ROE SAVES HIS BEST FOR FINAL STAGES
Peterborough pool player John Roe took part in the National Amateur singles event at Great Yarmouth over the 1st , 2nd and 3rd of October 2009 and proves to be a true Champion.
With the competition starting at 5pm on Thursday evening John set off on his quest with a comfortable 6 - 2 win over Bedfordshire’s Mark Price. Recommencing at 9am on the Friday he obviously slept well dispatching his opponent 6-1. Although he wasn’t fully happy with his overall play his third round opponent Dave Arstall was equally dealt with 6-3 with signs of Roe’s ’A’ game coming to the table.
As the competition moved into the last 64 John’s experience and ability saw off the challenge of Gary Mitchell 6-4 to progress to the business end of the event.
With all tournament’s the last 32 saw the thoroughbred players draw each other and as some of the favourites for the title fell by the way side John clinched an important confidence boosting 6-4 win against up and coming youngster Tom Kennedy.
Roe’s last 16 opponent was ex England international and seasoned amateur Dean Wisher from London. John was certainly peaking at the right time disposing of Wisher emphatically by 6 frames to 2. By now John was fully in his stride like a true Champion his performances were getting better and better each round.
His quarterfinal challenge came in the shape of Liam Stanley recently qualifying for the England Squad he too would prove a testing opponent. With a 7-3 win John was in full flow now. I’m sure John would have preferred to continue playing Friday but the semi final and final were scheduled for Saturday evening.
This gave John the opportunity to join his team mates from Peterborough in the National Interleague Knockout Cup finals. Helping to secure the teams place in the last 16 he returned to singles action and a mouth watering clash with Jack Popple of London.
John certainly had his eye in by now racing to a 4-0 lead leaving Popple wondering what he had to do to stop the torrent Roe was creating.
Digging deep and producing some awesome play Popple narrowed the lead to two frames at 6-4 but John showed huge composure and skill to collect the 7th and vital frame to clinch a 7-4 victory.
Roe’s opponent in the final was clearly going to be a tough challenge as James Croxton from Stoke comes from the Stable which has produced the likes of 3 times World Champion Gareth Potts, England Captain Lee Kendall and fellow international Adam Davies.
Trading early frames John managed to take a lead of two frames and then with score moving onto 7-4 in favour of the city cueist, Croxton fired in two frames to make it 7-6. Needing 8 to clinch the title John capitilised on an uncharacteristic error from Croxton to claim the title of 2009 National Amateur Singles Champion 8-6.
In front of a packed arena and supported by his team mates from Peterborough John collected his trophy and prize fund of £1400.
John then returned to action in the team to assist them through to a last 8 place in the National Knockout Cup.
Peterborough Interleague Team hold their heads high in National Finals
October the 3rd and 4th 2009 saw nine cueist from Peterborough set off for the National Interleague Finals in Great Yarmouth.
The Team captained by Ady Bonsor contained John Roe, Liam Ayres, John Autcherlonie, Gary Eldred, Michael Defraine, Ashley Ground, Lee McShane and Andy Mear.
In the initial group stage the City side clinched a 12-6 win to get themselves well and truly into the tournament. Their defeated opponents Fritchley from Derbyshire then defeated Deal ‘A’ from Kent 11-7 leaving Peterborough the simplest of tasks of needing just 7 frames against Deal to clinch a place in the last 32. They did this with loss of just two frames and stepped into the knockout stages and a match against Stoke based Afford.
With the team now into their stride and past the banana skin which is the group stage they secured a 10-7 win over the Stoke team to set up a 9am Sunday morning clash with previous winners Reds Elite.
Having watched their Team Mate John Roe clinch the Amateur Singles title and a good nights sleep they were clearly instilled with confidence as they crushed their challengers 10-4 to move them in to the last 8.
With favourites in the form of Trent trophies (Stoke), Leicester and JFK’s of London all crashing out around them the draw was opening up for all of the last 8 teams.
The City sides opponents in the quarter finals were Netherthorpe of Sheffield and in what was a keenly fought contest found themselves 5-4 down at half way. The Sheffield side then forged into a 7-4 lead. Peterborough fought back to lead 8-7. With a controversial time foul called against Defraine the steel city team levelled at 8 all.
Andy Mear and Gary Eldred took to the tables and with Mear missing his last but one yellow in the middle pocket it left Gary to secure the draw with a nerveless performance.
This took the match into a 3 man playoff. All three games played simultaneously the twist and turns were unbearable for both sides.
John Roe won on table 1 with an impressive clearance after an error from his opponent.
John Autcherlonie lost on table two and to be fair never stood a chance after his opponent’s break left him fully in control.
Captain Ady Bonsor was looking good in his frame and cleared to the black with emphatic style only to rattle the black in the corner bag from an awkward angle. Then a safety shot which just didn’t quite reach its destination allowed his opponent to clinch an 11-10 win and Peterborough players wondering what if.
Ever positive in his reflection of the weekend Captain Bonsor said ‘ seeing all the sides with professionals and international players crashing out only goes to prove that my side showed that playing solid and positive pool throughout the weekend counts for an awful lot. I’m proud of our achievement’s and albeit for fine margins a semi final berth was not beyond us and the team can certainly hold their heads high.’
Ady, John Roe, Gary Eldred, Ashley Ground, Michael Defraine and Andy Mear return to action for