Summary

Absolutely fantastic result at this stage of the season! With our two nearest challengers winning only 3-2 and with just four regular season matches to go we've put just a little bit of daylight between us and the chasing pack... ...let's just hope that handicaps don't derail the juggernaut![br/] Also, a stat worthy of a mention, our home record this season is incredible and to date reads: played 4, won 4, for 18, away 2... ...astonishing!

The Games

Mark (SL5) won 4 - 2 against a 4
It seems to me that becoming a SL5 has brought the best out of Mr Lavery... ...I think the whole team is in awe of the fact that Mark now has a defensive game to go with his undoubted potting and shot making ability. For me this was epitomized in the hill / hill rack when Mark, with several stripes bunched up near the bottom right hand pocket, patiently teased out his stripes one by one whilst at the same time leaving his opponent nothing. In fact it needed his opponent, who is a solid SL4, to make consecutive 'lucky' snookers just to stay in the rack. This for me was the match up of the season so far, great to watch and a fantastic result in the end.

Heather (SL2) won 2 - 1 against a 3
Alas our bandit SL2 will most likely be back to a bandit SL3 next week!. In a short race this was always going to be a close match so with the first rack in the balance Heather made a fantastic 4 ball run to get to the black. No shot was on so a clever defense seemingly set up an opening but her opponent returned the complement leaving Heather a very difficult cut on the 8 ball in the center pocket. Heather showed nerves of steel and fantastic ability to nonchalantly sink the black. Although the match was won with her opponent making the most obvious 8 scratch I have ever seen this was a great win.

Sean (SL5) won 4 - 2 against a 5
Another wonderful match. A gift 8 scratch in the first rack put Sean 1-0 ahead and with his opponent having run to the black in the second, Sean played a fantastic snooker to give himself ball in hand with 7 balls on the table... ...a wonderful run out followed for a 2-0 lead. Back came Sean's opponent however and at 2-2 he had a seemingly unmissable 8 ball to put himself on the hill. Not sure how it happened but he missed and Sean, with just one solid on the table and an 8 ball hanging in the jaws, made no mistake. The last rack was easy with Sean's opponent apparently still thinking about the 8 ball and seemingly unable to make any ball. Take nothing away from Sean, he finished the match up in style having had to jack up his cue to avoid the table and sink the final black in the center pocket. Dear Mr Tom Gates... ....please, please, please don't make Sean a SL6 just yet!

Darren (SL7) won 5 - 0 against a 4
Hmmm, I'm really not sure what to write!. During the early evening banter I had definitely tried to 'get in my opponents head' but I had no idea just how successful I had been. Jim asked me after the match what had he done wrong and my answer was simple... ...you thought about it far too much. I've never before won a match just from reputation!. Not a great deal to remember about the match apart from another break and run chance that went begging.

Mini (SL4) won 3 - 0 against a 3
This was one of those matches where I have to admit, I didn't mind the result. Needless to say that was the sign for Marc to completely blitz an opponent who has been a SL4 for the last three seasons and only just dropped to a SL3. Marc's ability to 'just get down and hit them' (with the balls still going in clean) was making Mike and I laugh on the sidelines!. An impressive 4-1 record for the new kid. Dear Mr Tom Gates... ....please, please, please don't make Marc a SL5 just yet!

Shot of The Night

Heather: Heather made a fantastic 4 ball run to get to the black. No shot was on so a clever defense seemingly set up an opening but her opponent returned the complement leaving Heather a very difficult cut on the 8 ball in the center pocket. Heather showed nerves of steel and fantastic ability to nonchalantly sink the black.

Worst Shot of The Night

Sean: Sean's attempted safety (kamikaze) shot on the 6 at the end of the 4th rack has to be one of the worst attempts I've seen from anyone in quite a while.....