TRI-NATION BILLIARDS CHALLENGE

20th-21st November 1999

Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Irish Republic

It was a "new look" English team which travelled to Celbridge in defence of their Tri-Nation crown. Due mainly to a late change in the dates for the event, only four of the top ten players in the ranking list could make the journey. This resulted in unexpected call-ups for Paul Dunning, Bill Andress, Richard Lodge and Jim McCann. With so many "new" players it was a superb performance by England to retain their title in what proved to be an exciting conclusion which saw all teams having a chance of victory going into the final session.

Details:

P. Dunning 67	418		V. O'Gorman 111, 57	631
W. Andress 62	572		P. Martin 52	580
P. Welham 87, 68, 67, 59	645		D. Brennan 88, 71	432
S. Crosland	272		A. Murray	413
J. McCann	389		L. Drennan 59	378
D. Nichols 50	544		M. McCrudden	562

England made a bad start to their defence, winning only two games. Paul Dunning was given little chance as Victor O'Gorman played some solid billiards which included a fine break of 111. Also playing in his first match for England, Bill Andress suffered a narrow defeat as he lost out to Phil Martin by just eight points.

Martin McCrudden is tipped to be the Republic's snooker star of the future, and in his match against David Nichols he scored heavily from the red ball to edge another close-fought game, helping the home side to a lead of 12-6 after the first session.

The scoreline could have been a lot worse except for the efforts of Phillip Welham and Jim McCann who held off determined challenges from Dick Brennan and Larry Drennan respectively.

T. Buttimer	124,150		M. McCrudden	150,108
T. Murphy	150,124		D. Brennan 112unf	39,150
D. Pogue 50	94,150		P. Martin	150,130
J. McIntyre	86,150		V. O'Gorman	150,53
D. Elliott 83, 77	150,150		L. Drennan	53,116
P. Donnelly	150,150		A. Muir	101,61

The Northern Ireland side also had a few changes from last year, with new caps for Tommy Murphy (a former snooker professional from Newtownards), Frank Trainor from Belfast and Eugene Rogan of Bangor. Their top two players, Davy Elliott and Paddy Donnelly were the mainstay of the match against the Republic, both taking the full two points from their games while all the others finished level. Dick Brennan impressed for the Republic, making a break of 122 unfinished in his second game against Murphy.

J. McCann 70, 66	442		P. Donnelly 132	383
S. Crosland 75, 54, 53	715		E. Rogan 56	400
R. Lodge 88, 73, 50	675		F. Trainer	225
G. Rogers 61, 60	354		D. Elliott 105, 72, 72, 58	654
P. Welham 89, 64	629		T. Buttimer 60, 53	503
D. Nichol 107	419		J. McIntyre 98, 75, 50	523

Paddy Donnelly again looked in good form against England newcomer Jim McCann, putting together the highest break of the competition with a run of 132. Undaunted, McCann responded with some fine tactical play to record an excellent victory. Another century maker to finish on the losing side was David Nichol. His run of 105 being more than adequately countered by breaks of 98, 75 and 50 from John McIntyre. In the battle of the debutantes, Richard Lodge scored heavily to overcome Frank Trainor and take the points for England. With good performances evident throughout the England squad, this useful 12-6 result helped them into an overall lead of just two points at the end of the first day.

D. Nichols 62	111,150		P. Donnelly	150,125
P. Dunning	124,142		E. Rogan	150,150
G. Rogers	150,150		D. Pogue	106,127
R. Lodge	150,122		D. Elliott	113,150
S. Crosland 95, 121	150,150		T. Buttimer	43,28
W. Andress	101,141		J. McIntyre	150,150

The contest resumed at 11.00am on Sunday morning with England's second match against Northern Ireland. Paul Dunning looked set to register his first win in his second game against Eugene Rogan. However, a timely fluke by Rogan gave him an opening, and he held his nerve to accumulate the 38 points he needed to win.

Stephen Crosland recovered from his slow start to the competition, to produce breaks of 95 and 121, giving Tony Buttimer no chance. David Nichols achieved his first success of the competition in some style. With Donnelly looking poised to take the second game, Nichols put together a fine run of 62 to snatch an important point from the Irish No.2. Gary Rogers also recorded his first wins as an international player, taking two hard-fought games from Davy Pogue.

Rogers and Crosland recorded "double" victories for England, but Rogan and McIntyre did the same for Northern Ireland, making sure that the scores finished level at six apiece.

R. Lodge 60	33,150		V. O´Gorman 88, 108	150,140
J. McCann 62, 59	150,135		P. Martin	108,150
G. Rogers	66,150		D. Brennan	150,105
P. Welham 66, 59unf	150,150		A. Murray	23,145
W. Andress 70	150,150		L. Drennan 74	129,131
P. Dunning 96, 64	150,150		M. McCrudden	56,33

Paul Dunning, who had been suffering from a dreadful run of the ball throughout the competition, must have felt this match against McCrudden was going the same way as the others when his opponent put together a useful run of 38 from a fluke. His response, a break of 95, was therefore all the more impressive, and as things at last started to go his way, he secured two vital points for England.

Richard Lodge, having lost his first game to a break of 88 by Victor O'Gorman, was facing an equally bleak prospect in the second when O'Gorman made a run of 108. However, Lodge responded with a fine break of 60 to take the game and earn a share of the spoils.

Another close finish was provided by Phillip Welham. His unfinished break of 59 was enough to take the second game from Aidan Murray by just 5 points, retaining his unbeaten record in the process. With Bill Andress also winning his first games of the tournament— despite a break of 74 by Larry Drennan—the English finished their competition with an impressive 9-3 win. This put them thirteen points ahead of Northern Ireland with the Republic one point behind them.

M. McCrudden 51	372		P. Donnelly 103, 96, 51, 50	788
D. Brennan	251		D. Elliott 118, 89, 85, 58, 51	882
P. Martin	463		J. McIntyre	386
V. O´Gorman 81, 53	538		D. Pogue 75	459
L. Drennan	484		T. Murphy	304
A. Murray 87, 60	401		T. Buttimer 58, 53	408

The England team could only watch as with 18 points at stake, they knew that a big win by one or other of the Irish teams would see the end of their reign as Tri-Nation Champions.

Paddy Donnelly and David Elliott were in superb form for the Ulstermen, but with Martin, O'Gorman and Drennan taking the points for the Republic, it ensured that neither team would achieve the margin of victory they needed. Even a reverse of the close finish between Murray and Buttimer would not have affected the overall result.

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