Played up at Prestwich Conservative Club, I arrived late due to really bad traffic and was relegated to playing doubles. Never mind at least it was a game and I played with Dave Samuels who's a decent player.
We had lost the two singles games, one by 45 and the other by 15. We were giving about 30 start and so the aggregate was going to be very difficult to make. We gave it a good try and managed to win quite comfortably but failed to get the aggregate they managed lots of flukes, in fact i have never seen so many in one night.
It was all over by 9.30pm and me and Dave stayed for a game of doubles. it was ok we won by about 40 points after an hours play. No breaks again, I managed a couple of 20's and a 36 in the doubles afterwards.
Hopefully I can play better as the season goes on as it's a struggle with the tables, handicaps and in particular the players who I have drawn who all don;t really know how to play proper billiards, again when I get a chance at the top I am scoring 20-30 points so I know I am playing well.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Friday, 22 October 2010
Macclesfield League
Played in the Macclesfield League last night, I have finally realised why I am playing so badly in the league matches. Basically the players are mainly snooker players and a lot of them really poor players. The lad I played last night had absolutley no idea how to play and in-off.
He could pot a little, but I still lost after giving him 100 start first to 100. After a few shots I was just spending my time trying to get the balls into a reasonable position. Usually one ball was on the rail and as he had no idea of how to keep three balls in play it was always an unhill struggle.
I got two or three 20 breaks but that was all, he beat me by 16, it's simply staggering how many flukes he also got, I suppose you will if you smash the balls around the table.
Wayne Holbrook also suffered a bit of the same He played Norman Dyson who again spent most of his time potting. Wayne lost by a similar amount. Your heart is simply not in this game when you are not leaning anything from these players.
He could pot a little, but I still lost after giving him 100 start first to 100. After a few shots I was just spending my time trying to get the balls into a reasonable position. Usually one ball was on the rail and as he had no idea of how to keep three balls in play it was always an unhill struggle.
I got two or three 20 breaks but that was all, he beat me by 16, it's simply staggering how many flukes he also got, I suppose you will if you smash the balls around the table.
Wayne Holbrook also suffered a bit of the same He played Norman Dyson who again spent most of his time potting. Wayne lost by a similar amount. Your heart is simply not in this game when you are not leaning anything from these players.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
EABA Rankings
Check out the EABA rankings, managed my highest position 17 yep that's SEVENTEEN.
Eaba Rankings - click here for details, quite a few players I expected to be above me such as Ron Bickerdike, a very long way to go yet I may not win another match of course.
Wayne Holbrook is a very credible 24 on the list. He was unlucky not to beat Gary Norman.
Eaba Rankings - click here for details, quite a few players I expected to be above me such as Ron Bickerdike, a very long way to go yet I may not win another match of course.
Wayne Holbrook is a very credible 24 on the list. He was unlucky not to beat Gary Norman.
Bury League
For some reason I am still playing a little hot and cold. One minute I am playing really well and the next game really poor.
I am still getting reasonable breaks in the the Macclesfield league, but i have struggled in the both the Prestwich and Bury Leagues, Not really sure of the reason but I think its lack of concentration as a lot of the players are only average.
I player Wayne on Monday 500 up at Silktown and managed to get 60 in front before his potting kicked in and he overtook me. We both played average, getting 20's and 30's. Neither of us got to the top or really showed any sign of outstanding play. Just at the end Wayne need about 5 points and I finally managed to get a lovely position at the top and scored a very quick 28 to win. Strange game.
Monday night played in the Bury League, ended up getting drawn for the doubles. Again for 20minutes I hardly had a shot but eventually I got a chance and ran in 17, 22, 18, 21. Which finished off the game and we were easy winners. Just happy to get a win but I am getting used to the table now.
Tuesday off the Heaton Park Social for another match with Steve Cannon. I played on the left table which is a little worn but fast. I had a knock with Steve and made 5 breaks of 25 in 30 minutes. He score 16.
My match was a strange affair I was giving 68 start first to 100, I'm on -48 he was on + 20.
Again for 20 minutes I did not score, neither did he he was completely hopeless and just kept leaving the balls on the rail or in a general mess. Eventually I got a chance and scored lots of 15-20 breaks to win 100-61 he scored 41 and half those were flukes by slamming the balls around the table.
Ah well it's a win although not happy.
I am still getting reasonable breaks in the the Macclesfield league, but i have struggled in the both the Prestwich and Bury Leagues, Not really sure of the reason but I think its lack of concentration as a lot of the players are only average.
I player Wayne on Monday 500 up at Silktown and managed to get 60 in front before his potting kicked in and he overtook me. We both played average, getting 20's and 30's. Neither of us got to the top or really showed any sign of outstanding play. Just at the end Wayne need about 5 points and I finally managed to get a lovely position at the top and scored a very quick 28 to win. Strange game.
