L & L Property Contractors Snooker League Division One champions, Workington Golf Club A, produced a solid performance in the Eric McMullen Memorial TKO Handicap Trophy qualifying round 2.
They scored a 3-2 victory at home despite a magnificent 105 clearance in the final frame of the match by Workington Veterans Club A’s, Kevin Basnett.
The match started with the ever-reliable Bryan Walker (+16 handicap) putting the first point on the board to set the Golf Club A at 1-0 but in continuing his return to form Vets A’s Mark Tunstall (+23) took frame two to tie the match at 1-1.
A black ball victory for Simon Frazer (+23) in the third allowed the Golf Club A side to regain the match lead at 2-1 but it was team mate Lewis Tilley (+40) who ensured the Golf Club A made it two qualifying wins out of two with a composed victory in the fourth for 3-1.
The final frame of the match offered only a frame difference point, however Kevin Basnett (Scr) was determined to deliver, and with a superb clearance of 105 the Vets A captain achieved it with aplomb.
Station Road Club got their cup pursuit back on track with a brilliant 4-1 home win against league legends Workington Conservative Club.
A victory for Richard McCarthy (+6) put the Cons side on a good footing but with a win for John Teasdale (+25) Station Road pulled level.
A carefully constructed break of 32 in a thumping win for Chris Hunter (+32) allowed him to propel Station Road Club to a 2-1 lead and as team mate Mike Walker (+22) also won convincingly in the fourth an unassailable 3-1 match advantage was gained.
In the fifth and final frame Darren Lawson (+25) could have been forgiven for easing off with the match victory assured, but in maintaining his focus the Station Road Club cueist added to Cons pain to extend the winning margin to 4-1.
Flimby Social Club made their cup aspirations known with a solid 3-2 home victory over Workington Golf Club B.
Kevin Kirkham (+5) opened up with a 30 break to take the first but it was Golf B’s Ryan Pearson (+45) who tied the match at 1-1 with a win in frame two.
A quite brilliant break of 40 from Richard Kirkham (+30) looked enough to take Flimby over the line in the third but with a dogged display it was Sam Smith (+45) who delivered a 2-1 Golf B lead as he won on the black.
Sal Cakmak (+27) however was determined to keep Flimby in the match and with a solid victory in the fourth he took the tie to a decider.
In the last frame Geoff Banton (+39) stepped up and in showing little regard for the pressure it presented the Flimby Social captain delivered the match win to set up their cup qualifying campaign nicely.
Workington’s United Club A brushed aside their defeat in the first round of cup qualifying with a brilliant 3-2 away victory, from 2-0 down, against Maryport Social.
A win for Ben Scott (+37) put Maryport 1-0 up and with a victory for Ben Irving (+44) on the black in the next the home side looked on the verge of the match win at 2-0.
Looking for some much-needed inspiration the United Club put Peter O’Hagan (+5) in next and in delivering in style the county doubles champion started the comeback with a 31 break to boot.
In the penultimate frame Mark Suitor (+32) toiled to make it 2-2 but it was United Club captain Andrew Mitchelhill (+13) who completed the superb comeback win recording a 31 break in the process to the delight of his team mates.
Finally, Whitehaven’s Rack Shack dismissed any fears they had as a result of a weakened side to defeat Workington’s Veterans Club B 3-2 away.
Paul Cass (+40) took a close first frame and with Adam Morilla (+40) taking frame two the Whitehaven side were two to the good.
The third frame obviously proved crucial given the match score however Chris McKelvey (+45) thrived on it to put the Rack Shack out of sight at 3-0.
A victory for Adam Hodgson (+50) pulled one back and as the Vets B claimed the last some respectability was injected into the cup qualifying scoreline.
