News & Events

It was second time lucky for Dave French (Farsley Cons) losing in last year’s final to now claim the coveted Sykes Cup against Joe Crossthwaite (Belle Isle) in an edgy, sticky and scrappy affair at NSC.

Frame 1 – French receiving 15pt start a frame broke the match off and it was clear to see who appeared the nervousness of the two as Crossthwaite started the brightest and looked the more settled with some early contributions. French had several chances but wasn’t to be and Crossthwaite easy took to opener to lead 0 – 1 (69 – 26)

Frame 2 – This time it was Crossthwaite that just couldn’t settle, squandering early chances which then didn’t help with some good fortune from French allowing him to advance his 15pt lead to ease the second frame and level the match 1 – 1 (9 – 61)

Frame 3 – This started similar fashion to the previous frame, both players really struggling with the ‘Centre’ table at NSC and a real scrap fest as you call it, both players missing guilt chances to take any momentum leading onto the colours. Another run of good fortune from French fluking the brown and with the simplest of blues to navigate to land plum on the pink to take a 2-1 lead. To the surprise of everyone watching and celebrity referee, French somehow missed the blue. Crossthwaite potted the blue and pink, meaning French could only tie. A couple of exchanges and it was Crossthwaite to pot the decisive black and lead 1 – 2 (67 – 53)

Frame 4 – This pivotal frame followed similar fashion to the previous two frames, very scrappy and lots of missed pots throughout. Inevitably, again decided on the colours. Crossthwaite looked to have the frame and match won, but a delicate miss on the pink when trying to play position for the black meant some hope for French to level the match. However, it was Crossthwaite when potting the pink was unfortunate not to land on the black when moving it from the cushion, a poor safety shot then followed, it was then French to step up and pot a long black to the level the match 2 – 2 (76 – 63)

Frame 5 – DECIDER! French certainly started the stronger in this frame, executing some early chances to open an early advantage. Try in vain as Crossthwaite did, he just could not get a colour from any red. With a big lead going onto the colours snookers required for Crossthwaite and when he laid a telling snooker which French missed it was game on again…. Crossthwaite then had a glorious chance when potting the green, but a rash attempt at a simple brown allowed French to take the frame away and snookers required again. Crossthwaite battled and landed some exceptionally good snookers but the crafty man from Farsley got out each time and when he potted the blue and then later the pink to land the title, hands were shaken. 3 – 2 (66 – 33)

Well done to Dave French.

Thanks to NSC for hosting the final and thanks also to the amazing, ever so popular celebrity referee on the night Mark Ball…

Sykes Cup
Joe Crossthwaite (Belle Isle) v Dave French (Farsley Cons)
Wednesday 11th June @ NSC - 19.30 start

3 Man KO
Garforth WMC v Main line Social
Wednesday 18th June @ South Leeds Cons - 19.30 start

Champion of Champions
South Leeds Cons B v East End Park B
Monday 23rd June @ Middleton Cons - 19.30 start

Len Lee Invitation
Richard Binns (Belle Isle) v Daniel Boyes (Gildersome Cons)
Tuesday 1st July @ NSC - 19.30 start

Leeds City Pairs
Lines / Boyes (NSC) v Bagley / Broadhead (Edmond House)
Thursday 3rd July @ NSC - 19.30 start

Dress code applies to all finals!

between Belle Isle WMC "C" and NSC "B" will take place at the NSC on Wednesday 25th June 7:30 start.
Dress code applies.

Every season our chairman, Andy Taffinder sponsors a couple of teams in the above league.
Its a scratch league with 3 man teams each playing 2 frames. Matches are played on a weekend throughout the season (usually Sundays) against teams from other leagues in Yorkshire such as Sheffield, Bradford, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Castleford, Wakefield, Wharfedale, Halifax and Brighouse. If anyone is interested in captaining/organising a team or wants to be considered to play in the league please contact Paul Marlow.

Bramley Band duo Ethan Robertson & Geoff Smith claimed a 3-2 victory last night against Adam Rennison and Andy Hawkhead of Harehills Labour in a close fought affair….