Monday night played in the Bury League, ended up getting drawn for the doubles. Again for 20minutes I hardly had a shot but eventually I got a chance and ran in 17, 22, 18, 21. Which finished off the game and we were easy winners. Just happy to get a win but I am getting used to the table now.
Tuesday off the Heaton Park Social for another match with Steve Cannon. I played on the left table which is a little worn but fast. I had a knock with Steve and made 5 breaks of 25 in 30 minutes. He score 16.
My match was a strange affair I was giving 68 start first to 100, I'm on -48 he was on + 20.
Again for 20 minutes I did not score, neither did he he was completely hopeless and just kept leaving the balls on the rail or in a general mess. Eventually I got a chance and scored lots of 15-20 breaks to win 100-61 he scored 41 and half those were flukes by slamming the balls around the table.
Ah well it's a win although not happy.
Monday, 11 October 2010
ABC #2 Cambridge
Picked up Steve cannon who I may point out was still in bed when I arrived (lazy Git), met Wayne Holbrrok at my house and over the Woodhead to pick up John Ingleby. Quite a car full and the 3 hour trip went quite quickly.
All the crew were there quite a nice club tucked away on an industrial estate the table looked very nice and first round I drew out Dennis Marr. He is always in the top 16 so I knew it was a tough draw.
We set off and I had a few really nice flukes to get me going 4 if I remember rightly and I scored off each one much to Mathew Suttons amusement who was watching. We played for an hour the table was very difficult and I had to avoid playing with side other wise the balls over reacted every time. Dennis was also suffering from the table and with 5 minutes to go I was 40 in front. he got going and scored a really nice 40 to tie the match but left himself an unlucky double baulk which he failed to score off. The bell went and we had to play an additional 5 minutes.
He broke off and I won the string putting him in. He scored seven and I got in and made a nice 21 off the red and potted his ball along the way. I left him baulked but he left me on again I scored 5 before the bell went.
Certainly my best ever result against a player who is quite capable of massive breaks he had a 200 last year in an ABC and a 135 in the league over in Liverpool.
My next game was against Ron Agnew who is just such a tough player to beat, Managed to scrape a lead by potting and a little luck he came back strongly and for 30minute I never had a shot but at the end I got a nice 23 and a 29 to pull away before the bell went. Certainly happy with that result but not my next draw Mr Mumford he really is out of my league.
We were on a really crap table number 7 If I remember, I held him for the first 30 minutes and had a 27 and a 29 in two visits before he turned on his top of the table games and knocked in 40,50,50,81 etc.
I scored 145 points he managed 300 so I did OK in the limited table time I had, A great day for me.
I finally met Robert Marshall who had a great 200 break with his new cue, he is such a calm modest chap he lost to Geoff Brassington who managed to run out with a 107 in the last 10miutes.
Wayne managed a win in the main draw, but Steve lost to Chris taylor but not by that much only 100 or so points, last time I played Chris he beat me by 300. A good day for all and a safe trip home.
All the crew were there quite a nice club tucked away on an industrial estate the table looked very nice and first round I drew out Dennis Marr. He is always in the top 16 so I knew it was a tough draw.
We set off and I had a few really nice flukes to get me going 4 if I remember rightly and I scored off each one much to Mathew Suttons amusement who was watching. We played for an hour the table was very difficult and I had to avoid playing with side other wise the balls over reacted every time. Dennis was also suffering from the table and with 5 minutes to go I was 40 in front. he got going and scored a really nice 40 to tie the match but left himself an unlucky double baulk which he failed to score off. The bell went and we had to play an additional 5 minutes.
He broke off and I won the string putting him in. He scored seven and I got in and made a nice 21 off the red and potted his ball along the way. I left him baulked but he left me on again I scored 5 before the bell went.
Certainly my best ever result against a player who is quite capable of massive breaks he had a 200 last year in an ABC and a 135 in the league over in Liverpool.
My next game was against Ron Agnew who is just such a tough player to beat, Managed to scrape a lead by potting and a little luck he came back strongly and for 30minute I never had a shot but at the end I got a nice 23 and a 29 to pull away before the bell went. Certainly happy with that result but not my next draw Mr Mumford he really is out of my league.
We were on a really crap table number 7 If I remember, I held him for the first 30 minutes and had a 27 and a 29 in two visits before he turned on his top of the table games and knocked in 40,50,50,81 etc.
I scored 145 points he managed 300 so I did OK in the limited table time I had, A great day for me.
I finally met Robert Marshall who had a great 200 break with his new cue, he is such a calm modest chap he lost to Geoff Brassington who managed to run out with a 107 in the last 10miutes.
Wayne managed a win in the main draw, but Steve lost to Chris taylor but not by that much only 100 or so points, last time I played Chris he beat me by 300. A good day for all and a safe trip home.
Practice
As far as practice goes this year I have not managed to get much time on the table, however I have managed a few games with Wayne Holbrook and had three lessons off John Inglelby.
