The Prebendal Manor Trophy is our club’s annual internal AC Handicap competition. After Group stages and then quarter-finals, lasting through the summer, today saw the semi-finals and Finals matches take place in predominantly glorious sunshine.
The two semi-finals took place in the morning. Duncan’s didn’t last long: using his bisques effectively, he completed an 18-0 rout against Joe King. Joe only had 3 shots all match, all of which were long-range. The semi-final on the other court between Peter Allan and David Long was much tighter: a 10-hoop break in the middle of the game swung it in Peter’s favour, as he won 18-15.
In the afternoon, Joe beat David to 3rd-place with a 26-15 victory, finishing the match with a 14-point break (10 hoops, 2 peels, and pegging out both balls).
But all eyes were on the Final, where Duncan had quickly established a 12-0 lead – taking his yellow up to the peg before Peter had scored his first hoop. However, Peter fought back with a resolute 12-hoop break of his own before pegging out Duncan’s yellow and establishing a narrow lead. It was nip and tuck but, with Peter leading 16-15, Duncan got in again and was able to set up an almost-impeccable 3-ball break. Almost. After running his final hoop with the score at 25-16, Duncan then missed a 10′ roquet to give Peter one unexpected last chance. Peter made two hoops and seemed to be getting into his stride, but then disaster struck as his ball stuck in the jaws of 1-back.
Duncan’s ball was 20′ from the peg, but his aim was true… and so he won the Final 26-18, to receive the trophy from Joe (below). Commiserations, Peter, but congratulations, Duncan.
