Justin Nelson (1) -36 versus Robert Farnsworth (16) -8: Nelson being last year’s champion ended up on top of the Roley Casey this year was playing Farnsworth who came into this comp as the reserve player. Nelson had to give 28 start and both players started out very scratchy indeed missing a few shots. Then Nelson got into his stride and was not going to be stopped. Farnsworth did not play badly he was just outclassed as Nelson won 76 – 51.

Jeff Stait (2) -22 versus Logan Spice (15) +6: The veteran Stait had to give the younger and more inexperienced Spice 28 start and that was to tell in the end. Both players were really playing well and Spice maintained the lead and Stait needed the last 3 balls to win. Stait potted the blue and pink and left the black set up over the pocket. Spice potted the black ball but unfortunately for him the white also went into the pocket giving the game to Stait 54 – 49.

RW Farnsworth (3) -18 versus Garry Nolan (14) -2: Farnsworth has just about won everything in the LASA this year his team won both competitions and he won the Regal Trophy the previous week and also was voted LASA Player of the Year. Nolan has had a mixed year but when on can mix it with the best and with 16 start that might not have been enough. Farnsworth was quickly in form and was playing well whilst Nolan had a lot of good moments but missed a lot of opportunities. Farnsworth was too strong to win 70 – 43.

Shannon Baer (4) -21 versus David Adams (13) +27: Baer had to give Adams 46 start and the way Adams has been playing that was going to be a very big challenge. Throughout the year the biggest start Baer had to give was 50 and 52 and he won the that game he had to give 50 start so it was not beyond him. Adams potted well and what helped his cause was he jagged a lot of shots plus he was playing safe. Baer played very well but the lead seemed to be a lot and even with a few balls left Baer just did not give up. Adams played with a cool head to win 70 – 43.

Shane Eagle (5) +8 versus Michael McCosker (12) -1: Eagle has had a breakout year in 2018 with finally playing with some consistency and McCosker has been very hot and cold. Not much between these two with Eagle getting nine start and it was all Eagle. Eagle was playing well and McCosker could not take a trick as he was fouling, missing shots and making a lot of mistakes. Mitchsuvius appeared as you heard the cue stick being dropped and the chalk was going further than the cue ball at times. Eagle was not fazed by McCosker’s self-castigation as he easily won 44 – 13.

Trent Lewis (6) +18 versus Maurie Smith (11) +6: Lewis has greatly improved his snooker over the last 12 months though at times he still relies on the Lewis luck to pull him through. Smith has been very solid all year though not setting the world alight. Lewis had 12 start and was very slow in the beginning and Smith was solid as he slowly caught the deficit and took the lead. Lewis needed the last four balls to even the score and he went about doing that by sinking each ball individually to tie the game. There has to be a result so therefore the black was re-spotted and it was Lewis who potted that for a great come from behind win 54 – 47.

Ian Bulkeley (7) -13 versus Kyle Lewis (10) +35: Bulkeley is having a good year playing some good snooker and Lewis had a good first comp which helped his position in the rankings. Bulkeley had to chase a 48 point lead and he went about that by potting some very good shots and playing good safety. Lewis at first was all over the shop missing a lot of scoring opportunities and Bulkeley easily took the lead with Lewis only adding five points to his score. Then it changed Lewis started to play well and Bulkeley was a little off his game. Lewis needed only one of the last two balls left on the table when Bulkeley potted the pink to be one behind then he sank the black as well only to see the white go in giving the game to Lewis 78 – 70.

Steve Hewitt (8) +28 versus John Lyons (9) -19: Hewitt has had a good year though his team won the wooden spoon last comp he made the Regal Trophy top eight which is testament to his consistency. Lyons is the ‘old master’ been around snooker over four decades and still plays a mean game. Hewitt had a 47 start and he used this to perfection as he was making it hard for Lyons to get into his game. Lyons tried hard and did well but it was Hewitt who was too good 67 – 34.

Justin Nelson (1) -36 versus Steve Hewitt (8) +28: Nelson was nearly at his best the previous game and this time he was chasing a 64 start so he would have to at his best this time. Though Hewitt had a massive start he could not afford to take it too easy. This was perhaps the best individual performance on the night as Nelson was at his best he had breaks of 16/14/23/15/16 and he did everything right. Hewitt did manage to score 17 points but he took a bad seat as Nelson was sublime to win 98 – 81.

