Pockets were minor premiers, but Outlaws were the favourites all because of their big game experience and their two consecutive semi final wins prior.

All that experience went out the window as Pockets put in a very concerted effort to win 4-1 and now advance to the grand final against Jiggers.

Preliminary semi final, Lithgow Free Range Meats Pockets v Exceltech Industrial Electronics Outlaws 

Sharon Holt and Frank Wawn kicked off proceedings in a good game with a few uncharacteristic mistakes from both players.

Holt has been a little under done as she has only played four competition games with her last game on April 12 and Wawn had played 15 of the 18 competition games.

These two had played each other on March 15 and Wawn won convincingly 86- 35.

This was a tight start with each not trying to give the other an advantage.

Holt sank the first two reds then made a mistake which Wawn scored 15 points from.

Wawn scored four then fouled and shortly after Holt sank a red but snookered herself on the colours and fouled giving Wawn seven.

Both then scored eight points and Wawn gave six points to Holt as he could not get out of a snooker.

Wawn then scored eight and seven and Holt nine points then they were on the colours with Holt having a slender five point lead.

Holt sank the yellow and Wawn the green then Holt fouled giving away four points and Wawn sank the brown the move ahead for the first time by four points.

Both were trying hard to finish the game when Holt potted the blue and pink to wrap up the game.

Wawn sank the black to finish a good game with Holt winning 71-67.

Pockets go 1-nil up.

Todd Bates played Shannon Baer, these two having previously played each other on January 26 which Baer had won in a close tussle 81-75.

Bates had 18 start and he kicked off with sinking a red and Baer did the same.

Bates started out well early as he then sank eight then a seven and both were heavily into the safety and some mistakes made an appearance due to the pressure.

Bates scored another seven points and Baer was very patient as he was 30 points behind and was just waiting for an opportunity.

Bates fouled giving away points then Baer suddenly came alive scoring seven then followed with an eight and seven to slowly pull in the deficit.

Bates was 20 points in front coming onto the colours when Baer individually sank the yellow to blue.

Bates only needed one of the last two balls to win the game and even though he was not in a snooker he happened to hit the black giving Baer seven points and Baer then sunk both for a 13 break and a 63-47 win.

Score 1-all.

Trystan Ford, who is having a great season with 10 comp wins, was playing one of the cagiest players going around in Cec Thompson.

Thompson has only played seven competition games for just the two wins but had experience on his side.

Ford had 37 start and used his handicap well throughout with Thompson behind all game.

The reds were spread early making it an open game if they wanted.

Thompson scored seven then Ford followed with four then gave four back straight away when he fouled.

Thompson then set the next two reds up over the middle for Ford which he potted.

Ford fouled on the blue then Thompson scored six and was grinding away but Ford was keeping him in the game by giving Thompson 11 points in fouls.

Thompson scored six then Ford followed with eight.

On the colours Thompson went in-off the yellow then Ford sank the yellow and green then Thompson the brown.

Ford gave more points away when he completely missed the blue ball but followed up by sinking both the blue and pink to seal the game.

Thompson sank the black and Ford won 86-58.

Pockets up 2-1.

In his first LASA comp Luke Morris has won 13 games and was playing one of Lithgow’s most experienced players in Justin Nelson who himself has won 10 games.

These two played against each other on March 15 which Nelson won 70-69 in a very close finish.

Nelson started off with a wild shot then Morris inadvertently split the pack. Both missed some early shots then Morris scored five and Nelson followed sinking a red and went to play safe but fouled giving Morris another five points.

Morris returned the favour by fouling and there were a lot of missed opportunities by both players and Nelson was playing some tricky shots that if they came would have been brilliant but they didn’t.

There were mainly reds alone being sunk when suddenly Morris put together a good 29 break and then the score was 76-11 to Morris.

Nelson decided he had enough and he cleared the table from brown to black for a 22 break and Morris went on to easily win 76-33.

Pockets up 3-1.

Shane Eagle played Outlaws captain Terry Christian and it was do or die for Christian because if he lost his team bows out.

These two met on May 3 when Christian was the victor by 70-45 so Eagle was after revenge.

Christian’s first shot went in-off giving four to Eagle then Eagle scored another four.

Christian settled a bit scoring 5 and 7 and eagle gave 7 to Christian.

Both scored some good points and both also gave away points such was the pressure of the situation.

Coming onto the colours the game was in the balance and Christian was only a point behind.

Eagle sank the yellow and green and Eagle put Christian in a snooker which he got out of.

Eagle put Christian in a good snooker and twice he did not get out of it giving Eagle easy points.

Eagle then sank the brown, blue and pink to put the game beyond Christian to win 68-38.

Eagle’s win put his team into the grand final.

Pockets win 4-1.

Tonight the LASA grand final at Club Lithgow will be between the perennial strugglers Jiggers and minor premiers and favourites Pockets.

Pockets are trying to break a long time hoodoo as it’s been many a year since any minor premier has gone on to be premiers.

Everyone is invited to watch some good snooker and the start time is 7pm.

Good luck to all participants.

Best wishes

The LASA would like to pass on their best to Jeff Geddes in his retirement an also thank him for promoting snooker and sport in general over the years.

Good luck also to Len Ashworth and Don Kipp who will also be retiring this week.