The season’s first competitive outing saw the University of York Pool and Snooker Club travel to Nottingham for the inaugural English Universities Pool Championships. The York first team arrived in confident spirits following their success in the previous season, and this confidence proved justified as they cruised through the group stage courtesy of 6-1 victories over Kent 1sts and UEA 1sts added to whitewashes over Bangor 2nds, Nottingham 4ths and Lancaster 2nds.
A new look second team also managed to progress through their group as a third place finish secured their spot in the quarter finals of the trophy event. In a tense match, York 2nds struggled with the tag of favourites, and it took the ever confident Luke Wildgoose to step up and win a 1 frame play-off, securing a place in the semi-finals against Nottingham seconds.
A solid team performance saw York seconds match their Nottingham opponents from the start, and a calm 8 ball clearance from Lucas Bingham set up another 1 frame play-off. Captain Owen Williams took the responsibility and used all his years of experience to book the second team a place in the trophy final against a solid Manchester second team. Nothing could separate the teams and once again the second team headed to a play-off. Unfortunately this time it wasn’t to be as Manchester took the trophy.
In the individual event, an unfortunate draw saw York first team and England Universities snooker captain Michael Walsh take on in-form team mate Matt Robson at the quarter final stage. An assured display in the deciding frame saw Robson prevail, and he continued this form into the semi-final as a 4-1 victory secured his place in the final. Despite losing the first frame to Nottingham’s Dale Prime, Robson’s supreme consistency and cool head under pressure soon saw him assert his authority on the match, running out an eventual 5-2 winner to be crowned the English Universities Pool Champion.
A tough quarter final draw in the Team Championships saw York 1sts pitted against hosts Nottingham 1sts. However an excellent all-round team performance gave York a comfortable 6-2 victory and set up a semi final clash against Manchester 1sts who had narrowly overcome local rivals Lancaster in their respective quarter final. York’s dominance in this fixture in recent years was continued as they ran out 6-1 victors after another impressive display.
York’s opponents in the final were tournament surprise package Exeter 1sts after they overcame Warwick 1sts in the other semi final. Captain Walsh got the team off to a winning start only for Exeter to level at 1-1. Robson added another frame for York only for Exeter to level again at 2-2. Further frames from Andy Myhill and President Sam Wass took the score to 4-2 before Exeter hit back to cause individual champion Robson to drop his first frame of the team event. With the scores delicately poised at 4-3 Walsh added another frame maintain his 100% record in the team event. This gave Squad Manager Michael Bailey the opportunity to seal the win, and he didn’t disappoint as a composed clearance under pressure gave York a thrilling 6-3 victory and the title of English University Pool Champions.
Such a superb start to the season will give York great confidence for the rest of the year, whilst they have undoubtedly cemented their status as the team to beat as they look to defend their team championship title at the upcoming British University 9 Ball Championships in Liverpool later this month.