Game Scores
Matt Walters   0-2   John Fountain
Steve Burrows   2-0   James Notman
Adam Corbett   1-1   Malc Balshaw
Nick Kirkman   0-2   Richard Tooley

Match Report
I played rubbish and John played quite well, always good Saftey and some good pots.

What I saw of Adam and Malc's match 1 each seemed about right.

Nick was Rubbish snd Richard potted some great balls and fully deserved a 2 nil. I know I like my doubles and I dont miss to many, richard was getting some crackers in the middle and corner bags. Some of the best Ive seen.

Burrows looked very good in his match. 1st frame going to a black ball and the man stepped up to win 59-52 on the re-spot. 2nd frame nip and took a little from what I saw and Steve again holding it together to take it 58-34.


Man of the match goes to Steve "master of Squad rotation" Burrows. Very good match play and even when we had lost the night he still produced to get his 2nd frame won.

Enjoyable night and deserved win for Arnold, thanks for the game lads and nice to see you. Good to play you again John, good look in the rest of your games.

Cheers

Matt

I will be voting for option 1.

Game Scores
Jeff Kerins   1-1   Andy Collison
Manfred Corbin   2-0   Steve Roe
Julian Howard   1-1   Matt Roe
Chris Burrows   2-0   Chris Toffs

Match Report
Always a pleasure playing the lads from Oakleigh.
Unlucky fellas, good luck in the league.

Snooker is supposed to be fun but it doesn't feel that way at the moment.

It must be a personality flaw of mine but I don't enjoy missing easy ball after easy ball, giving away stupid fouls and missing a red entirely when playing back to baulk. I tried not to have a mardy but couldn't help myself after missing yet another black off the spot.

What made it worse was Vinnie also struggling and still winning 4-0, even if the last two frames did go to the pink and blue respectively.

Playing in a sauna didn't help my mood either and neither did finding out Vinnie had just bought pretty much the same cue as me for less than half what I paid for mine..

Oh well, at least I got out of a few snookers which makes a change.

Anyway, well played Vinnie, I know there were no breaks to speak of but I can see that like Jason you are too good for this division and another perfect example of why the grading system needs a tweak which luckily 'stato Mike' is attending to!

Game Scores
Steve Howard   1-1   Michael Garratt
Don Merry   1-1   Jason Smith
Geoff Merry   0-2   Luke Wharton
Andy Carnell   1-1   David Casey

Match Report
Mapperley narrowly lose out on the draw.

A few good close frames that went Sneintons way on the night.Steve Howard potting his way consistently and concisely to a first frame win,only to just lose out on the final 2 colours of the 2nd frame to newbie Michael.

3rd and 4th frames Andy getting the frame underway to another unknown in David.Andy winning comfortably to take the 1st frame.
But David finding his feet,and coming out strong to take a draw in their 1st encounter.

Fifth and Six frames,Donny playing Jason and Jason looked to be cueing much better than our Don was.But nevertheless,Don hangs on in the 1st only to watch a bit of bad luck when He sticks up an easy blue to middle.Jason takes it along with pink,which was enough for Don to say,let's start the next frame.
Don getting his own back and only just snatches it after an error on Jasons part.
Another 2 frames shared.

Final 2 frames,and Geoff playing Luke.Having never played each other it was a journey into the unknown for neither player knew how each other played.It turned out Luke wasn't a bad player at all,and potted well.Geoff hitting some relatively easy balls way too hard and scratching his head as to why they didn't go in. THis was the whole story of the 2 frames really,Geoffs' infamous thin acute cuts into middle bags not even going in,so he knew his game wasn't on song.
Luke takes both frames,to secure a narrow 5-3 win.

Well played to both teams on the night,so easily could have been a draw.
See you all for the away leg!

Game Scores
lee crombie   1-1   toby bowley
jay turner   1-1   shaun parkinson
ryan cooper   1-1   dave salmon
craig greensmith  0-2 paul wainwright

Match Report
bci some how winning this 5-3 oakleigh could of won 7 out of the 8 frames only to lose some very close frames either on the pink or black. lee crombie had a 34 break

Game Scores
Scott Higgins   2-0   Conner Jones
John Hartley   2-0   Ant McMahon
Connor Rollo   1-1   Andy Spicer
Dan Moll   0-2   Cheung Chung

Match Report
Scott Higgins had a 41 and John Hartley had a 39.

Frames in order of finishing.

Frame 1 Nick Bentley 58 Joe Reynolds 24
A close frame early on, but Nick taking a lead and keeping it. Down to the colours it was anyones frame, But Nick taking the lower colours left Joe with snookers needed.

