Report submitted by Ray Pugh

THE first round of the Kidderminster Snooker Championship Cup – an aggregate score no handicap competition – has got underway.

The first match was between Pockets 'C' and St Georges. The first frame was evenly contested but in the second frame Lee Page of St Georges took the match away Pockets with a score of 131 points. In the next frame Pockets fate was sealed when Azim Rias won by almost 60 points. St Georges won by 357 points to 160. The second match was between Pockets 'S' and Franche. The first frame went to Pockets with Charles Newey scoring 65 points. This proved to be the theme of this match with Pockets winning frame after frame. The final score was Pockets 'S' 408 Franche 121.

The third match saw an all Pockets encounter with the 'B' side taking on the 'D' side. The first frame was won by the 'B' side with Rich Pepperall scoring 98 points. When the second frame also went to the 'B' side with Paul Crisp scoring 84 the fate of the 'D' was sealed. Although they took the next frame through Paul Carter they never really got back into the match ending with a total score of 156 against the 'B' sides 357. The fourth match saw Chester Road taking on Workmans 'B'. Chester road won the first frame through Neil Chapman with a score of 71. Aidy Palmer of Workmans then won with a score of 67 putting Workmans 2 points in the lead. In the third frame Ray Pugh of Chester Road scored 65. Graham Joynes of Chester Road won the fourth frame giving the Chester Road side a 73 point lead going into the final doubles frame. Although Workmans won this frame they did not score enough and the match ended 259 to Chester Road and 198 to Workmans.

In the fifth match St Johns 'D' took on Wribbenhall. The first frame was drawn on 58 points each. This proved to be the high point for the St John's team as they lost the rest of the frames and therefore the match. The stand out performance being that of Gary Smith who had a 39 break and a 22 clearance in his score of 86. The sixth match was another all Pockets confrontation between the 'A' team and the 'G' team. The first frame went to the 'G' side with Gavin Evans scoring 71 including a 38 break. The second frame went to the 'A' side with Craig Homer scoring 85 points. The third frame was won by 'G' side by only 2 points. This going into the final two frames the 'A' side were only 32 points in front. The 'A' sides Steve Wright won this frame with a score of 65 including a 36 break. In the doubles frame the 'A' sides pair of Jay Shuck and Craig Homer took the frame away from the 'G' side scoring 78 points and ending the match 308 points to the 'A' side and 158 points to the 'G' side.

The seventh match was between Workmans 'A' and St Johns 'E'. The first frame saw St Johns take an early 4 point lead through James Allington. The second and third frames went St Johns way with Martin Lippitt and Pat Keen both winning. This put St Johns into a 60 point lead. Workmans pulled this lead back in the next frame when Gavin Brown won, thus going into the final doubles frame St Johns lead was only 26. Although the Workmans pair of Rod Thomson and Gavin Brown won the frame it was only by 7 points, so in a tightly fought encounter St Johns went through 233 points playing 214 points. In the final match of this round there was another all Pockets clash with the 'E' side taking on the 'H' side. The first frame was very close with John Costello of the 'H' side just scarping a 5 point win. In the second frame Darren Rose of the 'E'side won scoring 63 points, but in the third frame Andy Smith of the 'E' side took control scoring 101 points and putting them 99 points in the lead. The 'H' side tried to come back winning the last singles frame through Rich Summers but in the doubkes frame they were easily beaten by Andy Smith and John Bettoin of the 'E' side scoring 131 points. Thus the match finished 381 to the 'E' side and 171 to the 'H' side.

The next round of matches will be played on November 13 following the draw which will be announced by Sunday, October 29.