Snooker Season 2025/6

Home Team Report:
It may be hard to imagine - after four heavy defeats from our first five games - but we're really enjoying this Premier League adventure!

I think this is because every match has been played in a great spirit, none more so than last night when we entertained Egham, who're always good company and of course terrific players.

Reds got pushed into baulk before Warren seized his chance in the opener. A fluent break of 42 meant that Andy needed a snooker with three reds remaining. Andy duly got this when Warren hit the pink playing a swerve on the last red. The clearance was on, but - having taken red and black - Andy snookered himself on the yellow and the frame was effectively over.

Andy Chauhan came into the match 9th in the Prem stats with a 70% win record so far this season. We all know how capable he is, particularly having beaten Billy Castle in competition at the start of the year. His frame against our own Andy was level-pegging until AD double-kissed the penultimate red and AC cleared to the brown with a tidy 24.

Chris looked more sure in the balls for much of his frame against Jaf and led by 19 on the brown. Beyond that, he didn't get any more chances. The key shot was Jaf's astute snooker on the pink (on the baulk cushion) with white tight behind the black at the top of the table. Chris hit the pink but pushed it back up the table and over the top corner. Jaf later took the black from mid-range to complete a fine comeback and take Egham 3-0 ahead.

The turning point in the fourth was when Chris potted the penultimate red but then cannoned off the black and went in-off. Warren stepped up a gear with a superb clearance to the pink where he twice took balls off cushions whilst playing pots. Warren has a real swagger to his play and it makes for a great watch (for a neutral!)

I barely had a sniff of a chance and found myself 0-59 down against Andy following a couple of his 20-plus breaks. Four reds were left and I could still tie. I started to find my feet with a break and some decent snookers, but Andy was equal to each of them and pounced again when I left him up. Another 20-something break completed a well-deserved win.

Were we due a third whitewash of the season? Fate determined otherwise and. helped by a good run of the ball throughout, I beat Jaf on the pink after he unluckily stuck the blue up following a safety exchange. I played well in fits and starts and Jaf was his usual generous self throughout. His relaxed attitude has always been a credit to him and I enjoyed catching up again.

We're almost at the halfway point of the season and it's flown by! I reckon that - if we're going to win this Premier Division title - we'll probably need to start picking up a few more points in our remaining fixtures... We just don't want to peak too early...

PV