doubleS SUCCess for Saundesfoot pair

The league doubles final was played last Monday evening, between Mark Cleevely and Steve Cook from Saundersfoot Sports Club and Viv Price and Jamie Greenish from the Manchester Club in Milford Haven. It was played at the Conservative Club over the best of five frames and a nail-biter it proved to be.

The first frame saw the Manchester boys break-off and take an early lead of 11 points. This was increased to 18, before Mark reduced it slightly. However, Jamie from the Manchester was potting well and, with good safety, had the Saundersfoot boys in trouble early on. This frame was all but over coming to the colours, with Mark and Steve 25 points behind. This proved too much for them and the first frame (a scrappy one at that) went the way of their opponents.

The second frame saw the Saundersfoot pair break-off. Steve then set the benchmark with a 16-point break, which Mark added to with 12 of his own, to leave them 40 points up early on. Back came the Mancchester pair to close the gap to 25, but as the frame got to the colours, the Saundersfoot pair were 20 points to the good and this once again proved enough, 1-1.

It was the turn of the Manchester pair to again break off in the third frame. With both sets of players now beginning to find their form, this was definitely a potting frame, with Mark and Steve banging in some good balls, only for their opponents to fight back into the lead with some great pots of their own. Unfortunately, as the frame got to the colours, the Saundersfoot pair found themselves 24 points adrift and this again proved too much to make up, leaving the match score 2-1 to the Manchester Club duo.

Now needing it to stay in the match, it was Saundersfoot who broke off in the fourth frame. Steve started the potting with a 16 break, but back came the Manc boys with a 14 break of their own. Again this was turning into another good potting battle, with Mark in particular slotting some good balls to take Saundersfoot into a 37-point lead with a solid 25 break, and it was he who also took the deciding balls to level things up at 2-2.

It was only fitting that this closely fought final should go to a final and deciding frame.

With the Manchester boys breaking in this crucial frame, it was naturally nip and tuck, with no one wanting to make a mistake to lose the final.

It was the Saundersfoot pair who began to edge ahead, though, thanks to a 14 break from Steve, and midway through they were still 14 points to the good.

As the frame got to the colours, they had stretched their advantage to a healthy 28 and were now close to clinching the title, which eventually proved the case when Mark potted the deciding balls to win a good match.

Thanks go to everyone who has taken an interest in snooker at Saundersfoot Sports Club this year, especially the sponsors and the Observer - have a great summer and see you all in October.