Ace potter Chris Heim; and (inset) the Central London squad (from left) Harry Harvey, Nicky Campbell, Steve Murray, ‘B’ team skipper Alp Sezer, Tony Rodgers, Kevin Nunn and John Newcombe

Published: 16 January, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

THE Central London ‘B’ team squeezed into the National pool finals which take place in March after chalking up a 20-16 win against Cambridgeshire on Sunday.

Competing in their final game of the regional Blackball County Championships, Alp Sezer’s side knew they had to win their tough away match and hope that results elsewhere went their way.

Top potter Chris Heim made sure the capital’s finest did their part as he won the all-important 19th frame, earning himself top spot in the individual stats in the process with 31 wins from 40 frames this season.

The Central London team then faced an agonising wait after hearing that rivals Middlesex had won their game and with it automatic qualification into the grand finals in March.

Fears soon turned into cheers, however, when the news broke that they too had qualified for the finals after finishing as one of the highest ranked third-placed teams in the country.

• THERE was a major shock in the Chalk Farm Pool League on Monday when King’s Cross Hawks pocketed a stunning 5-4 victory over league leaders and defending champions Sir Robert Peel. Doubles duo Mark Piercey and Matt Francois secured the all important fifth frame to hand Peel their first defeat of the season.