Billiards Season 2026

Home Team Report:
Wow – what a great evening of billiards – some excellent play from all parties, 4 high breaks, plenty of other good smaller breaks, very few flukes and an even amount of run made for 2 exciting frames before the master show from Mark Leonard. In frame 1 Lol finally managed to transfer some of his practice form onto the match table. Starting quickly he led by 30 before Pauls 1st break of 34 got him to 50 1st. Lol continued to score regularly and again pushed 30 ahead before Paul’s 2nd break, this time 32, put him into a 102 – 98 lead. Lol however, soon put together a very nice 23 to lead 143-116 and after a slight scare when Paul looked like he might catch up again eventually ran out a very well deserved winner. In frame 2 I got off the blocks like Usain Bolt and a very nice 41 put me 73-16 ahead. Unfortunately, once in the 90’s and over 70 points ahead I seemed to have shot my bolt and stopped scoring. Steve played his usual solid game and kept catching me up which of course further ebbed away my confidence and tightened up my cue action. I had several opportunities to go on and win the match comfortably and get that vital 3-1 win but contrived to spurn them all so when Steve went ahead at 148 – 143 I had all but given up. Surprisingly however, the tension finally got to Steve as well and he missed a couple of reasonable chances allowing me to win by just that one score. In the Final frame we matched Steve Dale against Mark as in recent seasons he’s managed to score quite well against him and of course a point would have been sufficient for us to win 8-7. Everything went as planned to start with as Steve was cueing well and matched Mark into the 20’s. Mark then pushed ahead with a couple of reasonable breaks but then with the score on 78-33 Steve missed a goodish opportunity to get closer to the magic 50 and let Mark in with a top of the table position. Putting together a wonderful display in the art of “Postman’s Knock” Mark ran out with a magnificent unfinished 73 to take a 3-0 win and earn Woking the draw. It was a pleasure to watch and the only time he even came close to missing was a slightly wide throw on a cannon. He really has moved up to yet another level this year and I believe he’s only allowed 2 single points to be scored against him so far this season. An excellent evening gents, well played all round.
Footnote
I understand my comments last week about Wokings match table may have caused some offence. That I regret and for which I sincerely apologise. That doesn’t change the fact that on the night, for whatever reason, the CLOTH did not perform to anything like it’s usual very high standards. But I recognise that Woking SC always try to provide the best playing conditions for members and guests alike. Having played many many matches on that table over the last 20 years (and thoroughly enjoyed most of them – I’ve had 2 of my best ever matches there even though 1 was a close defeat) I and I’m sure all the other visitors to the club am always very grateful for their efforts and their hospitality and I would not wish the management or staff of Woking SC to feel in any way slighted by my remarks.
p.s. Why is everyone talking about the pockets? I never mentioned anything about the tightness of the pockets! I don’t have the slightest problem with tight pockets. That’s how it should be and anyway I’m very used to them as New Haw’s are equally tight if not tighter!!


Regards



Andy Smith