Summary

After last week's defeat, this was a fantastic win against one of the top teams in the league.... ....made all the more sweet by being 2-0 down early on!

The Games

Mike (SL5) lost 3 - 3 against a 4
This was probably the best I've seen from Mike's opponent but in truth Mike took a while to get going. Some fantastic potting in rack one meant Mike was faced with a deficit early but having been given a 'gift' in rack two it seemed like Mike could only go on from there. Not so, the third rack went against Mike to leave him in his customary position of needing three racks to win and although he took it to a decider Mike unfortunately fell just short. I'll have nightmares about the one ball hanging over the top pocket in the hill-hill rack!

Heather (SL3) lost 0 - 3 against a 4
A slightly inebriated Heather found herself steamrollered by an in-form opponent. A special mention has to go to the amazing three ball combo in rack two which actually followed a complete fluke! - the story of Heather's night.

Darren (SL7) won 5 - 1 against a 6
A performance to be happy with against an SL 6 that had won the MVP title for the past two sessions, both times with unbeaten records, and was also unbeaten this session. In fact, in the 2004 calendar year he has the impressive record of being 26-2 (including last night) in league matches with both defeats coming against SL7s. A nice break and run got me going in the first rack and I never looked back.

Sparky (SL3) won 2 - 0 against a 3
A comfortable first rack but wow, what a run in the second. With the 8 ball literally hanging over the pocket Sparky was faced with two very tough long pots with the white right on the cushion. He made them both to leave the easy 8 ball and clinch the match - great run!

Sean (SL5) won 4 - 3 against a 6
Without doubt the match-up of the season so far. Sean looked to be on fire as he ran away with the first and was then given an early Christmas present with an 8 ball over the pocket in the second. His opponent was not to be outdone though and he reeled off the next three racks to make it a straight race to two. Sean got to the hill in the next rack with another fantastic run and very good 8 ball along the cushion to leave his opponent needing two. The final rack again looked to be all Sean as some fluent potting ( I remember a very good 7 ball into the centre) left him with a simple 5 ball in the centre to either run through for the 8 ball in the opposite pocket or stun for the 8 ball in the same pocket. Just to keep us guessing Sean ended up in no-man's land and the 8 ball became embroiled in a tactical battle as it hung over the top pocket with his opponent's four stripes. One by one the stripes dropped until, faced with a snooker, Sean kicked against the side rail to not only hit but pot the 8 ball.

Shot of The Night

A few options. We had Heather's three ball combo, Sean's kick on the 8 ball but ...

Sparky: Given the nature of the match, the shot of the night has to be Sparky's long 7 ball with the white on the cushion and the 8 ball hanging. If he missed it was over.