Gotham progress to the Quarter finals with a triumph over Mapperley
(Handicaps in brackets)
Steve Howard/Steve Burrows 70+(7)=77 v Chris Wright/Chris 48+(21)=69
Steve Kent/Dave Griffiths 60+(28)=88 v Geoff Merry/Doug 24+(28)=52
Nick Kirkman/Richard Burrows 65+(14)=79 v Andy/Don Merry 34+(21)=55
Total: Gotham RBL 244 v 176 Mapperley CC
Mapperley came to Gotham,and very soon it was apparent,(yet again)that it woulda' been better to have all played our matches wearing hats,scarves,gloves and coats,and maybe we all shoulda' worn thermal underwear too!!
Everyone was so cold,it was a case of play your shots,and dive to the nearest heat source,i did ask for a group hug by the way . . .
:laugh:
Howard and Burrows up first,against the 2 Chris's.Lots of safety initially until the first real chance came to Howard,when on a break of 17,didn't quite get the desired angle for the next black,but decided to take the acute cut into the centre bag on,and after several alterations to his aim,finally 'floated' a lovely black to middle very slowly which dropped for a 24 break but position was lost due to going all out for black,but a much needed 24 points,and then a nice tight safety shot to baulk,made Mapperley realise they weren't going to have it easy.Both Chris' potting good balls when any chance came there way,but neither player on song and i think,struggling to come to terms with the pace of the table.Still,they pulled back,to just 13 points behind,but Burrows potting some good balls,despite not being at his best tonight,and with the help of some good run of the balls,both Steves' closed out the frame.
Dave and Steve,up next against Geoff and Doug,(at this point i had gone out the room for a coffee,and to warm up in the lounge,and didn't see any of this frame),but both Dave and Steve doing enough to win the frame,and secure a very useful 36 points win over the 2 Mapperley players.
Final pairs frame now and ANDY and Don,facing up to the challenge against Nick and Richard.The way the frame was going,no one could take the 'bull by the horns' mainly due to the fact that all 4 players were not potting well,and missing golden opportunities,when they were in.I will put it down to the fact that,trying to play in the really cold climate inside,was probably affecting everyones concentration.
Still,Gotham needing to win this frame,and had a 34 point cushion to play with,Richard had a very good chance when a red came to rest very near the bottom baulk pocket,but somehow missed it,and a chance went begging.But the red went safe,and the run of the balls helping the 2 Gotham players get away with what may be described as 'murder'. . .
But towards the end of the frame,with Gotham having totted up a good lead,meant the pairing of Andy and Don,needed to try for snookers,a missed blue by Richard gifted the pair 5 points but more were needed,some absolutely cracking attemps by the pair were made but just not quite getting them,and after Nick potted the blue with only pink and black left,the Mapperley pair offered their hands in congratulations . . .it had been what certainly seemed a long hard battle,and that was just with the very cold climate indoors,to say nothing of the match itself . . .
:laugh:
Always enjoy playing Mapperley,they're a great bunch of lads,so a big thumbs up to Chris,Chris,Geoff,Doug,Andy and Don . . .
:thumbup:
Well done Gotham, great to see Kenty returning with a good win.
:welldone: :bravo: :welldone:
Well played Gotham. Steve Howard played some very good match play snooker keeping it tight and I thought Steve Burrows played really well and was unlucky on the odd occasion he missed but did pot some really good balls.
Dave and Steve kent both played really well Dave playing some very good safety all the way through the frame giving Steve chances to go at a lot of pots but it was one of those nights for kenty where when he missed he got a good safety everytime infact Steve couldn't do anything wrong whatever he tried he pulled it off luck or not the Mapperley pair felt the world was against them , thats how it goes sometimes .
The last frame meant that we had a 34 point lead including the handicap. Mapperley seem to start off well in this frame but after a few outstanding pots by myself seemed to put them off and I thought Richard was the star of the show last night, playing some fantastic escapes from difficult snookers and making it easy for me to get a start when i came to the table. It ended up Mapperley looking for 8 snookers with brown to black left and eventually I took brown, blue and pink for the frame.
Mapperley struggled tonight but also the run of the balls were with the Gotham boyz and it could easily be a different result if and when we play each other again.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Thanks for the kind words Steve,next time we play i promise you can borrow my hat and coat between each shot..ha ha..it was a pleasure as alway playing again yourself and your team as you alway make everyone feel welcome and Mapperley enjoyed the night even if it was slightly cold in the room.The better team on the night won with all there 6 players doing well for Gotham.
Thanks Andy . . .i've always enjoyed playing your great Mapperley team,and you really are a nice bunch of ladz too,and one added extra that your club has,is a great 'warm' feeling' inside,unlike Gotham last nite eh? ha ha!!
Mind you,it's the complete opposite in summer,when it's a little 2 warm,but . . .considering how cold it was tues night,im not gonna' complain about that . . .lol . . .
Thoroughly enjoyed playin' u all last night Andy,and hope to see you all again soon mate . . .
Happy Christmas to all the Mapperley team,please pass on my good wishes to the ladz ok?
Take care,
Steve
Thanks for that Steve,merry christmas to you aswell,at least i know now if we play at Gotham again in the summer i will have to put my shorts on then just to keep cool..ha ha..Gud Luck for the rest of the season and hopefully we will play you again next year in division 2 as you have a very good team there at Gotham and im sure you will get promoted..