On the other table, Dave Thomas was up against Carl Rose. It was probably the best game Dave has ever played. Not that he made any huge breaks - the colours were too awkward for that, but he potted several long reds and played some good safety too. However, Carl is a seasoned campaigner and he was just doing enough to keep in touch and he actually potted most of the colours to take it through to the black. He then contrived to go in off the black to give Dave a very deserved victory.

Paul Haywood's game was pretty scrappy with the black covering one of the corner pockets which then lead to a protracted safety exchange. He managed to pot a nice red and get on the black to open the frame up and then promptly missed the next red. After that, it was pretty close all the way. His opponent potted blue and pink and Paul secured the black to take it to a re-spot. Paul said "that's possibly the first time I've played a match that's needed to have the black re-spotted". Surprisingly, having won the toss, his opponent opted to play and played a nice 'up and down'. Paul tried the same and double-kissed the black back onto the baulk cushion. His opponent then doubled the black into the corner pocket, the length of the table...a very brave shot to take on.

Ian Rawlings also had a battle with an old adversary in Lenny Drummond. There were plenty of fouls on both sides. At one stage, Lenny missed the reds twice when he could see them and the referee had to warn him. Ian also put him in some difficult snookers, but then Lenny returned the complement. But generally, Ian was always ahead and when he potted the brown, Lenny needed a snooker. Ian then made a mistake by trying to play safe on the blue and watched the cue ball roll agonisingly into the corner pocket. Lenny then managed to snooker Ian and although he hit it, he left Lenny to pot blue and pink. However, he was close to the side cushion for the black and missed it but it ran safe and there was then a bit of a safety exchange. Lenny decided to take on an a double into the middle pocket off the side cushion. He hit it very hard and the black went bang into the middle for yet another defeat on the black, both to doubles!!

Mark Sutton was drawn against Jock, who was joint top of the division 1 averages the season before last. Unfortunately, he seems to have lost his touch a little this year. Not that he got much of a chance against Mark. He did have a medium range red to the corner and when he missed, Mark compiled a very nice 76 break, which could easily have been a century. However, he ran out of position on the black, and was forced to play it left-handed. He actually potted the black, got the cannon on the red and pink he wanted, but the cue ball managed to finish where the pink was stopping him getting to the potting angle on the red. He tried the double but, sadly this time, it did not work!

So a 3-2 defeat which could have been a 4-1 victory, but I suppose could also have been a 4-1 defeat. Three games decided on the black too! Good stuff. Onto defending the Perfection cup next week at E57. Match report will appear here next Thursday.