Summary

Another solid team performance and it looked like an early finish until I decided to slow things down a little! Also, worth capturing that the support last night was fantastic from players and non-players alike.

The Games

Lori (SL3) won 2 - 0 against a 3
Strange one this. The early visits suggested that Lori's opponent was going to be a challenge, but two 8 scratches later Lori had a 2-0 win in the bag without taking a shot at a black! Now that's the way to win a match.

Sparky (SL4) lost 0 - 2 against a 3
The Sparky that just last week demolished a SL5 wasn't there last night. That said, his opponent was without doubt a very good SL3, hardly missing a pot on his way to a comfortable win. One thing that did strike me as being strange in this match was the fact that the cue ball seemed to be drawn to the pocket every time Sparky was at the table. Sparky played the right shots but got very little 'rub of the green'.

Mike (SL5) won 4 - 1 against a 4
A never-in-doubt win for Mike. Some very clinical run-outs with three or four balls left gave Mike a reasonably unassailable 3-0 lead and although a very good six ball run won the fourth rack for his opponent, it was really only a consolation. Two shots spring to mind here. The first was the fantastic defense in rack two where with 2 tricky pots on Mike was conscious that his opponent only had three balls left himself so played a 'stun' on his 9 ball to leave the cue ball frozen against the black and a full ball snooker. His opponent missed, Mike had ball in hand and the rack was over. The other shot was the amazing fluked 4 ball in rack 5 that hit the middle knuckle, came back off the top cushion and dropped in the opposite middle off the black. A good fluke in itself but even better considering that the black itself was set up perfectly for an easy close out.

Mini (SL4) lost 2 - 2 against a 3
A good SL3 for sure but probably a match that Marc should have won. Mini got to the black in the first rack within one visit but somehow managed to keep knocking it around the table allowing his opponent to catch up and then pot the black to snatch it. In the decider, Mini again got to the black only to see his opponent make a very good four ball clearance including a tricky black that never touched the sides of the pocket. Alas, poor Mini loses his unbeaten record leaving just Sean out on his own.

Darren (SL7) won 5 - 2 against a 5
One day I need to work out how not to go 2-1 behind in a 5-3 race! Hopefully it made for good entertainment though? Nothing memorable really, apart from the awful orange stripe in the third rack that should have been an easy run out... ...I missed and he potted the black for 2-1. Still, managed to then win the next four against one of the best SL5s that I've seen.

Shot of The Night

Mike: For me it was definitely Mike's 'stun' on the 9 ball to leave the cue ball frozen against the black and a full ball snooker.

Worst Shot of The Night

Darren: Without doubt my choked orange stripe in rack 3 when on one of the easiest run outs I could ever wish for. I'm making a habit of picking up this award... ...I'm not sure that was in the script!?!