Match Reports...Biased v Unbiased

Urmston v Wilmslow - Final Group Game - Greater Manchester Interleague - 29th March 2006

Chorlton Snooker Centre 7.45 PM. As the young guns gathered, apprehensive, nervous, expecting, wanting…..Needing points, and also to better Eccles who were in the same arena, The Urmston lads exchanged hellos and laughs, and waited eagerly for the opposition representing Wilmslow to make themselves known, I noticed the good spirit among the team as 'suited & booted' Steve Stakie donned his white gloves and set the table for battle, Mark Miller pondered above the talent within his ranks. He decided to go for the throat from the off, top heavy if you like.

First up was the ever reliable Steve Groves, reportedly unbeaten on the Inter-League circuit for 2 Years, however individually it was not his night, a couple of rattles here, and a leave there, sadly saw him beaten down 34-61, he was not happy, I am unable to print his after frame comments. 1-0 down…! Next up was Mark Miller, Urmston needed a performance of stature, he didn't disappoint, he demolished his opponent with some precise potting and positional play 113-9 including a solid 59 break. My eyes were stuck to the green baize, only occasionally flicking on to the pretty little blonde barmaid. All square. Next up an in form James Leadbetter, on paper a banker…! However a slight lack of concentration on a pink , stopped him from a possible frame winning clearance, to be fair to his opponent, he took his chance very well, and at this level, you have to be on your metal, Ledz lost 59-82, One frame snooker is a killer. 2-1 down, James's loss was reflected in the faces of the Urmston lads, however a beacon of light came from the Eccles scoreboard, they were 3-0 down to Levenshulme, and theoretically Urmston needed 1 additional point. Up strode Colin Hamer, a scrappy start, looked like one of my games, balls all over the place, we were in for a long frame? (Unfortunately I had to be dragged away at this point by Joe Bayley) Colin put the frame to bed with a solid 70-27 victory, 2-2. Up last but no mean least, the solid Barry Carmody(this boy doesn't lose very often), the shy Irish boy, came out of his shell with a fine 85-23 win to complete an exciting 5-2 victory on the night, and set up a mouth-watering Quarter-Final against Bolton 'A'.

In the other group game Levenshulme just missed out on a QF place by a point to tonight's opponents Wilmslow, despite thrashing Eccles 7-0. As for the after match celebrations, what goes on tour…..STAYS ON TOUR…! Come down to the Quarter-Final in a couple of weeks, as an Inter-league virgin, it was well worth the effort…!

J. Dempsey - Dead Horse and Donkey Buyer - 30th March 2006

Flixton Cons C v Flixton Ex-Servicemen's - Division 2 - 14th February 2006 - The Lovers Night…!

Flixton Cons 'C' 3 - 4 Flixton Ex-Servicemen's,

Run-away league leaders, the mighty Flixton cons 'c' were beaten on their own patch by cross-town neighbours, Flixton ex's. When Cons 'C' had travelled to Flixton ex's back in October, they walked away with six of the seven points, This time Flixton ex's would get revenge. Des Hope (Cons) was up first and suffered a very rare defeat to Neil Giraulo (ex) by a scoreline of 51-50 in a pink ball game! Meanwhile on the other table, Mr R Brown (Cons) scored a 73-23 win over Billy Bird (ex). It was one frame apiece.

Then new-comer Colin Hunter (Cons) beat Huwie Phillips (ex) 66-56 in another closely fought game settled only in the final few balls, while Steve Urbaniak (ex) shot down Andy Ralphs (cons) 57-52 with a nice 27 break by the victor on James Leadbetter's table - the match table with those impossible match-tight pockets. It was now two frames apiece and could go down to the wire.

The final games saw young starlet Andy Urbaniak (ex) beat Steve Brown (cons) by 47-37 with some excellent safety play, and bringing up the rear-guard, Steve Wall (ex) beat experienced Dave Keeling (cons) by 76-51. Mr Wall even had a forty point advantage less than half way through the reds. if only he could have held onto it...never-the-less, four frames had been swiped by the visitors.

however, the gallant efforts of the battle-weary and exhausted troops from Flixton Ex's were not quite enough, and just missed out on the aggregate, by a scoreline of 329-310. though that didn't matter too much, they went home with the adulation's of success, and a victory that will live long in the memory.

Steven Urbaniak - Flixton Ex-Servicemen's (biased report) 15th February 2006

Excel B v USC B - Don Webb Knockout - 9th February 2006

After the euphoria of last weeks magnificent 7-0 win (Excel B) comes the CUP MATCH.

Visitors USC arrived and handicaps were evaluated with the visitors allocated a 20 start (hmmm?). As it turned out, the handicapper must of got it right.

The match was a roller coaster sort of affair with lots of ups and downs which eventually came down to the last ball in the last frame with USC coming out on top by 2 points 328-330. Well done boys. Good luck in the next round.

Dave Hallam - Excel B Captain - 10th February 2006

Excel "B" v Partington WMC "B" - League Match 7th February 2006

Dear Editor.

The scene is set....Excel "B" finish their warm up session, whilst their captain is giving them the routine rub down, in come the opponents. The captain comes up and greets us and introduces us to his 5 man team. poor old Don Walker is rushing home from work to go on last, (wish i had his phone number), anyway, the battle of the minnows starts, and to cut a long (but exciting) story short, except to say that the captain won. Excel "B" run out 7-0 winners. (Look out Flixton cons) so after the celebrations have calmed down, (we did look rather silly doing a lap of honour around the vault) I wonder if it is to early to start thinking 1st division. hmmm!!!

A bit long winded i know, but couldn't you give us a little teeny weeny mention?

Dave Hallam - Excel B Captain - 9th February 2006

Urmston Social B v Urmston Social A - Don Webb Knockout - 30th January 2006

In a down to the wire local derby match last night Urmston Social "A" beat Urmston Social "B".

Following solid victories by Jon Chambers & captain Bob Stapley, Roy ("the Boy") Charnock had a 51 point cushion on starting the final match against arch rival and "B" team captain Bernie Ball.

Bernie fort valiantly against the deficit to bring the match to a black ball finish, gaining a required snooker on the brown ball, but was unlucky with a fatal double kiss on the black leaving Roy a chance to steal the match.

Roy's nerve held as he took the black ball to end a thrilling match.

Spectators were left breathless as they were treated to a match that will go down in Urmston Social Club history as one of the best games ever seen there.

Bob Stapley - 31st Jan 2006

Barry Carmody (Flixton Cons) v Dexter Cook (Excel) - Singles Handicap Knockout - 5th December 2005

Can you please advise the relevant authority that Mr Barry Carmody of Flixton Conservative Club was successfully 'scalped' in the singles handicap, on his home table, during a three frame thriller by the Sale Excel's leading marksman, Mr Dexter Cook. Amid strong home support, the solitary figure held up valiantly under tremendous pressure. This was surely a result that will send shockwaves throughout the Urmston & District Snooker league.
One lucky spectator commented "It were a magnificent performance, the poor lad were on 'is own. Throughout t'frame he kept lookin' round as if he were expecting his captain to turn up. Ah felt a bit sorry for 'im during second frame as our Barry launched momentum gathering consecutive breaks of 34 and 25 at him. But no, the lad ran away wi' it in last and Barry offered 'im hand as final red dropped int'middle bag. What made it quite amazing were, t'young lad came out wi' a vengeance in third just after hearing about all t'hundred breaks Barry had racked up on Jimmy Leadbetter's tight pocketed table across room. Well done son!"

Dexter Cook - 6th Deember 2005