Peter and Graham Warm to Challenge
By Graham Clark

With the League season now completed the Formby Snooker action has now focused on the Final of the Tower Heating Formby Pairs and the Semi-Finals of the Clare Cup.

Peter Brown and Graham Clark warmed to the challenge against Phil Fitzgerald and Les Sullivan in the Pairs. Peter displayed some excellent safety coupled with occasional good fortune to ensure Phil, incidently the player of the season in the League, never got the opening he craved. The Con Club pair dominated the first frame until Phil got his chance on the colours. However he broke down after potting the Blue and snookering himself on the Pink. Phil hit the Pink but only left it up for Graham who took the vital 13 points to ensure his Pair led by 39 going into the second and final frame.

Frustration was increasing in the Southport based pair, no better advertised than by Les’s break off, striking the top cushion first and splitting the Reds everywhere. It didn’t pay for them though as the Con Club pair gradually increased their advantage. Opportunities then came Phil’s way but his lack of early chances were clearly telling and a missed Black off its spot saw Graham score 18 which he followed up with a 24 next visit to secure the title by an 80 point winning margin.

Andy Rae and Mark Hopgood will contest the Clare Cup Final after their semi-finals against Mark Bellas and Adam Maylor respectively. Andy hit breaks of 41 (Twice) in taking the first frame 89-1. The second was closer as Mark led 40-26 on the Brown. However is misjudged safety shot left Andy the Brown and ultimately the match with a 22 clearance.

Mark Hopgood booked his first Final place with a 2-1 success. Adam took the opener 53-37 before Mark levelled in the second 51-11, aided by a 20 break. The decider seemed to be going Adam’s way, leading by 13 on the Blue, but then saw Mark take the last 3 under pressure to progress to Formby Snooker’s Blue Ribband Final.

The Allan Parker KO Cup Final resulted in a victory for Les Dodd’s A over their C team. No further details are available at this time.