Terry Longdon Memorial trophy 2019
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GRAND FINAL
Finally after 20 weeks of competition and a gruelling semi-final series the culmination of the Terry Longdon Memorial Trophy came to an end with the Grand Final. The two combatants were the top two teams second placed Pockets won the right to hold the Grand Final and their opponents were Minor Premiers Miscues. Out of the five times these teams have met throughout the comp Pockets had won four of them so they were confident coming into the game. Could it be a Cinderella story for Pockets as they were wooden spooners last comp or could Miscues come back and wreak revenge on their opponents? There were five games played of three were down to the pink and black to get a result one fairly easy win and the last game come down to whoever sank the black. In the end it was Miscues who prevailed 4 - 1 to become the 2019 Terry Longdon Memorial Trophy Premiers.
Higgins Lawyers Pockets versus Hunter Mining Methods Miscues:
Brad Preston versus Matt Tattersall: Once through the competition these two played each other and then Tattersall won by ten points and had to give 20 start. This time Preston had 21 start and started out well scoring some small breaks moving further ahead on the scoreboard. Tattersall was slow out of the blocks and was missing some easy shots early in the piece. Once Tattersall got his eye in he then started to catch the deficit. Preston stopped scoring points about mid game and that was when Tattersall made his move. Preston again started to score and by that time Tattersall was only just ahead and Preston needed the last two colours to win the game. Tattersall was good enough to hold onto his lead to win the first game 78 - 64. Miscues 1 - 0.
Kyal Furbank versus Brian Bonus: Furbank has not played any of the semi-final games it was a slight risk to play him in a high pressure game like the Grand Final. Bonus had only played seven comp games for just the two wins but he had a good victory under pressure his last semi-final game he played. Furbank had a 22 point start and he was using this well early in the game as he was slowly potting some balls. Bonus started out slowly and some of his shots were going close to go in but was just off angle. You could see the close misses were frustrating Bonus for every now and again he would lift his head in self chastisement. Both were feeling the pressure especially getting near the back end of the game Furbank's game was a little off and once Bonus settled down he making short work of catching his opponent with some very good shots. This game was very close and it came down to the pink and black to get a result and fortunately for Bonus it was his game 57 - 46 in a good game by both. Miscues 2- 0.
Shane Eagle versus Col Tattersall: With his team down 2 games already it was up to see if Eagle could play a captains knock to get his team on the board. Eagle had a brilliant comp winning 14 out of 20 games but once the semi-finals came along he has lost both games played. Adding to Eagle's mindset he played Tattersall in the 3rd round and was beaten by 25 points. Tattersall won last week which put his team into the Grand Final so the pressure was all on Eagle. Tattersall had a 32 start and if he just kept knocking in some red balls plus minimise his mistakes like he did the week before he could scrape through. Eagle was off and running potting very well with some very good safety. Tattersall was not as good this week as he was making fundamental errors by giving fouls away and setting Eagle up with some missed shots. Eagle handled the pressure with aplomb as he made the game look easy even though it went down again to the pink and black he was in control to win 72 - 56. Miscues 2 - Pockets 1.
Robert Bender versus Jeff Martin: Bender has improved his game as some of his shots throughout the comp he played with some soft deft touches potting some good shots. Mostly though he hits the balls that hard that they bounce a couple of times of the cushions or ricochet off other balls and go in the pocket. This comp the percentage of them going in that way was high indeed hence him winning more than losing. Martin on the other hand did not play well in the comp rounds but came good last week winning his game. These pair played each other in the 3rd round of which Bender was an easy winner by 31 points. Once the game had started you could see that Martin was very focused as he was playing very safe after potting a few points and Bender did not start out badly but that was to come. Bender did play some very good shots that went directly to the pockets but his hard hitting luck left him late in the game. Martin was doing this easy and he put together a good 19 break which pushed him further ahead. Bender tried hard but the lead was too much as Martin easily won 81 - 41. Miscues 3 - 1.
Steve Hewitt versus Dennis Goodwin: Hewitt would have to play really above himself this game as his team needed for him to stand up because they had to win. Goodwin needed to win this so his team could be named Premiers so the game was pivotal. At the time both did not know that this was going to be the best game of the night as it went right down to the black to get a result. Both were very cautious at first with each trying not to let the other get too far in front on the scoreboard. There were a lot reds potted but not a lot of colours to follow. It was very close but suddenly Goodwin went ahead on the scoreboard and was look like taking out the game. With five of the six colours left on the table Goodwin was 16 points in front but he made a mistake on the green. Hewitt sidled up to the table potted the green to the pink scoring 18 points moved two points in front but missed the black. Both players then proceeded to have several attempts at the black and finally it was Goodwin who potted it to win 46 - 41 in a classic Grand Final match for Miscues to take the lollies. Miscues won 4 - 1.