Congratulations go to Park Gate Royal British Legion who have won Southampton Billiard League’s prestigious Usher Cup Team Billiards Handicap, after defeating Chandlers Ford Central in the final played at Shirley Cons.

Park Gate’s Chris Christodoulou (rec +85) was drawn against Chandler’s captain Terry Azor (rec -100), and started well, as he made a 19 break off of Azor’s break. Azor, not playing on his normal practice table – the table opposite, found it hard to get to grips with the ‘not so true’ second table and ended up losing by 200 points to nil after the handicaps were taken into account.

On the other table, Chandler’s Ray Smith (rec +90) made good progress initially, and having given Park Gate’s Chris Pullen (rec +115) 25 points start, soon caught him up. However, with some encouragement from his teammates, Pullen made a couple of 15 breaks to eventually prevail by 35 points, 200-165.

This was making the team aggregate points total final tough for Chandlers to come back, as they trailed by 235 points after just two games. Park Gate’s Paul Tavender (rec +85) was drawn against Chandler’s Satpal Hans (rec +50). Both players traded a few 15+ breaks and it was nip and tuck until Tavender ran out with a 19 break to win by 15 points, 200-185.

Chandlers Ford’s newcomer Graham Hollick (rec +75) who played some encouraging shots, tried his hardest to stop Paul Lawrence (rec +20), but Lawrence won comfortably in the end 200-144.

Chandler’s Daniel Zagaroli (rec -170) played against Mark Stansmore (rec +75) in the last game, (which was really a ‘dead rubber’ as Park Gate led by too much by then) and treated the watching spectators to a billiards master class as he made breaks of 63, 65, 33, and a 53 unfinished to beat his opponent, who played well himself, by 25 points. Well done to Park Gate!

Park Gate RBL 975 points - Chandlers Ford Central 694

TERRY AZOR 0 v CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU 200
RAY SMITH 165 v CHRIS PULLEN 200
SAPEL HANS 185 v PAUL TAVENDER 200
GRAHAM HOLLICK 144 v PAUL LAWRENCE 200
DANIEL ZAGAROLI 200 v MARK STANSMORE 175

BREAKS: PAUL LAWRENCE 31, DANIEL ZAGAROLI 63, 65, 33, 53 unf