It’s coming home!

This year’s Yorkshire Team Knockout competition was won by a team representing our hosts and sponsors, the Northern Snooker Centre. Led by Stephen Broadhead and supported by Lewis Harper and Peter Lines, NSC “B” defeated Huddersfield 4-2 in a close-fought final. The Huddersfield team was made up entirely of Read family members. Captain Oliver was assisted by brother Jake and dad Robert.

It was clear from the outset that the competition would be too close to call, 6 of the first 8 group matches ended 3-3, and only one team emerged from the group stage with 3 wins.

Group A was won by last year’s winners, Harrogate “1,” who pipped Morley WMC by virtue of a better frame win percentage.

Group B was even closer, NSC “B” and Belle Isle finishing exactly level, NSC “B” going through on the high break rule.

Group C was another one decided by frame win%, Huddersfield just pushing Hull into 2nd place.

Group D was the only group which produced clear-cut winners, Hanging Heaton winning all their matches.

The first semi-final featured NSC”B” against Harrogate “1”.

Callum Waite took both frames for Harrogate, with Lewis Harper responding for NSC. Peter Lines won a close first frame against Kaif Shazad but when Shazad took a 40-point lead in the second frame a decider looked likely.
Lines fought back and there was only a couple pf points in it on the colours. Shazad took green, brown and blue but left himself awkward on the pink and the chance was lost. Lines took pink and after a bout of excellent safety from both players, it was the NSC player who finally emerged victorious.

The other semi was even closer. Michael Whaley took both frames for Hanging Heaton, with Oliver Read replying for Huddersfield. Robert Read won his first frame against Wayne Cooper and when he went 40 points in front on the green in the second the match looked all over. If this had been an individual competition, Cooper may well have conceded at this point but team games are different and amazingly 3 snookers and a free ball later he was in a position to pot blue, pink and black to level the match.

Robert Read returned to play the decider against Michael Whaley, and to his credit he shrugged off his disappointment of the previous frame and played a rock-solid game, a couple of 30-odd breaks eventually putting his team in the final.

In the final, Robert Read continued his impressive form, beating Lewis Harper whilst on the match table, Peter Lines was hitting back for NSC. So the final hinged on the match-up between captains Stephen Broadhead and Oliver Read. Broadhead took the first frame, and a 38 break put him in command of the second. Oliver came back and it went down to the last four colours, Broadhead potting a pressure brown, followed by blue and pink to take frame, match and title for his side.

Michael Whaley took the high break prize with a run of 83.

Thanks to all who attended, it was especially nice to see a couple of teams representing the east of the county, and of course thanks as always to our hosts and sponsors the NSC.

Paul Marlow
General Secretary & Tournament Director

Peter Lines (NSC) vs Jake Read

Oliver Read vs Stephen Broadhead (NSC)

Robert Read vs Lewis Harper (NSC)