L&L Property Contractors Snooker League took another break this week as cup action prevailed with the Eric McMullen Memorial Handicap TKO Trophy penultimate qualifying round taking centre stage.
In a crucial round of qualifying matches it was Veterans Club B of Group Two who recorded the most significant result with a 5-0 victory over Maryport Social to almost guarantee their place in the semi finals.
David Teasdale (+49 handicap) opened the scoring and with teammate and Vets B captain, Geoff Banton winning the next it was soon 2-0.
Victories from Shane Evitts (+29) and Sal Cakmak (+23) made it 4-0 and as Paul Vickers (+11) won the last the whitewash was complete.
Workington’s Vets B now sit top of qualifying Group Two on 11 points with Maryport Social now third (plate placing) on 6 points.
In the other Group Two match Whitehaven’s Rack Shack delivered a sound home performance to defeat Workington’s United Club, 3-2 giving them a slim chance of qualifying for the semi’s.
A victory for United’s Dave Chapman (+25) gave the away side something to build on but with Andy Moore (+35) and Scott McKelvey (+35) winning the next two the Rack Shack snatched the advantage at 2-1.
The next saw just the last two balls being enough to split the two players and in holding his nerve it was United’s Mark Suitor (+34) who took the match to a decider.
The final frame had its twitchy moments but in keeping his cool it was Stephen Harrison who pulled his side over the line for an important Rack Shack victory.
The Rack Shack swap places with the United Club in the Group Two table sitting on seven points, while their opponents are on six points in fifth place.
In Group One Vets Club A battled their way to a 3-2 home win against Workington Conservative Club, but with all their matches now played the Vets outfit will have to settle for a plate semi final place.
A 32 break from Richard McCarthy (+1) was enough for the Cons to lead 1-0 however as Mark Tatton (+15) rose to the challenge in the next parity was achieved.
Frame three saw Alan Moore (+5) win convincingly but with the Vets winning the next a decider ensued.
Starting well in the last Kevin Basnett (Scr) soon chalked off the handicap deficit and as he got in amongst the balls a 30 break later proved to be enough to take the frame and match for the Vets A captain.
Vets currently sit second in Group One on seven points with Cons in fourth on four points, but with one game still left to play.
In the only remaining qualifying match of Group One, and indeed the week, saw Workington Golf Club guarantee their spot in the semi-finals with a 3-2 away win over Station Road A.
In the first frame of the match Mark Carruthers (+37) produced one of his best wins of the competition as he put the golfers 1-0 up but with a black ball win in the second Darren Lawson (+25) tied the match score.
A thumping win for the Golf Club’s Ryan Ismay (+5) gave his side some momentum in the third, however, with Chris Hunter (+27) in superb form in the next the Station A cueist ensured the match went the distance.
Giving away 22 points in handicap advantage in the last Mark Cowen was up against it. Nevertheless the Golf Club star produced one of the performances of the match to nick the frame on the last couple of balls and launch his side into the semi-finals.
The Golf Club are top of qualifying Group One with nine points (three wins) however Station A, on five points, now need to beat Workington Cons in the only remaining Group One game to ensure qualification.
