Week three of the Derwent Valley Asbestos Removal Individual Snooker league saw some stunning performances from the league debutants.
Wayne Sinclair maintained his unbeaten record with a 4-1 victory over Stephen Harrison and cement his lead in Division 2.
Sinclair was in total control of the match right from the onset, reeling off four comfortable frames to secure the match victory. Harrison was able to rally in the last, and edged the closest frame of the match to avoid the whitewash.
Fellow newcomer Andrew Carter managed to go one better and completed a 5-0 victory over Jamie Flitton.
The first frame set the tone for the match with both competitors trading points as they struggled to gain the upper hand. Inevitably, the frame came down to the final black, and after attempts on both sides it was Carter who calmly converted to take the match lead.
As the match progressed, each of the frames followed this pattern of being in the balance until the final colours, and each time Carter was able to make the decisive pot and frustrate his opponent.
The remaining Division 2 fixtures were more competitive with both going to final frame deciders.
Firstly, Adam Hodgson faced off against Adam Sowden who made the better of his scoring opportunities to take the early lead. But Hodgson countered immediately to level the match, and then held the momentum to secure a 2-1 frame lead.
Unfazed, Sowden calmy responded, comfortably levelling the match before the deciding frame proved a more tactical affair, with both players keen to emerge victorious.
However, neither player was able to take control and the frame progressed to the final black. After attempts from both players it was Hodgson who was able to deposit the final ball for earn a hard-earned victory.
Dave Chapman started well against Stephen Jackson edging a high scoring first frame. However, Jackson was able to make the best of the chances in the following two frames and move within a frame of victory.
This didn’t faze the experienced Chapman, and a balance of solid tactical play and steady scoring, was good enough to reverse the momentum and close out the final two frames and edge the closely fought contest 3-2.
In Division 1, Kevin Basnett was keen to build on his opening performance, but Andrew Mitchelhill had other ideas.
Mitchelhill was first to open the scoring, taking initial charge of the frame with a break of 35, before a Basnett counter attack evened the scoreline.
A couple of decisive safety shots from Mitchelhill resulted in a simple chance for the frame, which was duly taken.
Basnett produced a series of teen breaks in the second to swiftly restore the scoreline to parity.
The third frame became a more tactical affair, as the position of balls evolved in such a way that heavy scoring opportunities became limited. Ultimately it was Mitchelhill who made the most of his chances to move within a frame of victory.
This seemed to spark Basnett into scoring form and breaks of 94 and 30 followed to earn a narrow 3-2 victory.
In yet another close match, Mark Tunstall made last year’s runner-up Peter O’Hagan work hard to earn victory.
O’Hagan begun the match in his usual steady fashion to take the opening frame comfortably. The second frame descended into a scrappy exchange and Tunstall had a chance to level the match up on the final black, but it was O’Hagan who ultimately converted to take a firm grip of the match with a 2-0 lead.
Tunstall responded in resounding fashion, constructing a series of small breaks and denying his opponent scoring opportunities to swiftly take the next two frames and take the match to a decider.
O’Hagan then drew on all his reserves to wrest the match momentum back in his favour, and managed to find sufficient form and produce his best scoring display to secure the final frame for a relieving 3-2 victory.
However, in his second match of the week O’Hagan found himself on the other side of a 3-2 result as he faced in-form Ryan Ismay.
The match initially swung to and fro, with O’Hagan taking the opener, before a 44 break from Ismay levelled.
O’Hagan took the lead once more securing the third frame, but Ismay was making the best of the scoring opportunities and after comfortably taking the fourth, closed the match out with a confident 34 break clearance.