I have spent 6 or 7 hours trying top of the table again trying a few set pieces from John Ingleby. This has proved very difficult but also very interesting. I sometimes make 30-40 breaks or nothing but I see a definate improvement to my game around the spot.
Indeed last week I had my first 100 break using this practice method which was very pleasing. I scored around 40 at the top then ran away and managed to play some red ball before going back to the top. I broke down as usual on a simple pot.
I have spent 6 or 7 hours trying top of the table again trying a few set pieces from John Ingleby. This has proved very difficult but also very interesting. I sometimes make 30-40 breaks or nothing but I see a definate improvement to my game around the spot.
Indeed last week I had my first 100 break using this practice method which was very pleasing. I scored around 40 at the top then ran away and managed to play some red ball before going back to the top. I broke down as usual on a simple pot.
Leagues
I have managed to find several new leagues to play in this year. I have decided not to play in the Huddersfield league due to the distances involved each week, unless they are really short of players.
I am going to play in the Prestwich League with Steve Cannon on a Tuesday and the macclesfield league on the Thursday at Nick Dysons club in Macclesfield with Steve Cannon, as you may recalled I played for Disley gold club last year.
There is also another small league in Bury which I have decided to try it has a few good players in it, like Phil Spring who goes in the odd ABC.
My first games in these leagues have resulted in mixed results, in the Bury league, I have played only two games and won them both but not made any breaks at all.
In the Macclesfield League I have played 3 won 2 and lost 1. I have made a few breaks of note 27 and 30 in game 1, 27 and 44 in game 2 and a nice 51 in game 3 but still lost.
The Prestwich League I have won one and lost one no breaks recorded only a couple of 20's.
I am going to play in the Prestwich League with Steve Cannon on a Tuesday and the macclesfield league on the Thursday at Nick Dysons club in Macclesfield with Steve Cannon, as you may recalled I played for Disley gold club last year.
There is also another small league in Bury which I have decided to try it has a few good players in it, like Phil Spring who goes in the odd ABC.
My first games in these leagues have resulted in mixed results, in the Bury league, I have played only two games and won them both but not made any breaks at all.
In the Macclesfield League I have played 3 won 2 and lost 1. I have made a few breaks of note 27 and 30 in game 1, 27 and 44 in game 2 and a nice 51 in game 3 but still lost.
The Prestwich League I have won one and lost one no breaks recorded only a couple of 20's.
ABC Leeds
For those of you following my billiards you will recall that I had not actually won a single game in the main event of an ABC in the 5 or so I entered last year.
Whether this was due to me being rubbish or simply getting bad draws I don't know. I did win a couple of games in the plate events. I have decided to enter as many ABC's this year as I can simply because it's the only day off I can be certain of this year as I am working extra hours due to my wife being made redundant.
Off to Leeds with Wayne Holbrook who drove up to my house from stoke. The usual crew were there I think they had 54 entry's which was quite a healthy field.
I drew a chap called Steve Best from the North East, I knew I was in for a difficult match I had seen several decent breaks from him in the records and Ron Bickerdyke told me he was a good player. I played really well I did get a couple of flukes early on which helps and I scored 20 off one really outstanding fluke. After half an hour I had a 90 point lead I got a series of 20-25breaks and managed a 232 - 143 win to get the elusive ABC win.
In the next round I was slaughtered by John Murphy who despite my best efforts score 343 - 143. I felt I played well against him and had a couple of breaks 32 and 39 mainly off the red for some reason. he was really nice afterwards and told me he was really impressed with my progress in the last year.
Wayne Holbrook lost in the main comp but made up for his poor performance by getting to the quarter final of the plate. He would agree that he did not play well over the day but still managed a couple of wins.
Whether this was due to me being rubbish or simply getting bad draws I don't know. I did win a couple of games in the plate events. I have decided to enter as many ABC's this year as I can simply because it's the only day off I can be certain of this year as I am working extra hours due to my wife being made redundant.
Off to Leeds with Wayne Holbrook who drove up to my house from stoke. The usual crew were there I think they had 54 entry's which was quite a healthy field.
I drew a chap called Steve Best from the North East, I knew I was in for a difficult match I had seen several decent breaks from him in the records and Ron Bickerdyke told me he was a good player. I played really well I did get a couple of flukes early on which helps and I scored 20 off one really outstanding fluke. After half an hour I had a 90 point lead I got a series of 20-25breaks and managed a 232 - 143 win to get the elusive ABC win.
In the next round I was slaughtered by John Murphy who despite my best efforts score 343 - 143. I felt I played well against him and had a couple of breaks 32 and 39 mainly off the red for some reason. he was really nice afterwards and told me he was really impressed with my progress in the last year.
Wayne Holbrook lost in the main comp but made up for his poor performance by getting to the quarter final of the plate. He would agree that he did not play well over the day but still managed a couple of wins.
Just when you thought it was all Over
Due to constant nagging by various people I have decided to carry on with the blog in a small way for the next year. The time is the issue but I will try to make an effort. There is lots to put on so watch this space.
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