Hastings & Bexhill Bar Billiards league

2 Points split the top three after week three
Sunday 26th April
Just two points separate the top three at the top of the Rix Cup table after week three.  The leaders after week two Cutter A lost their first game of the campaign in a top of the table clash with the Ashburnham Arms with the Ash coming out 3-2 winners at the OKJ.  The Old King John stay third but are in touching distance after a 4-1 win at the Ash against the Cutter B.  Meanwhile the Jenny derby was played out at the Cutter as the B's triumphed 3.5-1.5 against the A's.

Cutter B 1 Old King John 4 - report by Andy Ellison
OKJ continued their fightback from the defeat in the first round of Rix Cup matches with an emphatic victory against Cutter B at the Ashburnham. The result looked unlikely when Phil put Cutter ahead with a good win in the opener. Garry for OKJ lost his opening break to a peg and Phil stepped in with a break of 2010 which gave him a lead that he never surrendered and a score of 4210, the best of the night for his side. In the next Jay left his break-off short but Andy for OKJ set off with 2160 and kept Jay off the table for several minutes. Jay was left chasing the game and Andy put together a 2k effort to see the game out and record a seasonal best of 7680. Joe for Cutter B met Nigel in the third frame and both players started slowly. Joe never really settled but once Nigel acclimatised to the table he moved ahead with successive breaks of 3230 and 2350 in a winning total of 6130. With Mark's late arrival forcing a rearranged playing schedule, Joe had to step up again for a four player Cutter B. Roger for OKJ was keen to better Nigel's score and the game took a similar pattern to the previous one. After some initial sparring, Roger accumulated breaks of 2380 and 3750 in achieving his goal with a total of 7540. With the arrival of Mark and the destruction of the pizzas, the final frame was able to progress. Dave was keen to get onto the table after his prolonged wait, but couldn't turn his frustrations into points as pegs intervened on several occasions. Mark proceeded steadily and hung on to his scores to achieve a total of 2370 and clinch the 4-1 win for OKJ.  A very enjoyable evening and many thanks to Nick for the pizzas!

Jenny A 1.5 Jenny B 3.5 - report by Ray Norton
After the draw, Andrew started against away Captain Alex. Alex opened with a 450 break, and Andrew followed with a 520, which included an unexpected 200 shot off the top. Each player swapped small breaks until Alex slotted in a 1.3 k break. For some reason, each player came off for the next 3 turns each only scoring 20. Andrew then countered with a 500, matched by Alex. Andrew completed with a 320 break as the bar fell, so could not catch, the final 100 shot gave both players many attempts until Alex finished off in the lead by just over 1.2k.  Next up was Billy vs Andy H. Billy started with a 450, followed by the same from Andy, turns followed without significant scores until Andy posted a 970, swiftly followed by Billy scoring 1.2, the frame  was pretty much even at that point, there followed a series of right pegs falling, before Billy started compiling a potentially match winning 1.1k break only to see another peg fall. Andy scored a 500, followed by a 900 to put him 500 odd in the lead, Billy countered with a 740 and tried to mop up the rest of the balls as the bar dropped, but by the end there was a 200 difference and after Billy missed the 100 shot, Andy scored the required 200 to draw the frame.  Next up was Jenny Captain Ray vs Steve. Ray started with a break just short of 1k, Steve matched that, and the scores were again evenly matched, Ray managed to catch a weird left hand 50 ball shot where a red hanging over the 50 hole which refused to drop and then left both balls either side of the hole. Scores continued to be exchanged and after about 15 mins the scores were again level, before Steve compiled a 1.5 break to forge into the lead, as the bar fell.  After the refreshments, next up was Jimmy vs Rob. Jimmy lost his initial break to a wayward peg, followed by a similar shot from Rob. The score was not affected by either player for the first full 5-6 minutes, after which Rob started on a break, which as it grew bigger seemed more and more nervous, towards the end the red had drifted well past the 50, and in a the whole Jenny B team drew a deep breath as Rob managed to save his score and finish with a high break of 2.6k. Jimmy responded with a 1.4 k break, and then the players swapped small scores. Towards the end and after the bar had dropped, Jimmy played one of his off the side flair shots, he could not catch by this point, and dropped the Black peg and Rob mopped up the last 3 balls.  Last up, was Matt vs Jez. Jez opened up with a very impressive and secure 1.9k break, followed by Matt’s 1k opening break, both scored small breaks, and at one point the table had entered the twilight zone, when the errant red into the 50 shot that had stopped Ray in his tracks was re-created by Matt, and a ball into the right corner passed the ball it was intended to hit only to reverse into it instead. Matt eventually worked the table out and after Jez scored a 980, Matt rounded up the evening with a 2.2k break to win the frame.  The table played much better than last week, and the A team were much happier with this week’s 1.5 to 3.5 score line.

Cutter A 2 Ashburnham Arms 3 - report by Tom Pope
Tonight sees Cutter A play the Ash at the OKJ, for what is to be a night of drama that will surely be told for years to come.  Alec and mick get the proceedings underway. With both scoring on their breaks, they are getting opportunities to bank some points. Alec makes a dash for the lead, Mick in unable to catch him. Alec has a 2600 lead as the bar drops to take the win for the Cutter. Cutter A 1 – Ash 0.  Tom and Dave White are next on the baize. Both miss their breaks but soon get to work. It descends into a scrappy game that’s anyone’s for the taking until Dave takes the black peg. He doesn’t have time to catch back up. Tom wins. Cutter A 2 – Ash 0.  This is the shortened version of this game report; the original is a story longer than the War and Peace. Colin and Sandy are on the slate next. Both players get the break but don’t manage to score heavily. They are each making mistakes as they try to tame the table. Sandy is the first to find his stride making a solid 5740 break, and then, he misses the ball. Colin is straight on and responds with a 2000+ break. The bar goes. It’s Colins game. But then, Colin misses the ball. They both take it in turns trying to move an awkward ball, until Colin pots it. There are 3 balls on the table and Colin is 100 behind, be clears 2 of them away, but over hits the 100 shot, Sandy comes on and pots it to win the match. I imagine there will be a film about this game one day. The drama combined with Alec’s expert commentary as he chalked was what makes bar billiards the pinnacle of sports. Cutter A 2 – Ash 1.  Pete and Dave P play are 4th to play. Pete breaks off with a 1500 break. Dave pegs his first break. He then pegs a break of 1500. Pete has an 1800 lead. Dave gets into gear and starts knocking balls in. Everyone watching agrees that Dave is playing well. He bags a 2850 break to take the win. Cutter A 2 – Ash 2.  With both teams having 4 players there’s a draw for the final game. Tom and Mick are the chosen ones. Tom knocks in 1200 in his opening break. Mick responds to level the scoreboard. There are some stubborn balls in this game for both players to sort out before Mick clears the table and gets back to break. From here on its Micks table, he chalks up a 3870 to comfortably take the game and the win for the Ash. Cutter A 2 – Ash 3

Scores