Miscues and Jiggers played the Preliminary Final to see who meets Helmets in the big dance. The ledger is even between these two teams as Jiggers beat Miscues twice through the competition rounds and Miscues beat them once through the rounds and once in the Qualifying Semi-Final. Jiggers started out the blocks hard going up 3–0 then Miscues won the next two games.

The last game Miscues had to win by 20 and Jiggers had to win or lose by 18. Fortunately for Jiggers they won on the pink ball in the last game to win 4–2. After 15 weeks of competition and three weeks of semi-finals the culmination of all these games the Grand Final is here. The teams that finished first and second after the competition rounds meet with first placed Helmets playing second placed Jiggers.

Helmets are red hot favourites even though Jiggers had between them twice over the three competition rounds. Helmets done Miscues easy last week and Jiggers over their last three weeks have had to go the last game to get a result. Get yourselves up to The Workies to see some good snooker being played with the winner becoming the 2018 John Zorz Trophy Premiers. Good luck to both teams and all players.

PRELIMINARY FINAL:

Hunter Mining Methods Miscues versus Welch’s Highway Smash Repairs:

Jeff Martin versus Trent Lewis: This is the first time they have played each other in comp so they were blind to the way each play. Martin plays a steady game with good safety and Lewis attacks most of the time and is developing a much better safety game. This was a typical dour semi-final with neither one getting a run of points and it was close right until the end. In what was a fairly good game it was Lewis who prevailed by the barest of margins 45–44. Jiggers 1–0 Aggregate +1.

Ritchie Bilby versus David Adams: They have played each other once this year and that was in the previous competition and then Adams won by 25 points. Both have a similar style of game as they both go for their shot then try to play safe that at times can come unstuck leaving their opponent up. Adams had nine start and was off and running early scoring some good points pushing that lead out further. Bilby did not panic he just kept playing and potting waiting for the usual Adams mid game slump. Though this did happen with Adams not potting as much instead he was playing safe making it hard for Bilby. Adams had another spurt of points late and easily won 59 – 34 and won by the same margin he beat him before. Jiggers 2–0 Aggregate +26

Brian Bonus versus Wayne Lewis: Bonus and Lewis played in the second round of competition and it was a very close game with Bonus winning by one point. Lewis had seven points head start and the beginning of the game both were missing shots feeling each other out waiting for the mistake. Bonus caught up and went ahead then in a moment of madness Lewis scored a 14 break then shot ahead. Both traded blows and Bonus knuckled down and played some very good shots and was in the lead on the colours and was looking good. Lewis was six behind with two balls left on the table and he left the pink in a fairly easy position to be potted and you could see Lewis shake his head. Bonus idled up to take the shot missed the pot and the white went in the pocket and suddenly the scores were level. Lewis knew he was let off so he proceeded to pot the last two to win 53–40 making Bonus pay for his mistake. Jiggers 3–0 Aggregate + 39.

Matt Tattersall versus Justin Nelson: Through the comp Tattersall played Nelson once and he beat him by 42. That was the last time Nelson got beat as he won his next four games and this was his first appearance in this semi-final series. Tattersall had 36 start and the beginning of the game both were playing safe with Nelson potting some small scores. Nelson gave away a couple of early fouls then Tattersall had a good run where he moved further ahead. Once the pack of reds opened up Nelson came into his own and put together a very good 29 break. Only a couple of points in it Tattersall was stunned and was missing a few shots. Nelson was in a winning position with three colours left he missed potting the blue. Tattersall then potted the pink and blue to put the game being contention 66 – 56. Jiggers 3–1 Aggregate Jiggers +29.

Dennis Goodwin versus Greg Sutton: Two evenly matched players only Sutton had a nine start and from his second shot he fouled and gave Goodwin six points. Not long after that he gave away another four points so Goodwin had a head start for no work. Mainly a few reds were sunk after that and in a flash Sutton scored a 15-break putting a little buffer between him and Goodwin. Sutton then hit a wall with easy shots being missed and Goodwin did not miss at all. Goodwin was going mad and potting very well and when Sutton checked the scores he was 25 behind with 25 left on the table. He potted the green then fouled making it harder for himself and needing a snooker as well luckily Goodwin did not pot the brown. Sutton potted both brown and blue and got the snooker he needed of which Goodwin missed and put the white in the pocket. Sutton needed both and Goodwin only needed one ball to win. Goodwin potted the ball he needed and beat off a fast finishing Sutton 61–51. Jiggers 3–2 Aggregate Jiggers+19.

Garry Bender versus Wade Barrington: The scenario was Bender had to win by 20 and Barrington had to win or lose by 18 for their teams to progress. Bender had a very close call last week in only losing by one point but prior to that his last win was on August 7 and has lost every game since. Barrington on the other hand has won eight of his 13 matches and is a very much improved player though throwing him on last game with a lot riding on it will test the youngster’s mettle. It was a scrappy game at the start with the pressure affecting both players with a lot of missed shots and mistakes happening. Barrington fouled early and after a while both settled down with some good shots and it was very close. Barrington was slightly having the better game and once on the colours he potted the blue and pink to win 45–36 putting his team into the Grand Final. Jiggers 4-2.