Frame 3 Mick Walker 70 Ashley Bettinson 59
Ash taking a lead at the start, but Mick catching up. Ash taking a 19 point lead at one point, but snookers and some in-offs brought it all very close. It went down to the black with Mick potting it for the win.

Frame 4 Craig Hefford 47 Bob Wright 33
Bob potting 5 reds with no colours. Craig potting a red and a colour. Craig made a 14 break and Bob then started to comeback with a red and a yellow (WOW). It was all very close throughout with Craig taking the blue to leave Bob playing catch up.

Frame 2 Dave Milner 52 Toby Bowley 35
Another close frame with neither player taking took much of a lead. Dave winning on the black after some easy misses by both players.

Cheers Building Trades. Enjoyed the match. Good Luck in the next round.

INSANE GRADING RULE!

Just got to ask and i`m  sure most of you will agree, the grading rule in place for cup matches makes absolutely no sense. Let me explain even though you probably know how it works..

Last night we played embankment, because we are higher up in the division we have to give them a 35 start, even though they drafted in a grade 1, two grade 2`s and a grade 3..We had 3 grade 3`s and a grade 4, to say the team was a little deflated before the match even started is an understatement, this rule would only work if everyone used the same team players week in week out right? But they don`t, especially now that you can draft in anyone from any team from your club. That is what makes this rule seriously flawed, this being a prime example of how it can be just a tad unfair on one team or another. Why why why can it not be kept very simple and completly fair by doing what you normally would do and grade the players in the games accordingly. We lost fair and square we had no problem with that, but this cup grading rule is ridiculous to be polite, I could be on this planet another 100 years and still find no sense in it, whoeerever came up with this one, I have to wonder, what have they been smoking.

Would be interesting if anyone else thinks the same..Please leave a comment, not on the smoking part of course, that was a joke. : ) 

Hi Jeff - i'll leave this one to Bob I think... but basically on a Monday night the only use of the player grade is to ensure you play the best player at no1 and work down and that is it. The handicap for each team in the cup is decided by Bob Wright.

Frame Scores
Steve Howard   59-40   Paul Kelly
Don Merry   47-79   Dean Randall
Geoff Merry   44-46   Ruddy Steadman
Andy Carnell   92-23   Tony Weekes

Match Report
Exciting battle between these two teams

Frame 1
The team captain has a change of heart and puts his player Paul up against Steve on this occasion.(Usually Dean plays Steve).
Anyway,a tight tactical battle ensued,and made for an exciting frame of snooker.Paul playing either for snookers or tight cueballs on cushions whenever possible.
Steve always managing to play out of trouble with good safety replies himself.
A few mistakes by Paul let Steve in and Steve always capitalised on these.Steve keeping in control throughout the frame.Paul eventually needing snookers,so pots blue and pink for some points.Steve knocks in a super long black to confirm the first frame went to Mapperley.
Great frame Paul,many thanks for the game.

Frame 3
This was Geoff and Ruddy.
Again from what I saw of this frame each other staying right with his opponent throughout the frame.Nothing to separate these two,and so made for an exciting finish.
It all came down to a final black,which Ruddy dispatched to take the frame win by the narrowest of margins,only 2 points.
Well played both players.

Frame 2
Don up against Dean.
And Dean was straight out of the starting blocks and away.Each time Don played a loose safety,Dean 'pounced' and took his chances very well indeed.He was potting very consistently and when he did run out of position took no chances and played safe.
Don struggled tonight,he knew he wasn't on form but managed somehow to claw back,after being almost 40 ish points behind,(and this was to his credit),before replying with a few points of his own.
Don stepped up a little as the frame progressed,but it was too late as Dean gets over the line comfortably to take a second frame for Nct and very valuable points indeed.

Final frame
Andy up against Nct's summer captain Tony.
Tony knew what he had to do in his frame,win and also by enough points to take the match to NCT.
Andy had other ideas though,and started off like a Japanese bullet train,going almost 50 ish points ahead without reply and really putting the pressure on the captain.
Tony seemed to struggle and kept leaving easy openings for Andy who took these glady,to increase his points tally.
It was all in vain for Tony as Andy closed out the frame comfortably.

Mapperley 242-202 (inclusive of +14 H/C)

Well played NCT you always play a tight hand whenever we play you and this always makes for a great battle between both our teams,shame there had to be a loser.
Good luck in the plate comp!

Frame Scores
Manfred Corbin   43-52   Matt Walters
Jeff Kerins   42-41   Adam Corbett
Julian Howard   30-72   Steve  Burrows
Chris Burrows   16-48   Danny Rhodes

Match Report
INSANE GRADING RULE!

Just got to ask and i`m  sure most of you will agree, the grading rule in place for cup matches makes absolutely no sense. Let me explain even though you probably know how it works..