Jeff Stait (2) -22 versus Kyle Lewis (10) +35: Stait had to chase a 57 start but with his experience it was a challenge eagerly accepted as he can regularly wins games at the death knell when chasing. Though Lewis had the big start he could not relax too much and that he didn’t. Stait was quickly into scoring mode and he was pulling back the lead and Lewis was able to keep the scoreboard ticking over maintaining the lead. Stait needed both the black and pink to win only to see Lewis pot the pink to win 78 – 62.

RW Farnsworth (3) -18 versus Trent Lewis (6) +18: This was a good game on paper with Farnsworth playing very good and his control of the white ball over the last few weeks has been good to watch. On the other hand once Lewis gets a start is very hard to stop. This was basically one way traffic as Farnsworth was straight into scoring easily and playing good safety putting the pressure back on Lewis. Lewis made a lot of mistakes and all up with his 36 start could only manage another 12 points as Farnsworth dominated 75 – 48.

Shane Eagle (5) +8 versus David Adams (13) +27: Unlike his other game where Eagle got start this time he was chasing 19 points. Both are in good form as Eagle likes to attack most times and Adams has been potting well and his safety has been helping him big time. Adams had just a little luck in this game as a few shots did go in the pocket but not the pocket he was aiming for. Eagle played a few good shots but it was Adams at his best as he wiped the floor as the Eagle crash landed 96 – 45.

Justin Nelson (1) -36 versus David Adams (13) +27: This was a hard match up due to not only both being teammates but also mates outside of the sport. Nelson gave 64 start last game and done it easy and this game he had to give 63 but Adams was playing better than Nelsons last opponent. Nelson was playing well to catch the lead and Adams was trying too hard to defend his lead because at times he left shots up for Nelson. Nelson needed two snookers with three balls left on the table and he got these then he took out the game 100 -95 in another good effort.

RW Farnsworth (3) -18 versus Kyle Lewis (10) +35: Farnsworth had another challenge as he easily beat Lewis’s brother Trent last game now he wanted to dispatch Kyle in the same way. Kyle was playing better safety than Trent was and with 53 start it was going to be harder for Farnsworth. During the year they have played each other twice with Farnsworth giving Lewis 44 and 47 starts and he won those easily. Farnsworth started out of the blocks early and was catching his opponent and Lewis was slow to get moving. Once Lewis started to get moving he was all over Farnsworth like a wet rug and hit form at the right time. Lewis dispatched Farnsworth 84 – 51.

Justin Nelson (1) -36 versus Kyle Lewis (10) +35: As with his last game Nelson is playing a teammate in Lewis and now Nelson was chasing the maximum start allowed in 70 points. Nelson broke and the white went in/off straight away giving Lewis four points. Nelson scored six points then both he and Lewis fouled then Nelson went on a scoring spree knocking in some small breaks and a good 17 break to boot. Lewis fouled again and was only able to score nine points. With one red left on the table Nelson needed two snookers and all the colours not impossible with the way he plays. Lewis was pretty solid playing safety making it hard and Nelson went about  getting him in some snookers and to Lewis’s credit he got out of ten snookers though he did miss a couple. Nelson made a mistake in not potting the black on the last reds but it was not catalyst it was Lewis playing solidly. Nelson did not give up even though Lewis potted the green, brown and blue there was room to snooker Lewis. This was a good hard game with Nelson not giving up and Lewis very focused. In the end Lewis potted the pink to win 130 – 71 to win his first ever individual trophy to become the 2018 Roley Casey trophy champion.

The LASA now goes into hiatus until the AGM in early January 2019 with the date still pending so keep an eye on both The Workies and Club Lithgow notice boards and your team captains will be notified. The LASA committee would like to thank all sponsors, teams, players and supporters for a very successful 2018 season. Thanks also go out to both Club Lithgow and The Workies for allowing us to use your venue to play our sport. Thanks to Peter Watson and 2lt for allowing to us promote our sport and especially Kirsty Horton and Eve Capper of The Lithgow Mercury as well allowing us the space for publicity not just to our sport but all sport in general. The LASA would like to wish everyone a safe Xmas and a Happy New Year and please be careful on the roads we would to see you all safely back in 2019.