Giving 51pt start a frame it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Harehills pairing. Rennison starting the brightest opening the reds superbly of his first black in the first frame, with all the reds in the open, surprisingly the break ended on 24. The Bramley pairing looked the more nervous in the opening frame, mainly adjusting to the conditions. A poor safety shot on the blue however from Robertson allowed Rennison to clear and take the opening frame on the black to lead 1 – 0 (74 – 71)

Second frame started scrappy and followed this pattern throughout the frame, helped with early run of the balls from Robertson which included a couple of flukes allowed the Bramley pairing to comfortably take the next frame to level the match 1 – 1 (43 – 93)

Next frame and it was Smith who was first executing some early long balls getting in early taking the advantage of the 51 start to open up a further lead. Despite mini efforts from Hawkhead the frame was over and now just one away from victory for the Bramley boys… 1 – 2 (24 – 97)

Once again, the 51pt start proved a tough challenge for the Harehills duo and once again found themselves 60+ behind, they continued to battle back and then Rennison stepped up and crafted a lovely 36 break only to foul with the 4 colours remaining. Close as it was with each pairing needing a couple of balls. A poor shot from Smith allowed Rennison to pot a long pink to take the match to a deciding frame … 2 – 2 (84 – 73)

The final frame was a frame of two halves, once again Smith was in early and a tidy 15 break moved the pairing even further ahead. The position of the balls not helping either Rennison or Hawkhead to mount any form of comeback and it looked ominous that this match was over. With one red remaining the Harehills pairing refused to give in despite needing 7, yes 7 snookers! The balls were in good positions for snookers, one by one snookers were missed by both Bramley pairings creating more unwanted nervousness, anxiously continuing to look at the scoreboard watching their lead evaporate. One snooker now required, and a stroke of good fortune from Smith meant Rennison came to the table himself snookered, an easy one to hit but somehow missed the red and left the frame open for Robertson to make no mistake and wrap the frame and match up… 2 – 3 (63 – 116)

Well done to Ethan Robertson and Geoff Smith!

Thanks to NSC for hosting this final and thanks again to Mark Ball the ever-popular match official on the night, keeping order and continuing to referee to an extremely high standard.

A reminder that the Len Lee Pairs Final will be held on Tuesday 3rd June at NSC...

19.30 start, dress code applies.

Father and son combination Jason and Oliver Hudson (Crossgates Rec) defeated Denison Hall's Tony Barker and Lee Morley 188-134 in tonight's Stan Brooke Pairs final. Conceding 4 points per frame the Crossgates' duo lost the first frame by a point but the key point in the match came at the end of the 2nd frame. Level on the brown they gained 12 penalty points and potted the last 4 colours to win by 34 points and take a useful lead into the last frame. The last frame was another close affair but the Denison Hall pair couldn't close the gap and ended up conceding with the colours remaining.
Thanks to our hosts the NSC.

Belle Isle WMC "B" defeated Middleton Cons "A" 5-1 in last nights Windsor Trophy final at Farsley Cons club.
After the first couple of matches Belle Isle were 3-1 up. David Waring (44)beating Richard Aspin(28) 2-0 whilst on the adjoining table Luke Waring(40) and Mark Aspin (18)finished 1-1.
Middleton needed a strong start in the last 2 matches to get back level but nothing went right for them and 2 convincing wins for Shane Waring (36) against Steve Gale(9) and David Summerfield (-3) against Damien Gale(-12) gave Belle Isle an unassailable 5-1 lead.
Congratulations to Belle Isle and thanks to Farsley Cons and to referees Bob Paterson and Paul Marlow.

The draw for the semi-final of the 3 man KO is now live, please see competition tab for more details.

All matches to be played on Wednesday 28th May.

In a rare competitive appearance Howard Brazil defeated Steve Parlour in the final having survived several close frames on route. The plate final was an all Middleton Cons affair, Richard Aspin defeating Peter Hall.
Thanks to all who attended and to our hosts the Northern Snooker Centre.