PRELIMINARY FINAL

Draw: June 25 at The Workies Lithgow Amateur Snooker Association (LASA) is holding the 2019 Terry Longdon Memorial Trophy Grand Final between Higgins Lawyers Pockets and Hunter Valley Mining Methods Miscues. The LASA Committee would to wish both teams good luck.

Defending Premiers Helmets put up a good show when they played Miscues to see who was going through to play Pockets in the Grand Final.

After four games the scores were locked a 2-2 and the fifth game became the pivotal game.

Dillan McBey was in a winning position for Helmets and for some reason he froze and let his opponent Dennis Goodwin beat him.

That put Miscues in a good position because Col Tattersall had a 28 start against Logan Spice plus Spice had to win his game by 50 points for Helmets to win.

It was too big an ask. Spice did play well but Tattersall held firm in winning therefore putting his team into the Grand Final.

The two best teams play each other as Miscues finished first and Pockets second but Pockets won the right to host the Grand Final.

Out of the four times these teams have met in the comp rounds Pockets have won three times and twice at The Workies and that is where the Grand Final is.

If Pockets win it would cap off a Cinderella story as they ran last in the previous competition but Miscues did finish first and they will be out for redemption. It will be a good Grand Final and everyone is invited to attend.

Preliminary Final

Matt Tattersall versus Dallas Thurlow:

Both players have won ten games, lost six with both in form during the competition rounds.

Tattersall lost his semi-final last week and Thurlow in the semi's has won one and lost one.

Both play a very similar open style of game but because of the pressure both played some very safe shots.

Both were off and running early but it was Thurlow who playing the better and was moving ahead on the scoreboard.

Tattersall was missing some shots early but once he settled down the shots were going in the pockets.

Tattersall on his way to catch his opponent was playing some good snookers and was within distance of a win with just a couple of colours left.

To his relief Thurlow potted the black to win 59 - 52 in a very close call. Helmets 1 - 0.

Jeff Martin versus Ian Bulkeley:

Martin is not having the best of comps as through the comp rounds he managed five wins and nine losses.

Bulkeley fared better with seven wins and four losses and these two played each other in the last round and then it was Martin an easy winner by 57 points.

Martin had a 33 start and Bulkeley was off to a flying start scoring some good points and was easily pulling back the deficit.

Martin at first was slow out of the blocks was and was only just doing enough to score small points.

About half way through the game Bulkeley missed an easy pink then it played on his mind because the points just about dried up.

Martin stepped up and went on a potting frenzy and once the black went down Martin continued his dominance of Bulkeley 82 - 45. Helmets 1 - Miscues 1.

Garry Bender versus Brett Bradley:

Bender has not played a game of snooker since April 30 so he was a bit out of sorts in game time.

Bradley is in form as he won his last two comp games and also his two semi-final games under pressure.

This was an entertaining game as it was always close as neither got too far away from the other.

Bender had a run then Bradley did the same and some mistakes did appear though not too much damage.

Both played well but Bender played the better game and you did not think he had not played in six weeks.

Bender ended up winning 53 - 41 making up for last week's dummy spit. Miscues 2 - 1.

Ritchie Bilby versus Robert Farnsworth:

Bilby is having a good comp and he backed that up last week with a win and Farnsworth was opposite as he only had three wins through the comp rounds but he has hit form and won his last two semi-final games.

This was a typical semi-final game very dour with a lot of safety as both were trying to get the upper hand.

Once Farnsworth caught the lead then both were virtually going shot for shot.

Bilby was always right in the mix potting and playing safe and Farnsworth was working hard and once the black was potted it was Farnsworth in a close game winning 53 - 47. Miscues 2 - Helmets 2.

Dennis Goodwin versus Dillan McBey:

This turned out to be the pivotal game and these pair didn't realise until after the game.

They have played each other twice through the comp and both times Goodwin only just won by five then seven points.

McBey started out well though not potting a lot he was scoring small breaks and was moving ahead of Goodwin and was looking the goods.

Goodwin was slow out of the blocks and had his work cut out to chase the lead.

Suddenly for whatever reason McBey was in a winning position froze like a deer getting caught in a cars headlights.

He was missing shots and playing too much safety and Goodwin seized his chance potted very well then easily overtook McBey and cruised to a 52 - 38 win. Miscues 3 - 2.

Col Tattersall versus Logan Spice:

You had to feel sorry for Spice as not only did he have to overcome the 28 point start Tattersall had he also had to win his game by 50 points for his team to advance to the Grand Final.

Spice started out with confidence and was playing really well and what was making it harder for him was that Tattersall every now and again was knocking in some reds leaving less for Spice to score.

Tattersall did play well as he defended his lead and Spice did play the game of his life trying to catch the deficit.

Spice nearly did that but Tattersall remained calm as he won 76 - 63 to put his team into the Grand Final. Miscues won 4 - 2.