and teams compete against each other for the Jack Barstow Trophy which is awarded in December. The final league competition was Tuesday 22nd November 2022 starting at 7.30 and the winners will be announced in early December

Once a month the club puts on its Fast and Furious night. This is a quick fire mini-league competition played over a series of 15 minute games and is open to all members. Our recent F & F competition was held on Tuesday 16th August and was a great success.

The next Fast and Furious night is Tuesday September 13th 2022 starting at 7.30 pm. Everyone is welcome to join in but just be aware that there aren’t likely to be any spare tables for normal games that night. So why not come and join in the fun – a great way to meet fellow club members, especially if you are new!

Our snooker club is very pleased to host the bar facilities for Oakwood Cinema. A film is shown once a month and, after a summer break, the next film will be “Operation Mincemeat” showing on Saturday November 26th. Tickets can be purchased from the Oakwood Cinema website. Each showing starts at 7.30 but you can come up to our bar beforehand from 6.45 pm for the that pre-viewing drink

14th March

The PHG snooker club is throwing open its doors from 6.30 pm on Monday 14th March to the public. Why dont you come along and see what the club is all about. We have three full sized tables and a licensed bars with drinks at very competitive prices. You can play a game of snooker or just sit and chat in our cosy bar. Lionel Payne, our resident professional snooker coach, will be on hand to offer advice and take bookings for personal coaching. Lionel runs our junior academy which is starting soon. Sign up your son or daughter on the night

Get ready for a scintillating Six Nations Rugby  competition. The club will be open for each of the four rounds starting Saturday 5th February when Ireland take on Wales at 2.15pm, followed by Scotland v England at 4,45

Enjoy the match in the warmth with a pint from our fully licensed bar (members only)

Other dates for your diary are:-

Fri 11th Feb    Wal v Fra 8.00pm KO

Saturday 12th Mar  Ita v Sco 2:15pm KO; Eng v Ire 4:45pm KO

Saturday 19th Mar Wal v Ita 2:15pm KO; Ire v Sco 4.45pm KO; Fra v Eng 8:00pm KO

2nd December 2021. 7.30pm

This is a fun filled competition night where members compete for prizes brought in by their fellow competitors. Each member brings in a prize worth no more than £15 and donates it to the prize table.