🎱🏆 Week 13: Tuns to Talk About 🏆🎱
What a week it’s been - Champions virtually decided in Division 1 and major shifts across Division 2 with plenty of drama.
Three Tuns have now mathematically secured the Division 1 title after an impressive 7–5 win over defending Champions WR Sports A. Congratulations to Leighton Cumber and his team.
Over in Division 2, surprise defeats for WR All Stars and Egham & Hythe Youth have completely shaken up the standings. Staines Cons New climb to the top with an impressive win, while Eddie’s surge into third after leapfrogging both Egham & Hythe Youth and Sunbury Con Club A with WR All Stars dropping down to second.
With next week marking the final fixture, Division 2 is wide open - if this week is anything to go by, expect a thrilling finish packed with twists and turns.
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🏆 Division 1 Highlights
NRS 4 - 8 Sunbury Con Club B
NRS, who have struggled for form in recent weeks, saw that downturn continue with an 8–4 defeat to Sunbury Con Club B.
Sunbury made a strong start, taking a 4–2 lead after the opening six frames with wins from Min Kirby, Chris Armstrong (x2) and Patrick Casey. NRS replied through Stuart Mackenzie and Jason Willerby to stay within reach.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Sunbury Con Club B winning four of the final six frames - all secured in the opening four frames after the interval. This time, victories came from Paddy McLaughlin, Min Kirby, Patrick Casey and Liam O’Keefe. Late wins from Stuart Mackenzie and Vinny Mitchell offered some resistance, but it was ultimately another tough night for NRS.
As a result, NRS now find themselves firmly in the relegation battle - holding a four-point cushion over SS&NR and a ten-point gap to Shepperton Sports.
SS&NR 7 - 5 Shepperton Sports
S&NR, who have found some form in recent weeks, maintained that momentum with a crucial win over bottom side Shepperton Sports to keep their survival hopes alive.
A strong opening saw SS&NR take a 4–2 lead after the first six frames, thanks to wins from Wayne Timbrell (x2) and Greg OMahony (x2). Shepperton responded through Lito Estralla and Craig Cooke to stay in contention.
Shepperton rallied in the second half to level the match, with impressive wins from Allyn Sutton and Charles Smith. However, the momentum quickly swung back in SS&NR’s favour, as Wayne Timbrell and Greg OMahony once again delivered, alongside Paul Fisher, to seal the result at 7-4. David Miah pulled one back in the final frame, but the match was already decided finishing 7-5.
The result all but confirms Shepperton Sports’ relegation, with a return to Division 2 next season where they’ll look to regroup and challenge again. Meanwhile, SS&NR still have a fighting chance, with two fixtures remaining - though tough tests await against Egham & Hythe Whites and newly crowned Champions Three Tuns.
Staines Cons D 7 - 5 Egham & Hythe Whites
Egham & Hythe Whites are proving to be as inconsistent as Luke’s beloved Fulham - showing flashes of quality but unable to string results together. That trend continued here, as Staines Cons D secured a solid 7–5 victory.
The opening six frames were evenly contested, with the sides locked at 3–3. Staines Cons D picked up wins through the small but mighty Marky Harmes, Daniel Elsey and Tony Sparrow, while Egham responded via Martin Hyman, Luke Emmett and Dan Emmett.
Egham & Hythe Whites started the second half strongly, with Freddie Morrison edging them in front, but that proved to be their final momentum swing. Staines Cons D raised their level, taking four of the next five frames. Luke Emmett added another for Egham, but wins from Jay Harmes, Daniel Elsey, Marky Harmes and Adam Gray sealed the result for Staines.
It’s a strong win for Staines Cons D, drawing them level on points with Egham & Hythe Whites - although Egham still hold the advantage with two games in hand.
WR Sports A 5 - 7 Three Tuns
Arguably the biggest match of the night and perhaps the season - with WR Sports A needing a win to keep the title race alive. Anything less would all but hand the title to the Three Tuns.
Three Tuns came out flying, dominating the opening half to storm into a remarkable 6–0 lead. Outstanding performances from Martin Court (x2), Daz Wallace, George Smith, Leighton Cumber and Rob Mutter left WR Sports A with a mountain to climb.
That blistering start guaranteed at least a draw, and WR Sports A needed something special to turn it around - but it wasn’t to be. They did halt the momentum, with wins from Ben Reading and Ethan Coates making it 6–2. However, Captain Leighton Cumber stepped up at the crucial moment, defeating Rob Malik to secure the match and effectively seal the title.
