Central’s ‘B’ team trio, from left, Alp Sezer, Tony Di-Pace & Michael Weeks

Published: 10 December, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

THE Central London seniors ‘A’ team face a make or break game against rivals Cambridge in their bid to reach the 2016 National Pool Finals. 

Top potter Mark Layton pocketed five wins out of five on Sunday to earn the seniors squad a thrilling 14-11 victory over Essex at the Hurricane Rooms in King’s Cross. The win was made all the sweeter when the news came through that leaders of the County Blackball Championships Eastern Region, Cambridge, had suffered a shock defeat against East London. 

It means the victors of the best of 25-frames showdown on January 10 will automatically win a spot in the grand finals in March, while the losers will face the more daunting play-offs. 

Mark Layton

Meanwhile locksmith Tony Di-Pace unlocked just the luck the Central London ‘B’ team needed to beat Essex and keep their hopes of qualifying for the Nationals alive and kicking. 

With his side winning 18-17 in the deciding frame, Di-Pace took to the table with a yellow remaining and the black ball hanging precariously over the corner pocket. 

He threw caution to the wind and sent his yellow hurtling around the angles in an attempt at a tricky double – but missed his intended pocket. The runaway yellow careered around three further cushions before colliding with the black and potting it. Thankfully for Di-Pace, however, the yellow had just enough pace on it to follow the black in, making it a legal skill shot and winning Central London the game.