Snooker Champion’s Narrow Escape

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 19

Snooker Champion’s Narrow Escape

The defending title-holder, D. Kirkness, narrowly escaped elimination from this year’s Canterbury snooker f hampionship, against C. Barnett in the second round.

Barnett won the first two frames, and although Kirkness took the third easily, Barnett looked set to win the fourth when he held a lead of seven points and had the three remaining balls in good position. However, trying for position on to the pink, he played a loose shot and left the blue over a pocket. ’ Kirkness pocketed the blue and then elected to play for safety. Barnett attempted to pot the pink, but he went in-off. Kirkness made no mistake in his try for the pink and the frame was his without the black, which all the while had been sitting temptingly over a pocket. The deciding frame was a battle of tactics, but Kirkness fared better on the redd

and Bartj ett conceded after he had re quired two snookers on the Colours to have any chance, j The (inly other match to go to five f rames was between C. Kelly Imd D. Meredith. The contest was tensely fought, Kelly’S greater experience standing him in good stead in thia final frame. Ttfj only surprise result was i the 3-0 defeat of R. DoWler by P. Logan, while D. 1 luckley gave further evidence of his promise by taking only 40 mintues to win thj ee frames against A. M| .'Millan. ’ Results:—

1 Kirkness 3. Barnett 2; Kelly rj, Meredith 2; Logan 3, Dowler 1.-, R. Franks 3, G. Gardner 1: It. Kahi 3, F.- Blackburn 0; t ßuckley 3, McMillan 0; R. O’CaL I i laghan 3, L. Winter 1: K. 'Murphy 3, P. Mason 1.