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The Amateur Billiard Player : May 2001

ENGLAND v. NTH. IRELAND

NE Derbyshire SC, Clay Cross (Saturday 27th-28th January 2001)

The annual International match between England and Northern Ireland was hosted by England at the North-east Derbyshire SC, Clay Cross, over the week-end of 27th-28th January. The match was, as usual, a mixture of 500-up (3 points) and 3 x 150-up (1 point per game) with pairings made against the relative ranking order for the respective countries.

Photo of (4k)
Clive Scott (left) presents the “Friendly Cup” to Derick Townend.

English No.1, Lee Lagan did not take part and his place was taken by the No.9 ranked Tony James. As it transpired, Lagan's skills were not required as England romped to a 41-7 victory against an uncharacteristically lack-lustre Irish side. Lagan's substitute, Tony James, could not have done better, winning all his games for a personal contribution of six points to the overall match-score

The top break of the event came from Dave Nichols, who made a run of 122 in his 500-up game against John McIntyre, but probably the best English performance was produced by Stephen Crosland. In winning his three 150-up games against Davy Pogue he made breaks of 56 & 54unf; 74 & 61unf; and 91.

By the end of the first two sessions on Saturday, England had established an invincible lead of 31-5 making the final session on Sunday morning something of an anti-climax. During this period Ireland managed to pick up a couple of points from the short games, with the remainder going to increase England's margin of victory. Richard Lodge, who had been the only English player to lose in the 500-up games, showed some good hazard play in the 150-up format, completing one of these with breaks of 99 and 52 unfinished.

Jimmy V. McLaughlin's three points for his win over Richard Lodge in the 500-up games made him the most successful Irish player. However, in his closing speech, John McIntyre (President of the Northern Ireland Billiards Control Council) promised that England would find it a "different story" when they travelled to Belfast next year. It was also hoped that the Irish would be able to field a Junior squad for this fixture, the event having been abandoned this year.

Full results (English names first):
500-up (3 points per game): Stephen Crosland (89) 500, Paddy Donnelly (65, 51) 475; Phil Welham (92) 500, Davy Pogue 259; Dave Nichols (122, 57, 50) 500, John McIntyre 163; Richard Lodge (50) 440, Jimmy V. McLaughlin (77) 500; David Rees (75, 50) 500, Sammy Clarke 200; Gary Rogers (67, 67) 500, Freddie Cahoon 297; Peter Shelley (98, 55) 500, Tommy Murphy (50) 450; Tony James 500, Eugene Rogan 486;
3 x 150-up (1 point per game): Phil Welham 150 (82), 114, 150 Paddy Donnelly 95 (50), 150 (50), 69; Stephen Crosland 150 (56, 54unf), 150 (74, 61unf), 150 (91) Davy Pogue 31, 101, 27; David Rees 150, 150, 150 (89unf) Jimmy V. McLaughlin 76, 142 (55), 21; Tony James 150 (56), 150 (93), 150 Freddie Cahoon 20, 92, 39; Gary Rogers 150, 46, 150 (51) Eugene Rogan 60, 150 (63), 71; Dave Nichols 150, 150 (53unf), 150 Tommy Murphy 21, 44, 41; Peter Shelley 150 (55), 150 (59), 117 John McIntyre 75, 45, 150; Richard Lodge 143, 150 (67), 150 (99, 52unf) Sammy Clarke 150 (54), 58, 13;
Final Match Score: England 41, Northern Ireland 7