The Gordon Lewis Scratch Billiards Championship

MAIN FINAL
 

John Mullane 4-1 Daniel Zagaroli

The Gordon Lewis memorial scratch billiards final held at Churchills Eastleigh, Wednesday 22 April 7.30pm. Best of 7 x 100up.
John Mullane (yellow ball) v Daniel Zagaroli (white ball)

Game 1
John started game 1 and had the scores at 22-21 in his favour in the first few minutes. Then John made a top-of-the-table 19, moved away, and carried on to a marvellous all-round play 78 unfinished break to win the first game 100-21.

Game 2
The game reached 24-29 in Daniel’s favour, and he stretched that lead to 24-62. John then made a superb 68, losing Daniel’s white, then missing a long in-off red, to lead 92-62. Daniel had other ideas though, as he demonstrated his skill and nerve by crafting a fantastic 38 unfinished to pinch the game 100-92!

Game 3
1-1 and the match was warming up! Game 3 cued-off with John starting. Daniel carried on from where he left off in game 2 by making a 39 break, but missed a pot red off the top spot when looking settled, to lead 47-2. He then made a 35 break, but missed a relatively easy cannon to gain an 82-2 lead. John required something special not to go 2-1 down. And he responded with an excellent 68 break, mixed with his trade mark top-of-the-table and all round middle pocket loser pattern of shots. 74-82 to Daniel and the game was in the balance. Daniel however could only score another 8 points as John made a game winning 27 unfinished to lead 2-1.

Game 4
John made a 27, missing a drop cannon from in-hand. John then returned to make a 41, mixed with top-of-the-table pots and cannons and some inventive recovery cannons when moving away from the top, to lead 68-10. John made a 13 to get within touching distance of the 100 points mark, 81-10. A few mistakes crept in as tension grew. Daniel made 15 and John made 13 to lead 94-25. Daniel then made 5 and John made 5, leaving the scores at 99-30! John then duly finished to win 100-30.

Game 5
This started with John making a 38, breaking down on a long pot red. Daniel could only muster 7 and John responded with a 31, missing a pot red at the top to lead 69-7. Daniel gamely replied with 29 at the top, making a total of 31, but missing a long in-off to trail 69-38. John then replied with a 23 to lead 92-38, needing only 8 points for the championship. Daniel looked as if he would take the match to a sixth game as he made 18, but broke down to trail 92-56. This let John in to make an unfinished 9 to win by 100-56 and take the Championship Trophy. Congratulations to John and commiserations to Daniel.

Thanks go to Churchills Eastleigh for providing the match table, Churchill’s Jerry Warren for refereeing all five games and Churchill’s Paul Adams for marking / scores and the match report.

Game 1
John 100 (78 unf) - Danny 21

Game 2
John 92 (68) - Daniel 100 (38 unf)

Game 3
John 100 (68, 27 unf) - Daniel 90 (39, 35)

Game 4
John 100 (41) - Daniel 30

Game 5
John 100 (38, 31) - Daniel 56 (31)