Potters Subs win Tracey McAuley Memorial Cup tournament

With the Drones having all but wrapped up the league title, the focus turned to the cup competitions, namely the Walker Cup and the Tracey McAuley Memorial Cup.

Ballymoney Legion lifted the Walker Cup, with Dixie Tweed being in particularly strong form. They ran out 4-2 winners against Seagull Potters.

The Tracey McAuley Memorial Cup between Potters Subs and Eagle Potters threw up a classic battle.

The final saw two teams from Potters Club in Coleraine go at it and what a match it turned out to be.

Potters Subs, led by Ady Toner, took on Daniel McAuley’s Eagle Potters team.

It was the two skippers who got drawn out against each other in the first with Toner drawing first blood, although being extremely fortunate to do so.

Adam Freeburn used his 35 point start well in the next though, managing to level the match at 1-1.

Raymond Baxter put Eagles ahead for the first time as he beat Michael Neill, an early 44 break from Baxter wiping out young Neill’s handicap start.

As the match moved into the second session, Toner and McAuley did battle again.

In a mirror image of their first frame, McAuley had a terrible run of luck, narrowly losing out on the pink ball. With the match poised at 2-2, Freeburn should have out the Eagles back in front, but some uncharacteristically poor safety shots allowed Matty Sellers back into the match. Sellers potted a tricky pink to make it 3-2 to the Subs.

Baxter had to battle hard to force the play off and he start off sloppily in this frame against Neill but another 40+ break brought him back into the frame and he battled to victory on the colours forcing the play off.

The draw for the play off left Toner and McAuley facing off for the the third and final time.

If McAuley thought the luck was due to turn, he was badly mistaken, as Toner started off with another fluke.

The match ebbed and flowed but once again, if Toner did miss, he left his counterpart very few chances.

McAuley was always fighting a losing battle here and it just was never going to be his night, as Toner ran out the winner. A good cup win for a team who were put together late into this season.

Meanwhile, the league individuals is reaching the semi final stage with Corey Sweeney and Curtis Boreland already confirming their places in the last four.

Boreland came through a tight battle with friend James Nesbitt , while Sweeney got the better of Davy Moore from Limavady Snooker Club.

Another spot will be known this week as Willie Eakin and Raymond Baxter do battle in what could be a great match, the winner facing Boreland for a place in the final.

Last week Ballymoney Legion All Stars won the first final of the season as they beat Seagulls Potters in the Sam Walker Knockout League Cup at the Drones Club, Armoy.

Dixie Tweed was the Man of the Match tag for winning both his frames and also securing the cup for Ballymoney Legion All Stars.

The was an excellent performance by the Ballymoney Legion All Stars as every player was a winner throughout the competition.

The Ballymoney and Coleraine Snooker League committee would like to thank the Baker Family for the use of their club for the final.

Players are asked to keep up to date with matches in all competitions. Tournament director Raymond Baxter has now set deadlines for matches. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in elimination from the competitions.