In-form Matt Lowrie won the final of this year’s HG Young competition in the Carlisle and District Snooker League.
The Qzone Originals’ player was up against Bob Sewell on Ron’s table at the Qzone, with a healthy attendance of 14 supporters viewing the action.
Matt has been playing really well recently and indeed stormed into a commanding lead in the first frame, a 23 break helping him to a 66-19 advantage.
Bob fought hard in the second frame, playing some great shots, however Matt fended off the challenge and took the title in front of his dad Peter and two sons Cameron and Elliott, with a 59-42 victory sealed on the final pink.
In Division One the featured match this week was a big one for both teams in the battle to avoid relegation, Denton Holme visiting Southend A.
The battle of the number one’s was a runaway contest, with Denton Holme’s Tony Desborough defeating his opponent 55-3.
League sponsor Gary Cosway got the better of Geordie Roberts 55-48, and things were looking great for Denton Holme when Nigel Lewthwaite got the best of Alan Trotter 52-17.
It wasn’t all one way traffic though, and John Yeomans and Keith Graham took their frames for the home side 46-37 and 54-28 respectively. Final score, Southend A 2, Denton Holme 5.
Other scores: Inter Qzone 6, Qzone Originals 0; Rock A 5, Longtown 1; Buffs A 2, Rock 5; Cons A 1 Qzone 6.
In Division Two this week’s featured match saw Ex B host Cons when a high scoring frame in the number one position provided a great start for Cons, Paul Watson winning 72-60.
Gary Hurst equalized for the home team with a tight 64-56 victory, and Barry Crudace got the home team in front after winning 57-25.
Sam Cowen got the victory for the home side by defeating his opposing number four 37-32 on the final black. The match finished with a 4-2 victory for the home side when Raymond Middlemore took his frame 61-37.
Other scores: St Margaret Mary’s 4 Southend 2; Southend D 2, Buffs B 5; Penrith 0, Eastriggs 7
The Joe Brisco Trophy is the major singles competition in Carlisle, and this year’s semi-finals were booked in at the Buffs club.
Unfortunately, the first one was a walk over victory for Ian Pattinson after his opponent had to withdraw following a serious injury sustained a few days prior.
The semi final that was able to be played saw two good friends lock horns, with Inter Qzone’s Mike Griffiths taking on Qzone’s Paul Corbishley.
In a match dominated by safety, it was a tight affair early on. Griffiths got into a small lead, before sealing the first frame with a 46 break.
Corbishley fought back hard in the second frame, and a series of quality safety shots and solid pots saw him level the match at 1-1. Griffiths won a scrappy third frame to reestablish his lead, before another scrappy frame saw Corbishley draw level for the second time.
In a tense decider, Griffiths potted the first two reds to get out of wicked safety positions, however a loose attempted long pot had allowed Corbishley to establish a small lead.
Griffiths’ long game was finally firing, and a series of medium and long range pots saw him go into a 19 point lead with four reds remaining.
A 12 break that included a couple of long blues put Griffiths 31 ahead with two reds on the table. However a not-great safety saw one red end up near the green spot, with the white between the pink and black spots, giving Corbishley a chance to pinch the match.
Corbishley potted a classy red in the green pocket, but unfortunately came off two cushions and went in off, also leaving a free ball, pretty much summing up his bad luck.
Griffiths rolled in the free ball green, followed by the pink, and played a decent safety on the final red to win 3-2.
The final will be on Monday June 19 on Ron’s table at the Qzone.
The league is running a competition. Anyone who attends any final will be entered into a prize draw for an hour of coaching with billiards’ world number three Rob Hall. The prize being kindly donated by Peter Stanyer.
