2nd May 2005

Andy Symons-Rowe (Tavistock) won the second tour of the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation (WEBSF) Gold Waistcoat tournament which is sponsored by the Sunday Independent was held at Bells Court Snooker Club, Falmouth. This win is great preparation for Symons-Rowe who is due to play in the final of the blue ribbon event of the year the English Association for Snooker & Billiards (EASB) amateur Championship final.

The tournament officials received full praise from the players who stated that they are excited by the format and grateful for the opportunity to test their skills against the best players in the region. Since the first tournament entries have increased as has the standard of play which continues to impress onlookers. During the day a number of match winning breaks were recorded across the board which included a couple of centuries.

The final was played on World Snooker Professional Andy Hicks’ practise table, a fact that might have unsteadied the finalist. However this served only to facilitate superb play by Symons-Rowe who defeated England International Mike King (Exeter) 3 - 2 in a magnificent final.

Symons-Rowe was first off the mark winning the first frame with a trio of small breaks 24, 28 & 29. King, who now practises at the Rileys Club, Exeter responded with a tremendous break of 86, breaking down with three reds left on the table, to level the match 1 - 1. Symons-Rowe took the third with the help of a 38 break. King again responded with a well crafted 58 break to levelled the match 2 - 2. With the onset of the final frame the atmosphere was electric and onlookers where treated to a clinical break of 61 from Symons-Rowe to clinch the frame and match 3-2 in what was clearly a final fitting for two of the region’s top players.

In the semi-finals, Symons-Rowe played last months runner up Alan Hurley (Redruth) in another high quality match. Hurley looked set to book his second consecutive final when he led 2 - 0 demonstrating some prolific break building recording breaks of 30 and a 40 in both the frames. In the third frame Symons-Rowe found his rhythm knocking in a superb 54 break. With pressure building both players showed equal respect towards each other with Symons-Rowe just getting over the line first to level the match 2 - 2. This set the scene for a tense deciding frame. Hurley took the early initiative and with only one red left on the table Symons-Rowe needed to clear the table to win the frame and match. The balls were not favourably situated for a single visit clearance. However, Symons-Rowe fashioned a superb break of 31 to win the frame and match 3 - 2.

The other semi-final saw King take on Sam Baird the promising youngster from (Halberton), There were no breaks of note recorded in this match but onlookers where treated to a high level of safety play and respectful snooker from both players. Baird had the first real chance to win the match in the deciding frame when the frame scores were level at 2 - 2. However, in the deciding frame he missed a relatively straight forward brown with the rest to let King off the hook. King eventually potted the brown and fluked the blue with the pink sitting over the middle pocket, a relieved King potted the pink for frame and match.

In the quarter finals Baird was pitched against group (A) winner Phil Lane (Hayle), Baird eventually won a close contest 2 - 1. The second quarter final saw England team mates King play Andy Radford (Exeter). The expected fireworks never materialised as King ran out a 2 - 0 winner with relative ease. The third quarter final paired (Seaton’s) Darren Lock against Symons-Rowe. Lock took an early lead only to sit and watch Symons-Rowe rattle in breaks of 48 and 56 to win 2 - 1. In the remaining quarter final local lad Bobby Southworth (Falmouth) was up against fellow Cornishman Hurley. This never lived up to expectations after such a good qualifying group performance by Southworth, he seemed to run out of steam and couldn’t stop Hurley winning 2 - 0 and progressing into the semis.

With only two players qualifying from each group to the knockout stages the level of competition was always going to be fierce. England International Kris Vincent (Plymouth) set a new benchmark for the (WEBSF) Gold Waistcoat tour with a magnificent total clearance of 134. Vincent achieved this remarkable break in his 2 - 0 win against fellow England International and finalist Mike King.

Group A - last months gold tour winner Wayne Branton (Plymouth) failed to qualify to the knock out stages, managing to reach only fourth spot with contributions of 45 and a 53 break. Winner of this group was Phil Lane who lost only one match, Lane won this group by virtue on picking up a point in his 2 - 1 defeat, proving how valuable extra points are. In joint second place on eight points each were Lock and Gregg Batten (Tiverton). Lock went through by virtue of beating Batten 2 - 0 in their group match. Once again Batten just missed out on the knockout stages despite making breaks of 53, 62 and a well crafted 84. The only other notable break in this group was Lock with a 40. Creditable performances also came from Wayne Woodger (Exeter) and Alan Dunnington (Plymouth).

In group B the quality of play was top drawer, only three points separating all five players with every frame counting right to the last game. King was already through to the knockout stage with the help of a 49 break. Vincent and Adrian Bond (Tiverton) failed to qualify for the knockout stages. The final match in this group was between Hurley and Phil Williams (Falmouth) with the remaining qualifying place up for grabs. Hurley showed great determination in a 2 - 0 victory over Williams to leap frog in to the knockout stages, thus sending Williams home early. Breaks of note came from Hurley and Williams with a 49 and 48 respectfully.

Group C turned out to be the fiercest and most controversial group with three players finishing in the top spot all with seven points each. Nineteen breaks over thirty were recorded in this group alone. Only two of the top three could progress to the knockout stages so the WEBSF elimination formulae was applied. One player after having such a good group stage recording six breaks over thirty felt aggrieved at the decision. However, this formulae is seen as the fairest way of elimination compared with other methods. Top spot went to tournament winner Symons-Rowe who also recorded six breaks over thirty, these included a 68 and a 78 clearance in his 2 - 0 defeat of the 2005 WEBSF Silver Waistcoat Champion Grant Cole (Plymouth). Symons-Rowe also had breaks of 71, 2 x 38 and 31.Runner up spot was awarded to the youngster from Halberton, Sam Baird who made five breaks over thirty with the best being a 59 against Symons-Rowe. Cole made two fifty breaks (58, 51) Jay Harrington (Falmouth) struggled with the level of opposition but gained much valuable experience.

In Group D the highest break was made by England International Andy Radford (Exeter), Radford finished second in the group, recording breaks of 106 and a 63. Southworth won this group without losing a match. He performed exceptional well with a maturity well above his years. Southworth hit six breaks over thirty the best being 68 against Darren Bond (Tiverton). Southworth also recorded breaks 58 and a 50. In joint third place was Steve Downing (Redruth) and Neil Chiswell (Plymouth). Chiswell was awarded third spot by courtesy of a 2 - 0 victory over Downing the latter recording a 58 break in his first frame against Darren Bond only to watch Bond hammer in an impressive 80 break. However, Downing brought his experience into play to win the match 2 - 1. Bond also made a credible 57 break. Keith Milliard the tournament Director said the standard of play being produced by the players is some of the best we have seen for several years and is sure to improve has this new tournament gathers pace over the next two months.

Report by Keith Millard