As tradition would have it, the club’s AGM was held immediately before the President’s Trophy final. It was good to hear that the club’s membership and usage levels produced a positive financial position at the end of the year.
Similarly positive, was the approach adopted by both players in this final. James McManus and Craig Glover continued the good quality snooker that they had played to beat, respectively, Shiv Sibal and Paul Brockway in earlier rounds.
McManus took advantage of his 8 point handicap lead with confident play, good potting and cue ball positioning to seize the early momentum in the frame.
Mid game, with colours dispersed around the table in relatively safe positions, break building was difficult for both players. Glover then overcame this difficulty, potting a brilliant red in the middle pocket will no angle, followed up with two blacks and two more reds.
Both players then showed their class with some great pots and cue ball control. Glover’s screw back from the pink to develop a red over the middle pocket was outstanding.
With only two points between the players on the final red, the tension was palpable in the snooker hall as the room filled up with spectators. McManus saw off the last red and put pressure on Glover with a 10 point lead on the yellow. Glover was up to it with a fabulous long yellow, then green and brown meant he was only one behind and blue was pottable.
Glover missed blue and left McManus with a possible cut back into the corner pocket. McManus potted the blue needing only the pink to win. But he’d left a three quarter table distance between the cue ball and pink, and the pink was close to the cushion a good foot from the pocket. Safety or pot? – the spectators were asking themselves. McManus had no doubt no fear and confidently potted the pink to win the tournament.
Thanks guys for a great final.
Craig Glover (Runner up, Dave Sykes (President), James McManus (Winner)