17th December 2005

The final of event three of the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation Silver Waistcoat saw two of the best players for their age group in the region, provide a spectacle of matchplay snooker to a very high standard. Sam Baird (Halberton) completed an excellent days play with a tenacious 3-2 victory over Darren Bond (Tiverton). Baird went two frames to nil up aided by a fine 45 break. Bond clawed this lead back to level at 2-2 making a 48 break in the process. The final and deciding frame proved a very tense affair with neither player not wanting to lose. However, it was Baird that took the frame and match 3-2 to win his first Silver Waistcoat event since May 2005. In the earlier stages of this tournament both these players posted centuries along with several other notable breaks, proving the worth of regularly competing in WEBSF tournaments.

In the semi finals the quality of some of the snooker ranked alongside that of professional play as seen on the television! The first semi final pitched Baird of Devon against Bobby Southworth of Cornwall. The first frame saw Baird eight points in the lead before he coolly completed a total clearance of 115 that contained some outstanding potting. Baird took the second frame with the aid of a modest 36 break to win 2-0 giving Southworth no chance. The second semi final was another cracking match, an all Devon affair between Grant Cole and Bond. Bond seized the imitative with a well constructed break of 71. Cole’s superb safety play allowed him to steal the second frame and level the match one all. In the deciding frame Cole built a slender lead before taking on a dangerous pot to the middle pocket which he missed. This allowed Bond a chance to compile a frame and match winning break of 45 to win 2-1.

The quarter finals saw and end to Exeter’s Sam Cox‘s run of victories with Grant Cole (Plymouth) ending any hope that Cox had of winning a hat trick of Silver Waistcoat tournaments. Cole won by two frames to nil with the aid of a 47 break. Rob Charman (Falmouth) must have fancied his chances after taking a 1-0 lead against fellow County player Southworth, only to watch the wily Southworth claw his way back to win 2-1. Baird dismissed the ‘Redruth Potter’ Jamie Read with relative ease; knocking in breaks of 43 & 33 to win 2-0. Bond won 2-0 against Jay Harrington (Falmouth) to progress through to the semi finals.

In group A Baird took top spot winning five of his six matches, he also recorded the highest break of the group, a superb 93 in defeating Cox. Baird also manufactured breaks of 66, 43 and a two 33’s. Cox, runner-up in this group and had to fight hard to maintain his challenge. This was demonstrated in his match against Charman, Cox was twice in trouble but dug deep to pull out a fine 2-1 victory. Cox made frame winning breaks of 66 & 41 while Charman posted a 48. Cox also made breaks of 45, 41 & 38 in other group matches. Charman qualified in third place with his best break being 53 in a 2-0 victory over Danny Gibson from Exeter. Jay Harrington (Falmouth) took the final qualifying spot, his best break being a 51 in his 2-1 victory over Baird.

Darren Bond won group B by virtue of a single frame over Southworth. The standard of snooker and the intensity was evident from the start. Bond versus Cole has always been a mouth watering prospect and this latest would prove to be no different! Bond staked his claim taking the first frame with a magnificent 116 clearance. Cole, impassive as ever, stuck to his task taking the second frame with a 47 break followed by a well constructed 78 clearance in his next visit to the table. In the deciding frame Bond seized back the initiative with breaks of 36 & 24 to run out a 2-1 winner. Bond also recorded breaks of 73 & 69 in his 2-0 demolition of Joel Martin from Exeter. Southworth finished runner-up with great matchplay snooker which was evident in his 2-0 victory over Cole, even though Cole registered a break of 43. Cole took the third qualifying spot posting a bag-full of breaks over 40. Cole made match winning breaks of 59 & 50 in his 2-0 victory over Read. Read took the fourth qualifying position, recording a break of 38.

For more details on how to become a player/member of the WEBSF contact Roger Cole on (07850882770) or visit the websf@co.uk were you can not only follow all the latest regional Billiards & Snooker news but also link to all of the national and international sites.

Report by Keith Millard