21st October 2012 @Rileys, Stafford.

RILEYS CUE v BEAR & PHEASANT

Rileys Cue became Summer League Champions for a 5th time as they saw off the challenge of the Bear & Pheasant winning 4-2.

Frame ONE. Dave Whitfield was drawn against Dave Arrowsmith and it was Arrowsmith who broke off and in no time was in his stride in his attempt to clear the table until he unfortunately snookered himself on the black. He then awarded 2 shots to Whitfield and he then set out to clear the table with a composed manner until he also fell short on the black. However he managed to place the cueball tight on the top rail thus leaving Arrowsmith a difficult chance on the black. He missed and so left Whitfield a long black and he held his nerve to pot it in the corner to put the Cuemen 1-0 up.

Frame TWO.  Mike barker was up next against Andy Rawlinson and it proved to be a one-sided affair. Barker broke and they split ideally as he set out to clear the table. With Rawlinson watching, all he could do was hope that Barker would lose position. Barker did lose position but a fine double set himself up for a straight black to complete a dish and so put the Cuemen 2-0 up.

Frame THREE. Dave Barker was paired against Giles Eastwood and that also turned out to be a one-sided affair like the previous frame. This time Eastwood broke but unfortunately potted the white off the break. Barker siezed his opportunity and it was a faultless and composed finish that saw the Cuemen race into a 3-0 lead.

Frame FOUR. Rob Wharne was on next and he faced the challenge of James Morrison. Wharne broke and he looked on course as they split beautifully. Then, uncharacteristicaly, he lost position leaving himself a tough long red into the corner. He missed it to let Morrison back in and he set out to take a stranglehold of the frame. He gradually took control and although Wharne responded well with some fine tactical pool, it was Morrision who had the first chance and he cleared the table with a fine pot on the black to pull one frame back to trail 3-1.

Frame FIVE. Martin Priestley was drawn against Andy Rawlinson and it was a tussle between these two. That reflected in the game as it never showed the quality of the previous four frames. However, nerves were evident with Priestley trying to close the match out and Rawlinson trying to claw another frame back. Rawlinson had the first chance and it looked as though he was going to finish it off but a missed red into the middle let Priestley in but he then missed a yellow into the corner. Rawlinson this time made no mistake as he potted the black to pull the score back to 3-2.

Frame SIX. Dave Barker was again paired against Giles Eastwood and this time it was Barker's turn to break. A dry break let Eastwood in and this time it was his turn to show his potting ability. Things were on track until his last colour. he left a difficult long red into the corner and just when it looked as though it was going in, it rattled the jaws and stayed out. This brought Barker back to the table and he had no alternative but to play snookers to bring him back into the game. A misjudged error by Eastwood then let Barker in. Barker, as he did in his earlier match then set out to clear the table in a composed manner and left himself a straight black to win the match for the Rileys Cue. Their 5th Summer League Title in eight years.

Also a special thanks to Lynda Simpson for refereeing the Final which was played in great spirit.

SEMI FINAL RESULTS

RILEYS C 3-4 BEAR & PHEASANT @Hop Pole

RILEYS CUE 4-0 RILEYS ALBION @Rileys

Rileys Cue will play the Bear & Pheasant in the Summer League Final @Rileys on Sunday 21st October. Bear & Pheasant had to overcome 2011/12 Winter League Champs Rileys C in a close fought Semi. Giles Eastwood led the way with an 8 ball finish in the first frame and then Jim Simpson won the 3rd. It was left to James Morrison who won 2 frames including the last to secure the Bear & Pheasant a place in the final. Ant Whitehead (2) and Alan Sim replied for Rileys C. Rileys Cue (winners in 2005, 2007, 2009 & 2010) saw off the challenge of Rileys Albion with 4-0 success. After their heroics the previous week, the Albion lads never got going and it was down to Rob Wharne, Martin Priestley, Dave & Mike Barker who saw the Cuemen through to their 4th consecuetive Summer Final after their Plate final win in 2011.

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS

RILEYS C 4-0 OXLEATHERS B @St. Georges

RILEYS CUE 4-2 GPO CLUB A @Metropolitan Bar

RILEYS ALBION 4-2 TAP N SPILE @Hop Pole

BEAR & PHEASANT 4-0 ST. GEORGES @Tap n Spile

Winter league champs Rileys C progressed to the semi finals with a comprehensive 4-0 win over winter 3rd div champs Oxleathers B. Alan Sim, Ant Whitehead, Mark & Scott Billingsley all won. 4 times Summer league champs Rileys Cue were made to work hard for their 4-2 success over GPO Club A with Rob Wharne & Dave Barker winning 2 frames each and Barker achieving an '8 ball dish'. Mark Sheerin & Mick Bryant replied for the GPO. Rileys Albion pulled off an excellent 4-2 victory over Tap n Spile thanks to Dan Hibbs, Craig Guy, Liam Watson & Derek Marley. Jamie Woolley won both of his frames for the Tap. Bear & Pheasant also made light work of St. Georges A with a 4-0 success. Andy Rawlinson, Giles Eastwood, Jim Simpson & James Morrison all won.