Down to the last two weeks of the semi-finals and this week we had a nail biter that went down to the black ball of the last game to get a result and the other was a surprise in the size of the win a complete shut out. The Minor Semi-Final was between Tall Timbers and Jiggers and this was a great game with Timbers being 3–2 down and six points in front in aggregate going into the last game. Simply put if either player win their team progresses another week and it was Tall Timbers who won 4–3 and Jiggers can now hang their cues in the rack until the next comp. The Major Semi-Final was between Red Sox and Helmets with Red Sox being Minor Premiers and they also finished 12 points in front of Helmets. To add to the drama four times these teams have played each other during the competition with Helmets not having beaten Red Sox. In a big form reversal not only did Helmets beat Red Sox they actually hammered them 4–0 and now progress to the Grand Final. Tonight, Red Sox play Tall Timbers for the right to progress to the Grand Final and beware of the wounded Red Sox.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Minor Semi-Final:
Carpet One Tall Timbers versus Welch’s Highway Smash Repairs Jiggers: Aaron Vandermeer versus Trent Lewis: These pair played each other twice throughout the comp and both times Lewis won by 11 and two. Vandermeer had to give a 12 start and he was quickly off the mark making some small breaks and when he could not get a shot he played safe or put Lewis into a snooker. Lewis was all at sea at first missing shots and making mistakes. Lewis did come good at one stage potting with some deft touches then also hammering the object ball into the pocket. Vandermeer stayed calm and was by far the better player as the usual luck of Lewis left him. Solid effort by Vandermeer as he cruised to a 76–31 win. Timbers 1–0 +45.
Michael Andrews versus David Adams: Andrews had finished with a 50 per cent record through the comp rounds and Adams had a 51 per cent record but lost three of his last four games. Andrews is usually a big game player as he has a lot of experience and Adams can be hit and miss. Adams had a 44 start and Andrews went about chasing the deficit as best as he could but at times he was amiss with his shots. Adams was taking the easy shots and playing safe to boot making it hard for his opponent. The scoreline blew out when Andrews started to make his move he was catching Adams by playing some very good shots but in the end Adams won 95–71 but it was a good effort by Andrews once he got started. 1–1 Timbers +21.
Keith Morris versus Greg Sutton: Morris is in the best form as he has won 11 comp games and ran seventh in the Regal Trophy standings and Sutton won six comp games though last week finally hit form. Morris had to give 15 start and that was halved early by Sutton giving him eight points in two fouls. Sutton settled down and then started to play really well potting some good breaks with pinks and blacks then playing safe. Morris was rattled as a lot of his shots went near the pocket or wide of its mark. On the colours Sutton was ahead 61–19 and then he went into ultra conservative mode as he was playing too safe and his shots were off. Luckily he had a big lead as Morris came home strong to minimise the damage as Sutton won 61–41. Jiggers 2- 1 Timbers +1.
Michael McCosker versus Wayne Lewis: This has not been McCosker’s best comp at all with just the 5 wins and Lewis has really been in form winning nine games. This was a see sawing type of game with both playing well in patches. Both started out cautiously with some good pots and nerves may have played a part as at some points their shots were wide of the mark. Lewis took a good lead midway through the game and McCosker was a little bit rattled as he was missing shots and you could see Mitchsuvius was trying to hold the temper in. Once he settled down he played some good shots so he opted to sink the balls to minimise the aggregate and Lewis held on for the narrowest of wins 53–52. Jiggers 3 – 1.
Maurie Smith versus Justin Nelson: These pair has not played each other this comp when they do play it is a battle and a half and sometimes Smith gets behind but tends to come home strong and nothing changed in this game. Nelson was chasing a 35 start and he was potting a lot of small breaks and was catching Smith. Smith was slowly turning the scoreboard over with some good shots. Nelson caught and overtook Smith on the colours and just when it looked over for Smith Nelson missed the brown and not long after Smith walked up looked at the score and proceeded to pot the last two for a 68–62 win. Jiggers 3–2 Timbers +6.
Frank Wawn versus Troy Clarke: Wawn would have to be at his best for his team to continue any further because simply whoever wins the game their team wins. Wawn is renowned for not liking to chase big scores and with Clarke he had to chase 46 points before a ball was struck. Clarke was nervous and it showed and his game was a little off and Wawn was straight on the attack and was at his very best. Wawn did miss a few shots and was chastising himself and once on the colours he did rise to the occasion. With five colours left on the table Clarke needed at least one to make it hard and Wawn needed the lot. Wawn cleared the table with some very good potting and scored a 25 break to win the game 64–60 to put his team into the Preliminary Final. Timbers 4–3.
Major Semi-Final:
C & W Printing Red Sox versus Lithgow Valley Storage Helmets: Leo Keeley versus Dianne Stait: Keeley has won seven and lost seven comp games and Stait only played eight games out of the 20 for just two wins. They played each other once through the comp rounds and that time Keeley won so he had the advantage. Stait was soon off and running and Keeley was doing his usual pot a ball then play safe. Stait played a cool game and once moved ahead on the scoreboard she defended her lead well to win 52–32. Helmets 1-0.
Jeff Stait versus RW Farnsworth: This was a good match up as these are the top two seeds in the Regal Trophy standings. Stait won 15 games and Farnsworth 13 and they played each other three weeks ago and it was Stait who won by 13 points. This was not a high scoring game and it was more like a semi-final game a dour game with each player trying not to let the other get a run of points. There were some good shots and safety mixed in and it was a good game and when the black ball finally went down it was Farnsworth who won by the slimmest of margins 49–48. Helmets 2–0.
Trevor Cameron versus Ian Bulkeley: Both players for varying reasons have not played a lot of comp games with Cameron playing seven and winning four and Bulkeley played eight and won three. This was the first time Bulkeley had played against Red Sox this comp so it was interesting to see how he goes. Coming into the pressure games Bulkeley stood tall as he took control of the match early and Cameron though he tried his best was not a match as Bulkeley easily won 64–21. Helmets 3–0.
Rod Denley versus Brett Bradley: Denley was under a little bit of pressure as his team had not won a game as yet and now was the time they needed a win. This was a long game as you had the slowest snooker player in Bradley against Denley who is not the quickest either. There were some passages of good play by both players with a fair bit of safety involved. It was Bradley who ground out a 43–33 win to put his team into the Grand Final. Helmets 4–0.
