There was going to be a new name on the Stan Bent Knockout Trophy as the final was between the
two Bird in Hand sides. On first was Dave Shelley (Bird A) who took on the challenge of Steve Nixon
(Bird X) and this was somewhat a scrappy affair as both players struggled to find any momentum.
But as the game wore on Shelley started to relax and some crucial shot selections put him in control.
It was Shelley who then had first chance on the black but he over hit it and thus then gave Nixon a
chance to seize the initiative but an amazing double by Shelley gave the Bird A a 1-0 lead.
The second game saw John Daniels (A) take on young Gav Davies (X). Davies potting ability saw him attempt to
clear up but after he potted his last ball he left himself a tricky cut into the middle on the black
and tried to dig deep on the cueball to avoid the in-off into the opposite bag. However he potted the
black and successfully avoided the in off into the middle bag but unfortunately he caught the knuckle
and the cueball flew straight up the rail into the corner bag. This gave the Bird A a 2-0 lead.
The third game saw Giles Eastwood (A) take on Dean Cammack (X) and it was a must win for Cammack and roared
on by a big support he had the better of the earlier exchanges but the fell short and so gave
Eastwood a chance to stamp his authority on the match. He then took complete control but suddenly he
failed to hit a cushion after contact and this gave Cammack hope and then amazingly missed shots were
coming at regular intervals. Then the chance came for Cammack and he sunk the black to pull it back
to 2-1.
Fourth game saw Steve Finney (A) pit his wits against Lee Whitehouse (X) and this was an
exciting passage of play and it was Finney who took the Bull by the horns and go for the clearance
and suddenly he was on the black but tight on the cushion and this hampered him enough to miss it.
Whitehouse then brought his dead balls into play and left Finney what seemed to be no pot on the
black. Then incredibly he saw a path for the black to go into the corner and after much deliberation
he took it on and it flew in. The match was won and so gave the Bird in Hand A their first major
honour winning the Stan Bent Team Knockout trophy 2004/05.
Subsidiary Team Knockout Final
Venue: HOP POLE
CROOKED CUE
2-3
HOP POLE C
Division One champions the Crooked Cue were denied a double by losing 3-2 to the Hop Pole C.
Martin Priestley (Cue) took on average winner Kev Daly (Pole C) in the first game and after
scrappy exchanges on the black it was Priestley who made 1-0 to the Cue. Second game saw another
average winner Dave Barker (Cue) fall short against Will Sunderland (Pole C) who then levelled
matters. On third saw Mike Barker (Cue) (also another average winner) succeed against Shane
Milleen (Pole C) and so made it 2-1 to the Cue. County player Adam Lilburne (Cue) was pushed
all the way as he fell to Duncan Sunderland (Pole C) and so it was 2-2. Both the Barkers then
took on Daly and D Sunderland and after chances for both pairs it was Kev Daly who took his
chance and cleared up the remaining 6 balls to take the Subsidiary Shield for the Hop Pole C.
Stan Bent Knockout Semi Final
Venue: HOP POLE
JOINERS ARMS
v
BIRD IN HAND X
Venue: CROOKED CUE
BIRD IN HAND A
v
BRITISH LEGION
Subsidiary Team Knockout Semi Final
Venue: BIRD IN HAND
CROOKED CUE
v
HIGHFIELDS CLUB
Venue: METROPOLITAN BAR
CHARNLEY B
v
HOP POLE C
Stan Bent Knockout Quarter Final
JOINERS ARMS
v
RICKERSCOTE ARMS
BIRD IN HAND A
v
ANTELOPE
RICKERSCOTE ARMS A
v
BIRD IN HAND X
METROPOLITAN BAR
v
BRITISH LEGION
Subsidiary Team Knockout Quarter Final
CROOKED CUE
v
ROSE & CROWN
HIGHFIELDS CLUB
v
FOX & HOUNDS
NAGS HEAD
v
CHARNLEY B
ALBION A
v
HOP POLE C
Stan Bent Knockout Round Two
SHREWSBURY ARMS
2-3
METROPOLITAN BAR
RIFLEMAN A
1-3
RICKERSCOTE ARMS A
BIRD IN HAND X
3-2
CROOKED CUE X
BRITISH LEGION
3-1
BEAR & PHEASANT
ANTELOPE
3-1
LUCKPENNY WANDERERS
FORESTER
2-3
RICKERSCOTE ARMS
THREE TUNS
1-3
BIRD IN HAND A
JOINERS ARMS
3-2
MORRIMAN
The 2nd division leaders, Bird X, created another cup shock after
eliminating past Champions Crooked Cue X of the 1st division. They won 3-2 with Lee Whitehouse and Gav Davies
winning their singles and then teaming up in the doubles to secure victory. 2nd division Antelope also beat 1st
division opposition, winning 3-1 against the Luckpenny. Mark Bradbury, Mick Tinsley and James Devlin were the
victors. Last seasons runners-up, the Rickerscote, were made to work hard for their 3-2 victory at the Forester
while the Rickerscote A won 3-1 at the Rifleman A. The Metro Bar put their poor league form aside after they
narrowly came through with a 3-2 victory at the Shrewsbury Arms. The Bird A had a tricky tie at the Three Tuns
but came out on top with a 3-1 win and join their X team in the next round. The British Legion are also in the
last eight with a 3-1 win against the Bear and Pheasant - Nick Haden, Justin Mackereth and Pauline Burton all won.
