Match Report
A new landmark for Kent pool
This was going to be a pretty special day in the making as this was the day that Kent County Pool Association teams would hit the 60,000 frame of their history..
So, who was this player going to be and was it to be a winning frame……? We knew what frame would achieve this landmark occasion following the seniors and under 23s match and had liaised with Jason Simmonds who has been working in the background to pull the data we needed to mark this event. When it came down to it there was only about a minute between 3 players and my spies in the room were signalling frantically regarding who it would be looking at who was up next in each team and darting between teams to check our facts. So, we can confirm that the Kent Pool Player playing the 60,000 frame was ………. Farron Rowe
Farron also made it a winning frame with his frame against an old pal of mine Ian Grant, who is a member of the England over 60s team and a true gent. So thank you gentlemen for playing out this milestone and I look forward to seeing you all for the 70,000 frame which in my estimation will be played in March 2028!!
Fresh from our Intercounty success at the National finals the Kent teams made the hazardous and dangerous trek across one of the world’s busiest motorways, the M25, where delays were predicted at catastrophic levels. As it turned out only one person missed their breakfast because the train was late, everyone else got there early as there was in fact no delays. (Fake news at its best BBC)
So onto the matches where Kent secured 5 victories to 2, only the team manager (Wilbo) suffering both losses, thanks !!
Total Frame Score Kent 163 v 113 Berkshire.
The Seniors kicked the day off against a highly talented Berkshire’s senior team and if truth be told the Kent team are disappointed to lose a match 23-21 when they put up a great display across every set. I captained the side and to be honest apart from four or 5 poor shots across the piece (two of them mine) everyone took their chances when they were there and I was very pleased to see the level of commitment to supporting each other.
The game swung back and forth and the character of the Kent team was there to see as the scores went from 5-2 up to 7-5 down to 12-10 down to 18-17 up before landing at 21-21 with 2 frames to go. Unfortunately, both those frames were lost and we didn’t get the result we felt we deserved. Proud of my team and if we play like that for the rest of the season we will gain success. Players are feeding off each other and that will bode well for the future.
Our Under 23s introduced a new member of the team following the departure of Callum Brown, who we wish the best for the future and hope to see him back playing county pool in the future. Joe Greenwood will come in now and settled in reasonably well winning 2/4 in his teams win 13-7. Jake Lloyd, Michail Cairns and Jasper Simmonds all winning ¾.
Our Juniors and Ladies followed up their national victories with resounding victories to underline their dominance in the Region. Perhaps more impressive is the Juniors with such a new line-up given four players over aged out this year.
Juniors won 26-10 with two full houses from new boys Liam McGrath and Olly Mitchell, particularly impressive was the verdict from the new Juniors manager Lee Crowhurst. We can’t wait to watch how the team develops across the rest of the season. Watch out for players like Lucas Keepin, Jayden Hill, and Ben Greenwood as they develop alongside the old guard of Finlay O’Shaughnessy, Charlie Jessup, James Goldsmith and Michail Cairns.
Our Ladies ran out convincing 27-17 winners with Captain Fane and vice captain Ledger leading the way with 8/8 winning frames between them. The ladies actually went behind 4-2 in the first set but regained their composure by the end of the set to win 6-5. The next set was 9-2 the third was 6-5 and the final set 6-5 so the damage was done in the comprehensive second set.
In the men’s division the A team lost 23-21 to the now National Champions but yet again the A team have shot themselves in the foot somehow or another. The team won 20 frames in three sets but still couldn’t get a draw. They won the first set 6-5 the second set 6-5 and the last set 8-3 but a horrific third set, a loss of 10-1 with only Sean Kirby winning a frame put paid to any hope of a victory. Even then we were still playing the last frame with the chance of a draw. However more evidence that this A team is in exactly the right company going to the home of such a strong team and being in the mix despite the poor 3rd set.
Our B team turned around a first set deficit to take the lead during the second set to take an 11-8 lead, however were pegged back to 11-11 by the end of the second set. Nip and tuck through the 3rd set it ended 17-16 in our favour before 4 winning frames from 5 halfway through the set saw the B team take a 23-19 lead to take the match, gaining revenge on last year’s defeat at the same venue. The last two frames were shared with the final score 24-20. Being on the tables next to the B team it was great to see the team spirit lifting the team and I still believe this team will win their division and be undefeated throughout the year. I also noted Mr Coakley, called up as a reserve winning frames and having fun so clearly a team that can integrate players quickly. There is my challenge Mr Redsull and Mr Rowe.
The mens C team had a few absences so thank you Lee Crowhurst, Bill Rase and Steve Jepson for stepping in to plug the gaps. 8/12 from those guys contributed to a comprehensive victory 31-13 and also a notable 4/4 from Joshua Wheeler and Paul Cox’s man of the match Makhan Notay. Early signs are that we have indeed strengthened the team this year with our trial system and our managers wildcards, ( well you have to take a little credit when things are going well) .
For squad information Callum Brown has left the county for the time being and we wish him well. His replacement in the B team will be Gary Kingsnorth coming back up from the C team and Ricky Peirce has been asked to come back into the C team for the rest of the season, which I believe he has agreed to do.
So onwards and upwards to our next match against London on 14th April. A home match at last so a longer lie in bed for the old seniors.
Wilbo
Final Scores
| u23s | 7:13 WIN |
| Seniors | 23:21 LOSS |
| Juniors | 10:26 WIN |
| Ladies | 17:27 WIN |
| A | 23:21 LOSS |
| B | 20:24 WIN |
| C | 13:31 WIN |