At the end of Round 2 there is a ten point gap between second placed Helmets and equal third place Tall Timbers and Miscues. Jiggers lead the pack by six points and you can throw a blanket over third to sixth with only five points separating them. With five weeks until the end of the competition rounds it now has begun to get very interesting. This week Red Sox after five consecutive losses finally rebounded to beat Miscues 4–3. Jiggers who have only been beaten once this comp steam rolled a struggling Pockets 6–1 and unfortunately for Pockets they had to forfeit a game. Helmets bounced back from their defeat last week to beat Tall Timbers 4–3.

Hunter Mining Methods Miscues versus C & W Printing Red Sox

Ritchie Bilby versus Leo Keeley: Bilby has found some consistency this comp and going along nicely and Keeley is doing what Keeley does best plodding along enjoying the game and making it hard for his opponent. Keeley was in a lot trouble early in this game as Bilby slowly increased his lead. Keeley though settled down and started to pull back the deficit. Bilby did enough early to win the game as he won by 14 points 48–34 which was the start he had.

Alan Piggott versus Shannon Baer: Both players are at opposite ends of the stats chart as Piggott has only lost one game and Baer only had his first win three weeks ago though he has not been playing that badly in those losses. Piggott had a good 32 point start and he was going to need all of this and more in the long run. Baer went about chasing the difference with some hard potting and good positioning. Piggott was also playing well but it was Baer who pulled out all stops not just to overcome the lead but to win in a close result 77 – 70.

Kevin Slaven versus Tom Gaynor: No matter what the result Slaven enjoys his game which is good because he is still looking for his first win of the comp. Gaynor started out the comp in good form winning his first four games but is now in a rut losing his last three. Slaven had a 31 start and was looking the goods early as Gaynor went about pulling back the lead. Once he did this he took the lead though he could not shake off Slaven who was staying with him. Gaynor was on the verge of winning when Slaven slammed the black ball into the pocket for his first win 80 -74. 

Jeff Martin versus Jeff Stait: Whatever was going to happen in this game it was always going to be Jeff who won the game. Martin has three wins and four losses and Stait has four wins and three losses so it was set up to be a good game. Once Stait caught up the 32 points they both turned on a real good game. Both were potting well and as usual with Stait he came alive on the colours to win 63–60 on the last three balls.

Matt Tattersall versus Rod Denley: Not the best comp for either player as Tattersall has three wins and Denley has two and Denley was not prepared to play as when he got to the venue he was told he was playing. Both were potting well and Denley nearly pulled off a win but it was Tattersall who won on the last couple of colours 61–52.

Garry Bender versus Garry Nolan: Garry was going to win the game whether it was Bender or Nolan we were just about to see. They played each other in the first round and that time Nolan won by 30 so Bender was trying to revenge that loss and on his home turf as well. This was almost a repeat of their last game as Nolan took control late in the game and he won by an increased margin 67–32. The players of the match were Garry Nolan and Jeff Martin.

Williams and Sons Butchery Pockets versus Welch’s Highway Smash Repairs Jiggers

Melissa Creasy versus Trent Lewis: The very much under handicapped Creasy is in her first comp and is learning the game and when she played Lewis in the first round she was beaten by 50 points. Lewis had to give six start and he went about potting some good shots though at some point he was leaking points giving Creasy over 20 points in fouls. Still learning the game Creasy was giving just about the same amount of points back to Lewis. Lewis was just too strong as he cruised to a 78 – 44 win.

Kyal Furbank versus David Adams: Furbank had his first win last week and it was by 60 points so he was finally back on track and playing well. Adams on the other hand has been a model of consistency and has only lost two games though some have been really close. Adams took the lead early with some good potting and it took a little while but Furbank hit his straps. Adams hit a wall mid game and Furbank took the lead and was looking likely to win except Adams came good again to steal the game on the death knell winning 58 – 55.

Robert Bender versus Wade Barrington: Bender in his return to the game has not settled in as he has two wins for six losses and Barrington a much improved player has an opposite stat for six wins for two losses. This was a good game early as both went shot for shot but this can be a game of attrition and it was Barrington who played the better game and to top it off he potted the last two for a 13 break for a 58 – 26 win.

Shane Eagle v Justin Nelson: Eagle has settled into the captaincy roll now and has started to get a run of wins and last time these two played each other in the first round Eagle won by 24 points though he had a 39 start. Nelson has only been beaten twice this comp and his last loss was against Eagle so he thought he was ready to extract revenge. Eagle had a 40 start and he was on fire from the first shot with most of his shots finding the mark and he was increasing his lead. Most of Nelson’s early shots were jawing the pocket and it was frustrating him. Nelson was putting some snookers on Eagle and was pulling back some points but it was too late as Eagle was just too good winning easily 98–45.

Steve Hewitt versus Kyle Lewis: Hewitt has been quietly going about his business flying under the radar winning 6 games for three losses and Lewis is having a mixed comp. This was an entertaining and low scoring game with some mistakes by both players. In the end it was Lewis who snuck home 46–41. Wayne Lewis for Jiggers won on forfeit. The players of the match were Trent Lewis and Steve Hewitt.

Carpet One Tall Timbers versus Lithgow Valley Storage Helmets

Aaron Vandermeer versus Brett Bradley: Vandermeer is improving at every outing and he was up against Bradley who is not having the best the best of starts to the comp with in just winning one game thus far. A very close game right until the end which could gone either way but it was Vandermeer who won 49–43 in a tight finish.

Frank Wawn versus Ian Bulkeley: Wawn has not won many games though some of his losses have been close and he was up against Bulkeley who is playing at his best. This was a very close game and could have gone either way but it was Bulkeley who prevailed 62–54 and Wawn was again so close.

Keith Morris versus Ian Miles: Morris has been really in form since his mid comp break and has busted a lot of doors down to keep winning and Miles is not having a good comp in winning just the single game. Miles played better this game and took it right up to Morris who knew after he as in a good tussle. Morris maintained his composure to finally overcome Miles 53–47.

Leon Rust versus Logan Spice: Rust has not been at his best though he has been traveling better than Spice. Spice missed a few games and when he came back last week he won by 49 points and would last week be the impetus to kick start his form. Rust was no match for his younger opponent as Spice took apart his game and completely dominated an inept Rust 70–30.

Michael McCosker versus Robert Farnsworth: Both players are just about at their peak as McCosker has lost 2 games and is keeping his cool and Farnsworth is in a purple patch of form with just the single loss and that was last week. It was a close game early with nothing in it and McCosker made one mistake and that’s what Farnsworth needed as he accumulated  an 18 break to win 61 – 27.

Bill Cook versus Dillan McBey: Cook has lost his last two games and was looking at falling into a deep hole and playing McBey was not going to help him one would have thought. This has been a break out year for McBey as he won a lot of early games but has been in a lull for a couple of weeks. Form reversals as Cook was potting left, right and centre and McBey was all over the place missing and fouling a lot of his shots. Cook finished with a 25 break to easily win 60–24. The players of the match were Logan Spice and Bill Cook.

Point score: Jiggers 48, Helmets 42, Tall Timbers & Miscues 32, Red Sox 29, Pockets 27

Regal: R.Farnsworth, A.Piggott, T.Lewis, W.Barrington, I.Bulkeley, D.Adams, S.Eagle, D.McBey