Thursday 6th November 2008 and Riley's Guildford hosted the first of two nights of The WSPL Divisional Singles.


Entry criteria was team captains would pick 2 from there team making 16 players for each division but you were not able to play if you had played in the captain's cup or averages event.
The format was best of three including the final which was videoed by our infamous WSPL TV man Eddie Marshall. Both finals are viewable from the home page in the WSPL Events TV panel.


Division One

With all 16 players in attendance things got off to a flying start with over half the field playing there first round matches at once.
Matches went smoothly in the first round with not much upset but we have to give mention to Matt Braithwaite from the George A who took out Des Jackson from the Crossley Club A 2-0.
Another mention goes to the hugely young talented Michael Crawley from the Fox & Flowerpot A who won his match 2-0 against Lee Nightingale from the George B.

Round two matches looked like it was going to bring the typical winners through with Matt Braithwaite taking his second 2-0 win over Stuart Masson from West Byfleet Social A. Next up was Rob Galea from Queens Head A taking on the might of Michael Crawley. Michael Gave a big fight but was unable carry it through giving the win to Rob 2-1.
We then had Andy Smithers from the Crossley club barrel rolling win of 2-0 against Gary Beeson from West Byfleet Social A.
In the last round two match Stoughton Working Men's Club Paul Groves did not let anything slip with a 2-0 win over Anthony Rourke from the George A.

Now we are down to the semi Final with our first match seeing the George's Matt Braithwaite take on Rob Galea. This would turn out to be a tough game for players with the match going right down the deciding frame but Matt was unable to take the finish home handing the win to Rob 2-1.
The second semi final match was Crossley A's Andy Smithers and Stoughton's Paul Groves. Once again neither player was giving anything away and for the second time saw a 1 frame decider being played. Unfortunately in the end Paul was no match for Andy as he thunders through to take the second final spot winning 2-1.


The Final

Andy Smithers takes on Rob Galea
With both players on the freshly prepared TV table and neither being in front of the camera before there was no advantage to be had but could both players take on not only there opponent but the pressures of being on camera too.
Rob won the coin toss and took the break in the first frame giving him a slight advantage by taking his first red from the break but with the yellows looking more open the advantage was given back to Andy. As the frame went on it was clear that both players were struggling in the first of a possible 3 games. Andy is given the opportunity he needs and while still settling down begins the long road of clearing the table but misses an important pot on his fifth yellow giving the table back to Rob who comes to the table looking very confident but still playing the safety game giving Andy something to think about with a snooker.
Although Andy manages to hit his yellow the white goes in of bringing Rob back to the table with 2 visits. Rob takes full advantage of the foul by clearing the table to take the first frame.
Andy breaks off with a good spread of both colors but leaves an open table. Rob comes to the table full of confidence after his first win and after a few misses sends his confidence over to Andy who proceeds to start the clearing the table but hangs his yellow in the pocket leaving the white in an awkward position for Rob.
Rob tries to play safe but pots Andy's yellow in the process giving him 2 visits. With foul in hand Andy sets of to clear the table and then a players nightmare becomes reality as he snookers himself on his last yellow giving the table back to Rob with 2 visits. Although the finish is not taken by Rob he took full advantage of this by not giving Andy another clear shot for the rest of the match and taking the win of the second frame thus the win of the match.

Well Done Rob



Division Four

Well with only 2 non attendee's First round matches were able to get under way swiftly with once again all the usual players making it to the next stage with both players from the Princess B and both players from the Kingfield Arms B scraping through.
The second round match winners was started by a comfortable 2-0 win for Bluey Noel from Princess B over Simon Graves from the Crossley B. David O'Brien from the Crown B would follow suit with a 2-0 win against Brad Tappin from Kingfield Arms B.
This left only 1 player to carrying the torch for Kingfield Arms in Paul Hodge who done them justice by taking the win 2-0 from Blue Anchor B's Martin Stevens.

With 1 princess B player through in Bluey they were able to make it 2 with another Princess B 2-0 win in Daryl Sims over Paul Jaeger from the Mayford Arms.

In the first of 2 semi final matches can David spoil the chances for Bluey. He gave it his all but could not stop the undefeatable Bluey as the Princess send there first player in to the final with a 2-1 win.
This leaves only one player to stop the all princess final going ahead with Paul Hodge Vs Daryl Sims. Unfortunately Paul could not do anything to stop Daryl from taking the final spot 2-0.


The Final

The final saw an all Princess B final with Daryl Sims Vs Bluey Noel.
Daryl took the first advantage with a tricky yellow but could not carry it on as both players were playing with confidence and seemed to be playing the Table and not each other. As time went on yellows seemed the order of the day but Bluey managed to pull of a cracking snooker to turn the tables. Daryl had to use the knuckle of the pocket to escape which in turn left it open for Blue to clear up and take the first frame.
Bluey broke of in the second frame with superb cue ball control to leave it dead centre of the table. You could see the determination in his eyes to win so was the break an dish on for the talented player. Well he would give it his all by showing us all his skills by just stoking each shot and placing the white exactly where he needs it for the next shot. After his fifth pot he runs just a fraction out of position forcing him to take a tricky six for position to his seventh yellow. We were to say goodbye to the break and dish as Bluey missed a very tricky pot to the middle.
As Daryl comes to the table with 2 of his balls on the cushion he decides to move 1 to open play and in doing so snookers Bluey on his last yellow. After a couple of failed attempts to hit his yellow the clear up was one for Daryl so he began well clearing 4 balls until he ran out of position to leave him no alternative but to lay another snooker which this time Bluey was able to escape.
With 1 tricky red Daryl decides to move it and leave the white safe but catches his red a little thin and in turn leaving Bluey the finish. He goes on to pot his last yellow but falls short on the black making it a harder pot which rattles in the jaws. The pressure is now on for Daryl is this do or die situation. His first pot was a long red to the corner which he makes but leaves the white near the side cushion making it a difficult pot for position on his last ball. He tries to pinch the pocket but fails to pot giving Bluey an easy black to the corner which he does with ease to take the second frame and winning the final 2-0.


Well Done Bluey


Written By Edd Marshall