Summer League Report Week twelve saw Lune Street record the best result of the week, with a 6-0 away win at Staithes Athletic. Dual snooker wins for Rob Nesbitt and Stuart Tait, helped along by a billiards win from Ron Bickerdike, including a 34 break, saw the visitors get themselves back into the title race with a great performance.
Redcar Cons 'A' were 5-1 home winners against Guisborough Quoit. Ian Whittle doubled up at snooker, including a 32 break in one frame, whilst Phil Hartley made breaks of 34 and 31, but still lost one frame to Paul Thompson. Mick McDermott scored the billiards win for the hosts.
The weeks other three fixtures all ended in 3-3 draws.
Redcar Unionists and Guisborough Cons, Steve Rutter winning twice at snooker for the visitors, were the first of the draws.
The leagues second place team, Sams Snooker, played host to league leaders, Saltburn Cons, in a potential title deciding match. However, after they fought out a stalemate, we could still be heading to the wire.
Fifteen year old Liam Clark made breaks of 61 and 32 at snooker for the home team, whilst Richard Beckham made breaks of 49,37 and 34 for the away side.
Defending champions Hartlepool Snooker Centre have a lot of work to do if they are to win the league again this season, and there 3-3 draw at home to Redcar Cons 'B' has set them back further.
Despite breaks of 41 and 33, Ryan Clark lost both his snooker frames. and Keith Kinnersley made a 30 break and also lost that frame.
John Hartley had runs of 54 and 35 in winning at billiards.
Week thirteen was even worse for draws, with only one of five matches providing an overall winner!
That honour went to Staithes Athletic, the bottom of the league side, who travelled to league leaders Saltburn Cons, and came away 4-2 winners - but helped by the fact Saltburn only had two players.
Andrew Shelley scored both points at snooker for the home team, whilst Mike Hogan was a billiards winner for Staithes.
The game between Lune Street and Redcar Cons 'A' saw Phil Hartley make breaks of 63,34 and 31 at snooker for the visitors, whilst a 31 from Mick McDermott at billiards wasnt enough, as he lost by just one point to Ron Bickerdike, who made breaks of 55 and 35.
The draw was always on the cards when local rivals Guisborough Quoit and Guisborough Cons clashed, only a 30 at billiards from Mark Boyt for the Cons providing a highlight in the nights play.
Sams Snooker's title hopes suffered further set back with a 3-3 draw at Redcar Cons 'B', whilst Hartlepool Snooker Centre and Redcar Unionists played out a draw also.
John Hartley made breaks of 53,37 and 30 at billiards, but was beaten by Barry Chapman, who knocked in a 52 of his own. Ryan Clark made a 45 at snooker, and also proved that perserverance pays off, after needing four snookers on the green against Kev Garbutt, and getting them all and clearing to win the frame 82-80.
Knock-Out Report The final of the Harrison Trophy was played at Redcar Cons recently, between Gary Beckett (Lakes) and Antony Parsons (Guisborough Cons).
Parsons won the opener with a 27, and added a 60 in the next to move 3-0 up. A scrappy third frame saw Parsons extend his lead, before Beckett won the next with a couple of minor breaks. Antony wrapped up his win in style with breaks of 65 and 36 in the fifth frame to win the match 4-1.
The Reg Boyle Cup final was played at Carlin How between Ryan Clark (Sams Snooker) and Lee Shepherd (Redcar Lakes). Shepherd was receiving 30 points start per frame in the best of five match.
Both players made an edgy start, but a 25 from Lee helped him take the opener.
Clark took control of frame two with a 38 break, and cleared with 25 to level the match.
Lee added an early 21 in frame three to add to his handicap start, and he won the frame with a magnificent 83 clearance to go 2-1 up.
A break of 41 helped Clark win the next to level the match at 2-2, and take it to a decider.
Trailing by 40, Clark made a break of 36. Lee replied with 26 to lead by 30, and after a couple more shots, Clark found himself 18 behind on the final three colours, which he managed to pot and take the final to a re-spotted black. Lee won the toss, and put Clark in to shoot first. After some deliberation, Ryan went for the double into green pocket, and to a tremendous applause, the black went perfectly into the hole and see Ryan win the title.
The final of the Peter Craig Pairs Trophy was played at Guisborough Quoit, between Liam Clark and Michael Cornelius (Sams) and Tony Cook/John Bracchi (Redcar Cons). The Sams pair received 20 start per frame in the best of five match.
The opening frame saw Cornelius make an early 31 break to give Sams a healthy lead, and he continued to do most of the scoring and Sams won 79-31.
Frame two saw Cook make breaks of 30 and 26 as Redcar Cons levelled up, but a break of 24 in frame three from Cornelius saw Sams regain the lead.
Frame four was scrappy, and both pairs had unwanted in-offs spoiling the rythymn. Bracchi got in towards the end and sealed the frame 61-47 to send this match into a decider. Both pairs had chances but couldnt capitalise, and it was a good pink from Cornelius that took the match into a black ball decider. Some safety shots ensued, before 14 year old Clark fired home the black into a centre pocket to seal the title for the Sams pair.
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