The Intrim Trophy quarter-finals were completed this week with a couple of upsets to make life interesting, writes GREEN BAIZE.

Workington’s John Street cueists brothers Peter and Steven O’Hagan were up against each other in the first tie.

It was younger brother Steven who got off to the better start with a break of 30 to take the opening frame.

Peter, last season's runner-up to Workington's Alan Moore in this competition, replied by taking the second frame comfortably with the aid of a 38 break.

A tight third saw Steven re-take the lead with a black-ball win before Peter levelled the tie at 2-2 with a close fought fourth frame.

With all to play for between the two twice county doubles winners it was Steven who battled back from behind to compile a frame winning clearance of 32 to take the match and upset the odds.

Former Intrim title holder Robert Sim of Whitehaven coasted through in his tie against club colleague Dave Atkinson of Division One, booking his place in the semi-finals with a comfortable 3-0 victory over the first time entrant.

Sim compiled solid breaks of 64, 46, 45 and 40 along the way.

The remaining two quarter-final ties saw Division One players overcome the challenges of premiership opposition.

Clifton’s Richard Nelson repeated his league result from the previous week against Maryport’s Mike Park after losing a tight opening frame.

Nelson hit back with comfortable victories in the next two frames, including a 38 break in the third, but Park dug deep again to win a comfortable fourth and square the tie at 2-2.

Nelson, however, got himself out in front and maintained his advantage to book himself into the last four.

Also from Division One Keswick’s Chris D’Leny had the challenge of Workington’s Ryan Adams to contend with. Adams had unfortunately been forced to withdraw from league fixtures late last year.

D’Leny started well and compiled a 38 break to take the first frame. The Derwent Club player then stretched his lead to 2-0 before Adams pegged the match back to 2-1.

D’Leny kept up the pace in the fourth to close out the tie 3-1 and join divisional colleague Nelson in the semis.

The semi-finals leave two premiership and two first division players to be drawn out on Monday night for a chance to book their finals place on presentation night, Tuesday 11th May. The venue will be voted upon by league members upon completion of the semi-final ties.

In the montage at the top, the four players are (clockwise from top left) - Chris D'Leny, Richard Nelson, Steve O'Hagan and Robert Sim.

There were a number of league fixtures completed, too, over the past week with premiership front-runner Sim tightening his grip on another Eddie Shimmings title when he was challenged by Workington’s Mark Tunstall.

Sim played himself into a 3-0 lead to secure the win bonus although the second frame was on the black and Sim compiled his second highest break of the season with an excellent 94 in the third. Tunstall claimed the fourth before a further break of 71 sealed a 4-1 win for Sim.

The in-form Steven O’Hagan had a battle on his hands as he squeezed through 3-2 against Nelson with all five frames being very tight. The match could have gone either way.

Whitehaven’s Ryan Henry collected two recent victories to promote himself into the lead at the top of Division One on number of matches won as he defeated Workington’s Dave Chapman 3-2, including a 31 break in the second frame.

The Marchon cueist then went on to beat club colleague Dave Atkinson by a useful 4-1 score-line including a 40 break in the final frame.

Atkinson did, however, have the consolation of repeating that score-line in his favour when taking on Clifton’s Gary Mattinson. Atkinson continues to improve his divisional status as he begins to slowly climb the table and has now won three of his last four league fixtures.

League standings week 11:

EDDIE SHIMMINGS PREMIERSHIP
           
  Pl W L F A Pts
R. Sim 10 10 0 44 6 54
S. O'Hagan 10 8 2 32 18 40
P. O'Hagan 8 7 1 30 10 37
M. Tunstall 9 4 5 24 21 28
A. Stephenson 9 5 4 22 23 27
M. Park 6 4 2 17 13 21
No relegation 
            
EDDIE SHIMMINGS DIVISION ONE
           
  Pl W L F A Pts
R. Henry 11 6 5 23 32 29
C. D'Leny 9 4 5 25 20 29
R. Nelson 10 4 6 23 27 27
D. Atkinson 11 3 8 18 37 21
G. Mattinson 11 2 9 14 41 16
D. Chapman 10 0 10 13 37 13
Champion promoted. 

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