Rarely in the sports of snooker and billiards do the matches go "down to the wire" in the literal sense, but in recent weeks two of our representatives have had their title matches do just this.

Les Higgins journeyed back to the Launceston Working Men's Club on June 16 to do battle with Graeme Pickett for the Tasmanian Billiards Championship, to be played over two three-hour sessions. The match turned out to be a classic confrontation between two of the masters of the game and with only minutes remaining the outcome was not clear. Graeme, who is probably better known as a snooker player, is a gifted billiards player. He can pot and build breaks with the best of them and rarely changes expression, whether in front or behind.
      At various times both Les and Graeme appeared to have the match well in hand. Les had an advantage of more than 100, only to see Graeme pull him back and take the initiative. Graeme then went out to a substantial lead. He had to sit through a frustrating period while Les systematically made inroads into the deficit, finishing on the plus side. At the end of five hours and 59 minutes the match was up for grabs, the scores being tied. With only seconds remaining Les played a non-scoring shot which, he hoped, would take off whatever time remained on the clock, sending the match into overtime. Graeme leapt out of his seat, grabbed a rest, lined up his ball and waited, with some trepidation, for Les' ball to come to rest. As Graeme's ball rolled down the table the clock went off, it struck Les' ball and went in off. A jubilant Graeme had won the match by two points. A heart-stopping finish to a fantastic match. Our congratulations to both players for a wonderful day's billiards, which kept the large crowd both entertained and enthralled.

The Southern Tasmanian Men's Snooker Championship was conducted over the weekend of July 7 and 8, the final played on Tuesday, July 10, at the Lindisfarne RSL and Citizen's Club.

Round robin matches were played as the best of five frames, semi finals as the best of nine and the final over eleven (11).

Group A round robin results:
Les Higgins (best break 34 clearance) d Barry Milburn 3-0 (66-32, 63-55, 56-42).
Gregg Watt (52, 50) d Russ McGifford 3-2 (48-61, 105-8, 47-54, 88-24, 69-18).
Gregg Watt d Matthew Lynch (forfeit) 3-0.
Wayne Stokes d Barry Milburn 3-0 (58-45, 60-11, 62-1).
Barry Milburn d Matthew Lynch 3-2 (20-62, 60-14, 11-70, 62-35, 62-50).
Les Higgins d Wayne Stokes 3-1 (64-38, 25-62, 66-55, 80-26).
Wayne Stokes d Russ McGifford 3-0 (71-21, 71-27, 75-42).
Gregg Watt d Barry Milburn 3-1 (70-36, 12-67, 76-9, 66-35).
Les Higgins (57, 39, 51, 57) d Matthew Lynch 3-0 (120-5, 118-6, 43-20).
Gregg Watt (70) d Wayne Stokes 3-0 (64-24, 67-10, 88-44).
Matthew Lynch v Russ McGifford (match reduced to best of three -- not played by mutual agreement).
Les Higgins (33, 30) d Russ McGifford 3-0 (56-28, 74-22, 48-40).
Wayne Stokes d Matthew Lynch 3-0 (53-1, 59-29, 52-3).
Barry Milburn v Russ McGifford (match reduced to best of three -- not played by mutual agreement).
Greg Watt (49) d Les Higgins (41) 3-2 (25-64, 63-50, 61-37, 21-73, 61-54).

Group B round robin results:
Brendon Milburn d Marcus Watt 3-0 (71-32, 70-44, 71-17).
Julien Long d Greg Gard 3-0. (62-41, 44-33, 62-32).
Phil Bailey d Greg Gard 3-2 (86-23, 60-36, 50-58, 40-51, 78-29).
Julien Long (64) d Brendon Milburn (51) 3-2 (83-13, 42-71, 50-39, 24-62, 73-11).
Phil Bailey (49) d Marcus Watt 3-1 (31-50, 88-8, 89-4, 60-21).
Brendon Milburn (40, 49) d Greg Gard 3-1 (59-43, 24-72, 56-45, 66-39).
Phil Bailey d Julien Long 3-2 (21-64, 72-37, 51-18, 40-64, 35-19).
Phil Bailey (28) d Brendon Milburn (32, 42) 3-2 (49-66, 42-51, 70-42, 85-58, 77-5).
Greg Gard d Marcus Watt 3-1 (65-58, 74-52, 57-65, 59-51).
Julien Long d Marcus Watt 3-0 (63-36, 74-18, 63-17).

Semi Finals (Sunday, July 8):
Phil Bailey (52, 57) d Les Higgins (36) 5-2 (60-43, 68-54, 69-7, 28-78, 87-33, 57-76, 70-30).
Gregg Watt (36, 47, 40) d Julien Long 5-1 (73-44, 71-23, 9-63, 69-25, 51-39, 77-8).

