Handicap Pairs: Holgate & Bell 0-2 Martin & Langdon (17/11/09)

[Mike Langdon]

On paper this match looked like it was going to be a close contest and so it proved with both frames going right down to the black.  It was the BCI pair who made the stronger start with both Bell & Holgate knocking in decent long pots helping themselves carve out a 20 odd point lead.  Martin & Langdon hauled themselves back into the frame with an 8 here and a 7 there before Langdon held his nerve to sink Pink and Black to pinch the frame by just 2 points.  The 2nd frame was once again very close with the players struggling to make any breaks. To call the match scrappy would be unjust as there was plenty of decent safety and great escapes from snookers but it was hardly free flowing. Holgate then knocked in the matches highest break of 16 but was disappointed not to make more from the frame winning situation allowing the cue ball to run an inch too far and therefore failing to get onto the next red.  Paul Bell had the next chance to win the frame and level the match by potting a superb opening green followed by the brown and then suceeding in taking on a really difficult blue that was close to the side cushion.  This now left a long cut back on the pink to win the frame which he agonisingly left in the jaws...to be honest i think we all thought it was in but those pockets at BCI certainly pinch!  This meant the Pegasus pair needed both remaining balls once again to win both frame and the match.  The Pink was obviously not the problem for Martin, it was all about position on the black which was near the pink spot.  Martin played the pink with drag and side to bring the cue ball back up past the black to take it into the same pocket....the position was not bad but very miss-able and would require the rest to make the shot.  Martin took a deep breath and sent the black right into the heart of the pocket for a very hard earned two nil win.

Unlucky to both Keith and Paul...the match could have gone either way and was too close to call.

Mike

[Nav Hussain]

Well played Mike and Wayne, you would have had me and zeb in the next round, but we made it hard for ourselves when we played against turner and his mate at oakleigh lodge. Winning 1 frame to 0 with only the brown left to win the match 2-0.... but Nav missed the brown with all the other colours over the pockets, turner cleared up and then it was a struggle from then on. Good luck in the next round as you have Turner .... See you on Sunday Handicap Tournament.

[Wayne Martin]

You muppet!!!!! Fancy missing the brown to win :-) - Just kidding mate :laugh: