SNOOKER

 

DURHAM STAR into World Finals

 

                Michael Rhodes of Durham has qualified for the World Amateur Championship Finals in Egypt in November and is hopeful of adding his second World title. His previous World success was when he was joined by David Lilley and David Craggs to win the World Amateur Team Championship in California.

                This gifted Durham cueist is currently the English Amateur Champion and the National C.I.U. Champion. He manages to fit in the regular essential practice time despite fitting in a 60 hour per week job at TNT and working in his father’s Durham Snooker Club.

                Michael recognises this massive opportunity from which he could win a two year professional Tour Card. However his big problem is the cost and so he is looking for possible sponsors to help him reach his goal. If anyone feels that they could help they can make the first contact by telephoning 01388 730444 to discuss ways of helping England land another International title.

 

Worthington CIU Summer League

 

                Hunwick A are one point short of retaining the League Championship Trophy after they beat the visiting Wingate in the decider. Martin Perry put Hunwick ahead with a 46 break but Wingate moved into the lead with wins from Jimmy Mason and David Wallace. Ian Richardson equalised before the home team’s Steven Webb beat David Carr junior in the decider.

                Meadowfield are in second place after they beat the visiting Sherburn Village for the loss of only one point, which was won by Alan Greener. The home team had wins from Billy Penny, Michael McNay, Malcolm Hughes and Steven Jackson.

                Durham City pulled off a good home win over Newton Aycliffe, who slipped to third place after the hosts had wins from Gary Ward, Billy Ward and John Hall. The visitors replied with wins from Alan Keeney and Steve Colbeck.

                Alan Clarke gave Spennymoor the lead at Fishburn but brian Quest and George Whitelock quickly replied. Carl Welch equalised but Andrew Nicks clinched a home victory when he beat Alan Rouell in the decider.

                Division One results: Hunwick A 3 Wingate 2; Fishburn 3 Spennymoor 2; Meadowfield 4 Sherburn Village 1; Durham City 3 Newton Aycliffe 2.

                First Division points (all played 13): Hunwick A 42; Meadowfield 37; Newton Aycliffe 36; Durham City 33; Fishburn 32; Wingate A 31; Spennymoor 26; Sherburn Village 23.

                Langley Park and Crowtrees are level in second place in the Second Division after the Park lost in the decider. Andrew Wright put the visitors ahead but Michael Vicary and John Rooney junior replied. Sonny Hann put in a 54 break to equalise and Adam McGrath beat the home team’s Stephen Turnbull for victory.

                Stanley Central slipped to the foot of the table after they only had Rob Hogarth as a winner against the visiting Thornley, who had wins from Jimmy Evans, Duane Patterson, Dean Jones  and Arthur Peachey.

                Division Two results – Langley Park 2 Crowtrees 3; Sacriston 3 Hunwick B 2; Stanley Central 1 Thornley 4; Ferryhill A 4 Shildon Elm Road 1.

                Second Division points: Ferryhill A 39; Langley Park and Crowtrees 38 each; Shildon Elm Road 36; Thornley 30; Hunwick B 28; Sacriston 26; Stanley Central 24.

                Wayne Oliver put in breaks of 45 and 31 for Trimdon Colliery against the visiting Cockton Hill but only had Steve Gillan as a winning colleague. The visitors went to victory with points from Lee Todd, George Chapman and Mark Wharton.

                Bearpark B made their second maximum win of the season when Tony Wilson, Gerald McLoughlin, Dean Ward, John Peart and Antony Cooper sent the visiting Stanhope home pointless.

                Division Three results: Trimdon Colliery 2 Cockton Hill 3; Bearpark B 5 Stanhope 0; Crook Belle Vue 3 New Durham 2; Wingate B 2 Ferryhill B 3.

                Division Three points: Crook Belle Vue 40; Trimdon Colliery and Stanhope 37 each; New Durham 35; Bearpark B 31; Ferryhill B 28; Wingate B 24; Cockton Hill 23;

                The League Presentation Evening will be held at Fishburn Club on Friday, 9 October. Tickets are £2.00 each and can be booked with Andy Nicks on 07530308582.

 

C.I.U. Team Knock Out

 

                Spennymoor will meet Shildon Elm Road in the final after the two teams came through successfully in the semi finals against Newton Aycliffe and Stanley Central respectively.

                The final will be played at Crook Belle Vue on Tuesday, 15 September at 7.30pm when Alan Greener of Sherburn Village will be the referee.

 

Singles Semi Final

 

                The semi final between Ian Halford of Newton Aycliffe and Adrian Jones of Ferryhill was staged at Sherburn Village, where Alan Greener was the referee for the best of five frames match.

                In the first frame both players had early chances but failed to capitalise on any with the score reaching 40-38 to Halford with four reds remaining. Jones moved into a 23 point lead on the blue, but it was potted by Halford, who then laid an excellent snooker. Jones missed but later took the pink to win 74-56.

                The second was very scrappy until Jones potted the last two reds with blacks and the yellow. After Halford took green and brown, Jones sunk blue and pink to win 58-37.

                Neither player showed anything like their true form in the third with Jones leading by 11 on the yellow. This was potted by Halford but it proved to be his last shot as Jones took green to blue to win 52-27 and take the match by three frames to nil.

                In the final Jones will meet the winner of the match between Glen Morton of Bearpark and Graeme Witton of Shildon Elm Road.

 

Ronnie Bateman Memorial

 

                The first semi final was played at Crowtrees, where Peter Laverick refereed the match between Graeme Witton of Shildon Elm Road and James Evans of Wingate in a best of five frames.

                The first frame was close throughout but Evans took it by taking green to pink to win 53-34. The second was equally close with Witton trailing on the green. Evans fluked the green and added the brown, but made a costly miss on the blue, which Witton potted with pink and black to level with a 49-45 win.

                The third frame was dominated by Evans after an early 27 break and he never left Witton a reasonable scoring chance as he went ahead with a 70-18 win. The fourth was a complete reversal of the previous frame as Witton made breaks of 22 and 21, following each with good safety. Evans conceded on the final red with Witton ahead at 69-19.

                The deciding frame saw Witton establish an early 31 point lead but Evans fought back to close the deficit to two points on the green. An error by Witton on the brown allowed Evans an easy pot and the continued by adding blue and pink to win the frame 49-33 and the match by three frames to two.

                James Evans will meet either Adrian Jones or Ian Roddam in the final at Spennymoor Club at 7.30pm on Thursday, 24 September.

 

Stanhope Singles

 

                After the latest round of results there is a four-way tie at the top of the table pointing to very tight matches in the aim to win a place in the end of season semi finals.

                Results: Adam Barker 0 Michael Hopkins 2; Adam Robinson 2 Dean Tinkler 0; Neil Coates 1 Michael Scown 1; Roy Devlin 1 Carl Tunstall 1; John Jo O Neil 2 Frank Stephenson 0; Michael Hopkins 1 Jason Askew 1; Colin Perry 2 Dean Tinkler 0; Colin Perry 2 Alan Barker 0; Adam Barker 1 Carl Tunstall 1; Charlie Sanderson 2 Roy Devlin 0; Frank Stephenson 0 Adam Robinson 2.

                Current points: Carl Tunstall, Jon Jo O'Neill, Adam Robinson and Colin Perry 12 each; Michael Scown 10; Neil Coates 9; Michael Hopkins 8; Adam Dobson 7; Charlie Sanderson, Kieran Laing and Adam Barker 6 each; Alan Barker 4 and Roy Devlin 4 each; and Frank Stephenson 3; Jason Askew 2; Dean Tinkler 1.

                To be re-arranged: Keiran Laing v Charlie Sanderson; Adam Dobson v Adam Barker; Adam Robinson v Alan Barker; Dean Tinkler v Kieran Laing; Jason Askew v Adam Dobson; Michael Scown v Michael Hopkins; John Jo O'Neil v Neil Coates.

 

Central Durham Association

 

                This new Association will replace the CIU Association starting the first season on 22 September when 26 teams will be playing in two divisions. The fixtures for the first week are – First Division: Hunwick A v Shildon Elm Road; Bishop Auckland Golf Club v Meadowfield; Newton Aycliffe v Langley Park; Bearpark A v Fishburn; Spennymoor v Ferryhill A; Wingate v Sherburn Village. Durham City have a bye.

                Division Two: Ferryhill B v Cockton Hill; Wheatley Hill v Bearpark B; Stanley Central B v Stanley Central A; Trimdon Colliery v Crowtrees; Stanhope v Hunwick B; Shotton Officials v Tow Law Alex’s Bar. Sacriston have a bye.

                It is possible for two new teams to be accepted into the Association. Any establishment with a full size table can apply. Further details can be obtained from the secretary by writing to 31 Campbell Street, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland DL134DX or by telephoning 01388 730444.

 

Harry Little Memorial Handicap

 

                The semi final between Kevin Davison and Willie Nixon of Sacriston and Charlie Donaghy and Alan Rose of Crook Belle Vue was played at Sherburn Village with Alan Greener as the referee. The Crook pair received 30 points start per frame.

                In the first frame the Sacriston pair never really settled to their normal play and conceded the frame on the brown. In the second they quickly moved level and frame moved along point for point. The Crook pair edged ahead until they only needed the pink to clinch victory. However both missed fairly comfortable chances and Sacriston took both balls to take the match to the decider

                The decider was a completely one-sided affair as the two Sacriston players both found their true form and recorded a big win, which takes them into the Final against either Ray Oliver and Jason Johnson of Stanley Central or Graeme Witton and Lee Gardiner of Shildon Elm Road.

 

ENDS>

 

Submitted by Charlie Donaghy