Les Dodds B Land Mac & Jack Pairs
By Graham Clark

In this weeks matches of the Formby & District Snooker League attention has focused on the ‘Mac & Jack Team Pairs’ Final and the rearranged League fixture between Legion B and Les Dodd’s C.

In the Mac & Jack pairs, Les Dodd’s B have beaten their A team in the Final, just as they did in season 2002-03. In receipt of 8 points handicap start the B team quickly extended their advantage to 27 thanks to Paddy Tyndall and Peter Tomlin overturning the formidable pair of Dave Mills and Graeme Booth. The lead was increased in frame 2 to 78 with skipper Mark Hopgood and Dave Hartley in impressive form. The task in the Final frame looked insurmountable but then the A team did have Pairs specialists Andy Rae and Dave Quinn to come. Indeed Andy made significant inroads into the B teams lead, knocking in a fine 56 break. However it was not to be as Frank Bradley and Peter Harrison saw the B team home to their second Team Pairs success, the first under the guise of the ‘Mac & Jack Team Pairs’.

The Final League game of the year saw Legion B entertain Les Dodd’s C in what was a rearranged fixture. The first two frames were halved as excellent safety play from Carl Finlayson overcame the challenge of Les Dodd’s skipper Les Sullivan 53-14 and Tim Nelson similarly despatched Harry Boydell.

There was an unusual incident near the start of frames 3 and 4. When Steve Sullivan failed to make a pot the Red flew into the air and landed in the middle of the pack of Reds on the other table, splattering them everywhere! This left 16 reds on that table with no one able to point out the one that didn’t belong. Chaos ensued as various suggestions were discussed as to how to continue. Chris Howard didn’t want a re rack as he held a slim advantage over Tony Roberts so agreement was reached with one Red being removed. This seemed to unsettle the visitors as Chris Howard and Dave Rimmer comfortably went on to win and make the score 3-1.

The unbeaten Phil Fitzgerald pulled one back for the visitors, breaks of 23, 24 & 27 after a tight start saw him to victory over Gary Rimmer. However, Gary’s brother Mark had the last laugh in his match with Lee Briscoe. Trailing by 7 points on the Pink, Mark potted it only to see his White go in-off thus requiring Pink and Black for a re-spot. Mark did just that and won the re-spot to seal an impressive win for the Legion.

The defeat leaves Les Dodd’s C level on 51 points with Con Club B at half way with Les Dodd’s B 2 points adrift in third. Ironically the victory for Legion B means they shall need to play off against Con Club A to see who takes the final place in the ‘Harold Mills’ Trophy line-up.