L & L Property Contractors Snooker League newcomers, Workington’s Veterans Club B, delivered a superb performance in the latest round of matches.
Contesting the Eric McMullen Memorial TKO Handicap Trophy round 1 qualifying they took the last two frames to preside over top tier opposition in Workington’s United Club A, 3-2.
The match started as Luke Richardson (+50 handicap) played brilliantly to take out his experienced opponent and put the Vets B 1-0 up.
The in-form Clive Lister (+20) made short work of the second frame and with some solid potting the United B cueist soon pulled it back to 1-1.
The third frame saw a huge points total go in favour of Peter O’Hagan (+5) for a 2-1 United A advantage as the Division One side now looked to push on.
A tactical fourth frame went all the way to the last two colours and with the snooker gods looking down on Vets B’s Jack Basnett (+50) a fortunate pink followed by a cool black was enough to take the match to a decider.
At 2-2 Jordan Ferguson (+50) made the most of his handicap advantage with a nice contribution in the 20’s and in finishing off in style the Vets B cueist took the frame and match to start cup qualifying with a bang.
United Club B also put any thoughts of being new to the competition to one side by capitalising on their home advantage to defeat multiple TKO champions, Workington Conservative Club, 4-1.
Stephen Harrison (+35) continues to show improvement and in the first first frame he played superbly to put United B 1-0 up.
Next up, team mate Wayne Sinclair (+44) produced one of his best performances to date to make it 2-0, and with Stephen Jackson (+38) matching the previous frames’ heroics United B stood three to the good.
In the fourth frame Dave Holland (+26) dug in to pull one back for the Cons Club but it was Adam Sowden (+45) who rubbed salt in the Cons’ wounds with a close victory in the last to extend what could be an important match winning margin.
Workington Golf Club B played probably some of their best snooker since entering the league a year ago and with a 3-2 home victory over champions and fellow townies Station Road Club they launched themselves into cup qualifying.
The match started the better for Station Road Club, however, as Chris Hunter (+32) confidently put his side 1-0 in front.
The Golf Club B then suddenly ramped up their play massively and with a thumping win for Ryan Pearson (+45), a close victory for Paul Brown (+45) and an excellent performance from Sam Smith (+45) the underdogs reached an unassailable 3-1 lead.
The last frame of the match saw Darren Lawson (+25) fight from ball one, and even though the result was already decided the Station Road player ensured he minimised the damage with a victory on the colours.
Last season’s runners-up, Workington Golf Club A were in no mood to let their opponents join the weeks’ giant killing party as they defeated Whitehaven’s Rack Shack 3-2 away.
A first frame victory from Adam Morilla (+40) gave the underdogs the start they were looking for but with Ryan Ismay (+11) and Simon Frazer (+23) winning the next two frames the Golf Club A were 2-1 up.
A triumph in the next for league debutant Neil Dougherty (+45) brought the need for a decider but the Golf Club A’s Lewis Tilley was more than up for it.
A cool nerve and some excellent potting to boot nevertheless ensured the Golf Club A cueist delivered the match win in solid start to their cup campaign.
Finally, Maryport Social not only got their cup pursuit off to great start but also put one over on their division 2 rivals, Vets Club B, with a 3-2 home win.
The first looked in the balance but with Kevin Basnett (Scr) making a 38 break off mostly baulk colours to close out the frame the Vets A captain put his team 1-0 ahead.
Gary Miller was in top form in frame two with a win to level the match score and with Andrew Sharp equally impressive in the next Maryport were now 2-1 to the good.
Andrew Scott didn’t have it all his own way in the next however, but in turning the screw late on the Social player made sure the match victory was in bag at 3-1.
The last frame of the match saw Steve Garroway needing two snookers with the colours remaining yet with grit and determination the Vets A cueist extracted the points he required to eventually nick the frame on the black in a gruelling encounter.
