PORTSMOUTH PRLC SNOOKER REPORT
It was time for the knockout stages of the PRLC where teams went head-to-head to get into the last 8.
AB’s had home advantage against Copnor A & E but missed out on the last 8 as they were beaten 7 – 5. Ryan O’Sullivan got the AB’s off to good start as he won his match, this however was matched as for Copnor Dan Compton done the same. It looked like it was going to have a 1 frame playoff but Chris Wilson for Copnor had other ideas as he kept his nerve to win his brace of frames to take the Copnor side through to the next round.
Craneswater A won a close encounter against Cowplain Gas just edging it 7 – 5. All the matches were drawn with Craneswater’s Andy Carter making a 40 break and Rob Kirby with a48 break. It was at the end where it turned good for Craneswater. Andy Boulton won his match and his 2 frames and with this making a superb 110 break to take his team through.
There was no advantage as Broadoak took on fellow club team Pompey Royals. It started well for Broadoak as Simon Munday with breaks of 48 and 36 won his brace. Martin Bell won his brace for the Royals to level it up. Simon Fleming put the Broadoak team back in front but Paul Chivers held his nerve to level it up at 6 – 6, so a 1 frame play off had to happen. Royals held their nerve to book a place in the last 8.
Bellair X went on their travels to Post Office and came away with a good 7 – 5 victory. Rio Smith won his match for the posties for a good start. It was even steven in the next 2 but at the end Lee Harding and Karl Smith both won their matches to send the Bellair team through to the last 8
NEBC was on home territory as they played Copnor D. The first 3 matches were drawn then Mike Dorey won his 2 frames for the NEBC team and then at the end of the night Tony Simmons levelled the playing field as he done the same. So, the match was level so a 1 frame shoot out took place, this time Andy Bushnell held his nerve as he won the deciding to book their place in the next round.
Craneswater R went to Waterlooville Bananas and just edged it 7 – 6. Connor Benzy with a 64 break gave Bananas a good start. Craneswater levelled it up with Rod McBain also winning a brace. It went to a decider and 1 frame where Rod McBain backed his brace up with a single frame win to send the team through.
Portchester X had home advantage but was on the end of a 9 – 3 defeat against Cowplain Z. Ben Hounsome, Trevor Powell, Steve Hughes and Terry Hickley all won their matches to take them past the post. Highlight for Portchester was Mark Kingswell who won his brace.
It was a clash of 2 big guns as Bellair A played Emsworth A with the latter winning only just 7 – 5. Greg jones for Bellair played well in his brace win. This was cancelled out as Tommy O’Neill did likewise. Aaron Jacobs won his brace for Emsworth at the end to send his team through to the last 8. Phil Watson in his drawn match had a 58 break for Bellair.
The draw for the last 8 is as follows:
Craneswater A v Pompey Royals
Bellair X v Copnor D
Craneswater R v Copnor A & E
Cowplain Z v Emsworth A
In the first of the competition finals Wayne and Ollie Rendle just edged a 3 – 2 win against Scott Compton and Mark Tillison. The Rendles went 2 nil up only for their opponents clawing a frame back. They made it 2 in a row as they levelled it up at 2 all. It was close in the decider but the Rendles kept their cool to see off the opponents and win 3 – 2 and be Scratch Pairs Champions 2025
REPORT DONE BY STEVE TOMS