D Team Win Through in Cup Thriller
By Graham Clark

In this weeks matches of the Formby & District Snooker League attention has moved away from the League to Cup action in the form of the Harold Mills Knockout Cup, with its new format in use.

Legion D won what proved the tie of the round against their B team. The first four frames were shared with all games going down to the final couple of colours. Dave Rimmer then narrowly beat Scott Kirby only to see Gary Rimmer fail to pull back his handicap deficit of 22 against D team skipper Eric McLean. In fact Eric ended up winning by 31 and thus sealing a 3-3 draw. This brought the aggregate points rule into effect with the D team going through by a 343-327 winning margin.

Ince produced a highly impressive display in beating Con Club A at home by 5 frames to 1. Mark Kelly was particularly impressive in winning his high scoring affair with Kris Forrester, his first win from Thirteen starts this season. Dave O’Shea and the Pope’s, Andy, Mark and Mike were the other victors for the triumphant Ince Cue men.

The Brook Club received a bye to the next Round so the final Semi place was to go to the winners of the Legion C / Our Lady’s B tie. Colin Bennett (20 break) and Ray Lavelle sent them two up with wins over the experienced pair Phil Kershaw and Andy Hesketh respectively. The next 2 frames were shared as Alan Morris secured a narrow victory over Colin Watterson and Roger Wilkins won impressively over Peter Bennett 81-27. The Legion therefore needed just one of the last 2 frames and Mike Radcliffe duly obliged, beating Our Lady’s skipper Dudley Lidiard 77-46. Jason Francis won the final frame for the visitors but they went away empty handed with a 4-2 defeat.