The result of these matches set up a what proved to be a magnificent final over the best of 11 frames on the Tuesday night between Phil Bailey, the reigning Southern champion, and Gregg Watt, the current Tasmanian champion.
      With a large crowd in attendance the match got underway promptly at 6.30 pm and from the outset it was apparent we were in for a fascinating evening of snooker. Gregg went out to a 2-0 lead with some brilliant potting, including a break of 73, and Phil appeared to be in trouble. Phil comfortably won the third frame but lost the fourth. Showing all the qualities that had gained him the championship trophy the year before he then won two in succession to go to the break all square (3-3). Gregg began the second session like he had the first. A break of 48 enabled him to take the first (seventh) frame 69-35 and he followed this with a magnificent break of 76 in the second to overwhelm Phil 77-1. Undaunted, Phil showed his class and fighting spirit by claiming frames three and four (in which he scored a very handy 32), which squared the match at 5-5. The Southern title would then be decided by a one-frame shoot-out. The final frame (approximately 40 minutes) was played in absolute silence. Gregg eventually gained the upper hand, particularly on the colours, winning the frame (62-24) and the match (6-5).

First session scores (six frames):

Phil Bailey	40	10	59	22	54	62
Gregg Watt	50	101	4	75	43	58

Second session scores (five frames):

Phil Bailey	35	1	72	63	24
Gregg Watt	50	101	4	75	43

The Association acknowledges the assistance of those who refereed and acted as scorers throughout the championship, particularly the players who had played in the earlier rounds, and all those who made themselves available for the duration. Our thanks also to the Lindisfarne RSL and Citizen's Club for the use of their tables and premises for the championship. To all who attended, particularly on the Tuesday night, our heartfelt thanks.

Pam Robertson has proved once again what a force she is in women's snooker, particularly in the South, winning her sixteenth Southern Tasmanian Women's Snooker title.

Played at the Claremont RSL during the weekend of July 21-22, it was clear from the outset that Pam would be the player to beat. Nine players entered for the event, with Pam being seeded at one and Dencil McGifford, last year's runner-up, seeded two. Group A consisted of (seeding in brackets) Pam Robertson (1), Jo Wheelton (4), Wendy Morris (5), Christine Nichols (8) and Jane Orpwood (9). Dencil McGifford (2), Miranda Jamieson (3), Lisa Lush (6) and Carryn Royle (7) represented group B. The round robin section of the championship was played as the best of three frames, semi finals the best of seven and the final the best of nine. Pam got an early scare when Jane took the first frame in their match, but once she hit her straps proved to be unbeatable. That proved to be the only frame she lost during the weekend. Dencil McGifford suffered a setback in her match against Carryn Royle, losing 0-2, and this, ultimately, cost her a place in the semi finals.

Group A round robin (best of three frames):
Pam Robertson d Jane Orpwood 2-1 (49-59, 54-29, 56-17).
Jo Wheelton lost to Wendy Morris 0-2 (23-44, 62-70).
Pam Robertson d Christine Nichols 2-0 (52-14, 47-26).
Wendy Morris lost to Jane Orpwood 0-2 (20-63, 13-46).
Jo Wheelton d Christine Nichols 2-0 (64-24, 47-36).
Pam Robertson d Wendy Morris 2-0 (46-14, 86-15).
Wendy Morris d Christine Nichols 2-0 (56-43, 67-11).
Jo Wheelton lost to Jane Orpwood 0-2 (51-52, 7-81).
Pam Robertson d Jo Wheelton 2-0 (65-25, 61-27).
Christine Nichols v Jane Orpwood (by consent not played).

Group B round robin:
Miranda Jamieson (20, 30) d Lisa Lush 2-0 (49-9, 67-13).
Dencil McGifford lost to Carryn Royle (22) 0-2 (48-61, 55-67).
Dencil McGifford d Lisa Lush 2-1 (20-54, 62-20, 53-16).
Miranda Jamieson (22 clearance) d Carryn Royle 2-0 (55-44, 51-21).
Carryn Royle d Lisa Lush 2-1 (41-59, 44-36, 47-21).
Dencil McGifford d Miranda Jamieson 2-1 (55-46, 26-50, 56-15).

Semi Finals (best of seven frames), Sunday, July 22:

Pam Robertson	52	69	59	58	4-0
Carryn Royle	13	17	23	42	0-4

Jane Orpwood	34	21	31	19	0-4
Miranda Jamieson	42	65	57	56	4-0

Final (best of nine frames):

Pam Robertson	44	57	47	53	49	5-0
Miranda Jamieson	36	39	35	36	10	0-5

As Tournament Director for this event I would like to publicly thank the following:
* Claremont RSL President, Committee and staff for their support during this event.
* Robert Higgins, for his excellent documentation.
Special thanks to: Phil Bailey, Tommy Watson, Tony Cannan, Steve Cowie, Terry Collins, Gregg Watt, Phil Dando, Graeme Beechey, Dallas Nichols, John Toogood. Thanks also to the competitors who volunteered and assisted with scoring and refereeing duties; it made my job so much easier. This was the easiest tournament, to date, to run that I have been involved in. We had more personnel than required for each round of the competition, which resulted in no one having to carry more than their fair share of the load. For that I thank you, both personally and on behalf of the Association.

The Tasmanian Association allocated four places to the Southern Tasmanian Billiards and Snooker Association for the State championship. Those selected to represent the STB&SA are: Pam Robertson, Miranda Jamieson, Jane Orpwood and Carryn Royle. Good luck and our best wishes to you all.

Please note: Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Board or the Association.

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