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