Last night we played embankment, because we are higher up in the division we have to give them a 35 start, even though they drafted in a grade 1, two grade 2`s and a grade 3..We had 3 grade 3`s and a grade 4, to say the team was a little deflated before the match even started is an understatement, this rule would only work if everyone used the same team players week in week out right? But they don`t, especially now that you can draft in anyone from any team from your club. That is what makes this rule seriously flawed, this being a prime example of how it can be just a tad unfair on one team or another. Why why why can it not be kept very simple and completly fair by doing what you normally would do and grade the players in the games accordingly. We lost fair and square we had no problem with that, but this cup grading rule is ridiculous to be polite, I could be on this planet another 100 years and still find no sense in it, whoeerever came up with this one, I have to wonder, what have they been smoking.

Would be interesting if anyone else thinks the same..Please leave a comment, not on the smoking part of course, that was a joke. : ) 

Anyway MATCH REPORT..

We lost.

Well played embankment, we`ll get Jimmy and Ronny next time round : )

Frame Scores
Glenn Price   52-49   Lee Jones
Rob Lord   29-84   Andy Gratton
Alex McKenzie   19-93   Ben Monk
Ash Sanders   54-63   Dave Mayer

Match Report
Frame 1
Glenn Price V’s Lee Jones

By no means an epic battle, both players suffered with ‘in offitus’ for most of the frame, this was more about bragging rights between Glenn and Lee, a frame with no real breaks to speak of with some good snooker in patches. Lee took a lead going into the colours and was in front by ten with the pink and black remaining. Glenn then showed the SED boy what proper snooker was by cutting in a very thin pink to a blind pocket, and screwing the white off two cushions to leave a long black to the green bag, Glenn duly dispatched the black in equal style, to pinch the frame and to give The Wizards a good lead.
Glenn 52 – 49 Lee

Wizards now – 87 in front

Frame 2
Rob Lord V’s Andy Gratton

Didn’t see much of this frame (I was too busy winding Lee up after his loss), but what I did see of it was very very good, Andy didn’t appear to miss a thing, he looked like a very accomplished player around the table and knocked in a very well taken 23, and when he didn’t pot he played great safety, Rob never really got going in this frame, but every credit to Andy, he never really gave Rob a chance.
Rob 29 – Andy 84   

Wizards now – 32 in front

Frame 3
Alex McKenzie V’s Ben Monk

WOW, what a frame of snooker, Alex breaks off ben knocks in a brilliant 36, Alex then responds with a very well taken 18 to reduce the score line, only to watch the machine Ben just crunch balls in all over the place, Ben then knocked in a 25 and cleared up with a 22. Ben is a very good player very strong in every department.
Alex 19 – 93 Ben

Wizards now – 42 behind

Frame 4
Ash Sanders V’s Dave Mayer

Dave started the stronger of the two players, with some small breaks and good safety, Ash on the other hand could not get going, knowing he had to win by 43 points maybe playing on his mind a little. Dave continued to cruise with solid potting and good safety and Ash finally woke up with the colours left on the table, at this point too late to get back the deficit, so just enjoying himself and potting some good balls.
Ash 54 – Dave 63

Wizards lose by 51 points

Wizards 154 + 84 – 289 SEDSC

I brilliant night with the SED lads, they are a fantastic team and one to watch for the future, I have a feeling in my bones the winter league title chase could be interesting this year (Watch out Elites – New boys in Town)
Always a pleasure to catch up with Lee and have a laugh, a great night had by all.

Frame Scores
John Paul    53-52   Hanson Stowe
Jason Turner   85-28   Shaun Parkinson
Ryan Cooper   38-45   Steve Capsey
Bo Murtagh   81-21   Steve Capsey Jnr

Match Report
Oakleigh going in to this match with a 21 point advantage due to the handicap.

John got things underway in a very scrappy first frame. Hason fair to say had alot of the run in this frame. But were most people would of lost there head John showed the best part to his game to remain calm and steal the frame on the pink and black.

Jason took on Shaun and with Jason potting balls of the lamp shades and Shaun really struggling Jason ran out an easy winner to open up a good points lead for Oakleigh.

I took on Steve next in another scrappy frame with all the colours being tied up. Steve had a little run and was 20 odd points up leaving me needing a snooker i managed to get this snooker but missed the blue that Steve potted to win the frame. I potted the pink and black to keep the points down leaving Bo a healthy lead.

Bo was up last and Steve jnr needing to win by over 70 points was always up against it. But Bo made no mistake punishing Steve at every chance. Steve potted some great single balls but the gap was too much to make up.

Oakleigh through to the next round after an indifferent start to the season hopefully we can kick on from the last 2 results.

Well played Bci all the best fro the remaining part of the season.