To their credit, WR Sports A kept battling, with Daniel James, Ethan Coates and Ben Reading picking up further frames to pull the score back to a more respectable 7–5.
Congratulations to Three Tuns, who now mathematically secure the league title with a commanding 13-point lead. WR Sports A would need a miracle in the final week - requiring a 12–0 win combined with a 12–0 defeat for Three Tuns. Not impossible… but incredibly unlikely.
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🏆 🏆 Division 2 Highlights
Egham & Hythe Ladies 3 - 9 London Stone
The Ladies, still searching for their first win but showing clear improvement each week, actually struck first through a great win from Marsha Rogers over Chris Butler. London Stone quickly responded, however, with frames from Callum Godfrey, Nick McDonald, Chris Docwra and Andy Henson. Marsha Rogers added another for the Ladies, but they still trailed 4–2 at the halfway point.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with London Stone taking control and winning five of the six frames. Maria Griffiths-Pressman picked up a well-earned frame for the Ladies, but further wins from Chris Butler, Nick McDonald, Callum Godfrey (x2) and Chris Docwra sealed a comfortable victory for London Stone.
The result keeps London Stone in sixth place, sitting 11 points behind Egham & Hythe Youth in fifth.
Egham & Hythe Youth 2 - 10 Eddies
A huge match for both sides, but in truth it was a one-sided contest as Eddies delivered a dominant 10–2 victory.
Eddies controlled the opening frames, storming to a 6–0 lead with wins from Chris Atwell (x2), Hiss Salih (x2), Richard Hurley and Jon Martin. It was a mix of sharp finishing and a touch of fortune, but thoroughly deserved given their level of play.
The dominance continued after the break, with further wins from Jon Martin, Richard Hurley and Hiss Salih stretching the lead to 9–0. Egham & Hythe Youth finally got on the board through Mark Court, who used all his experience to snooker Chris Atwell a million times and secure the frame. Jon Martin then completed a standout night - earning the Captain’s player of the match with his third win before Dexter Reilly added a late consolation for a final score of 10–2.
A massive result that significantly reshapes the table, with Egham & Hythe Youth dropping from joint second to fifth, while Eddies leap from fifth up to third.
Jolly Butcher 2 - 10 Staines Cons New
Going into the match, Staines Cons New would have been confident of a strong result but little did they know this victory would propel them to the top of the league following WR All Stars’ defeat.
Staines started in superb fashion, racing into a 4–0 lead before Jolly Butcher managed to respond, leaving it 4–2 after the opening six frames. Early wins came from Dean Casey, Matty Clark, Grant Baker and Steve Kent, while Jolly Butcher replied through Keith Rozario and Leo Cooper.
Sensing the opportunity, likely with one eye on the live scores - Staines didn’t let up. Led by Captain Grant Baker, they dominated the second half, winning all six remaining frames to secure an emphatic 10–2 victory. Further wins came from Matty Clark, Perry Baker (x2), Dean Casey and Steve Kent.
It’s a huge result that sees Staines Cons New climb to the top of the table with one match remaining. The title and promotion are now firmly in their hands, a brilliant achievement under the leadership of Grant Baker.
Sunbury Con Club A 7 - 5 WR All Stars
In what was arguably the shock of the night, WR All Stars went into the match top of the table and holding a six-point lead but Sunbury Con Club A had other ideas, producing a superb 7–5 victory to blow the title race wide open. The result leaves WR All Stars in second, just one point behind Staines Cons New, but still five points clear of Eddies in the promotion spots.
The opening six frames were evenly contested, finishing 3–3. Sunbury’s points came through Shaun Meehan (x2) and John Ward, while WR All Stars responded with wins from Michael Punter, Stewart Harmes and Joe Delcourt.
The second half swung in Sunbury’s favour. Although Stewart Harmes briefly edged WR All Stars ahead, Sunbury hit back in style, with Ross Lindie, John Ward, Ben Pyrce and Shaun Meehan stringing together a run of frames to seal the result with a 7–4 lead. Michael Punter claimed the final frame for WR All Stars - enough to see him move to number one in the leading player standings with one week to go.
All eyes now turn to the final round, with promotion and the title still up for grabs, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
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🎱 Dishes:
- No dishes this week