In an all 3rd division match, leaders - the Joiners - beat the Morrisman 3-2.
Subsidiary Knockout Round One
STAFFS BULL
0-3
CROOKED CUE
FOX & HOUNDS
3-0
RIFLEMAN B
CHARNLEY A
2-3
ROSE & CROWN
HOP POLE
1-3
HOP POLE C
The following teams receive a bye into the next round:
ALBION A
HIGHFIELDS CLUB
CHARNLEY B
NAGS HEAD
The Fox and Hounds picked up their first win of the season with
a 3-0 win against the Rifleman B - Dave Barlow, Simon Baker and Tom Batthews all winning. The Rose and Crown
caused a shock, winning 3-2 at 1st division Charnley A. 1st division leaders, Crooked Cue, had no problems in
winning 3-0 at the Staffs Bull while in the all Hop Pole derby the C team came out on top with a 3-1 victory.
Stan Bent Knockout Round One
FOX & HOUNDS
2-3
ALBION B
CHARNLEY A
0-3
MORRISMAN
ALBION A
0-3
THREE TUNS
METROPOLITAN BAR
3-0
STAFFS BULL
RICKERSCOTE ARMS
3-2
HIGHFIELDS CLUB
HOP POLE C
2-3
LUCKPENNY WANDERERS
CROOKED CUE
1-3
RICKERSCOTE ARMS A
CHARNLEY B
1-3
CROOKED CUE X
BIRD IN HAND
3-2
HOP POLE
NAGS HEAD
1-3
BIRD IN HAND X
ROSE & CROWN
2-3
JOINERS ARMS
RIFLEMAN B
0-3
BRITISH LEGION
The following teams received a bye into the next round:
BEAR AND PHEASANT
FORESTER
RIFLEMAN A
SHREWSBURY ARMS
There were some shocks in the 1st round of the league knockout as the holders, the Hop Pole, were knocked out,
losing 3-2 at the Bird in Hand where John Daniels and Steve Finney were the heroes.
First division Charnley A fell to third division Morrisman, losing 3-0.
Leading the way for the latter were Dave Harris, Chris Blackford and G. Chadwick.
Highflying Crooked Cue were stopped in their tracks after going 3-1 down to second division Rickerscote A.
Leading the way for the Ricky were John Lainton, Steve Bradley and Mark Sheerin.
In an all first division clash it was the Luckpenny Wanderers who picked up their first win of the season
with a 3-2 win at the Hop Pole C while another first division match saw the Crooked Cue X beat the in-form Charnley B 3-1.
The Three Tuns and the British Legion both registered convincing 3-0 away wins at the Albion A and the Rifleman B and so progress
while there was a 3-0 home win for the Metro Bar against the Staffs Bull.
The Bird in Hand X went through after winning 3-1 at the Nags Head while the Albion B won a close match 3-2 at the Fox and Hounds.
The Joiners Arms beat higher league opposition in the way of the Rose and Crown 3-2 thanks to Andy Pearle, Steve Dickson and Jon Garside.
First division Rickerscote were pushed all the way by third division leaders Highfields but came out 3-2 winners,
Steve Hyde and Dave Ashton leading the way.
