Midland Snooker Club
3a Bilston Key Industrial Estate
Oxford Street
Bilston
West Midlands
WV14 7DW
Tel: 01902 493641
7pm, Saturday 13th October 2007
L to R: Midland Snooker Club proprietor Jella, and DVD Match Promoter Simon D'Vali
both congratulate Darren Appleton on a fine win.
Darren Appleton earns victory at fabulous Midland Snooker Club
In what turned out be very a very one-sided affair, Darren Appleton has beaten Tommy Donlon with a comprehensive 30-16 scoreline proving the majority of pundits correct with their predictions for this match result.
Although no one could deny the heroic list of titles accumulated by Donlon over the years, titles announced by MC for the event Simon D'Vali, there was little of the flair and talent that earned them on show from Donlon this night.
Afterwards Appleton admitted his own game was merely adequate, sufficient to get him across the line and his victory was due to making less mistakes and staying focused. This is typically modest of the Yorkshireman who pulled off a spectacular full cue jump, among other beautiful skill shots, in the first five racks alone.
On reading this brief summation you might be thinking this was a low key event... But nothing could be further from the truth... The crowd was big, the venue was fantastic, everyone had some "side action" even if it was just the final score sweepstake, and best of all the atmosphere was thrilling.
"Read More..." for the details.
DvD Cash Match - Tommy Donlon in action.
The first few racks set the tone for the entire match bar a brief comeback at the "pressure switch" towards the end.
Donlon won the lag virtually freezing his ball to the rail with Appleton's effort falling 3 inches short.
The playing conditions were good but Donlon's first break was dry on these tight 4.5inch shimmed pocketed SAM table with Simonis powder blue cloth.
Appleton wasted no time in clearing the table to take the lead that he was to keep for the entire match.
Darren added another rack to his score after breaking the second rack, making the 2 ball in the side pocket (the two is racked at the back of the pack every time) and promptly proceeds to run the rack from the break for a 2-0 lead.
Making balls on the break is proving to be a tough affair on the non-tapped table with tight pocket seems a little unpredictable and both players are trying hard to make the most of the break advantage... Trying too hard in this case as Darren loses control of the white and loses it into the side pocket after applying a little extra power to this break.
"The Disher" lives up to his given moniker and clears the table with ball in hand for 2-1 but after making a ball on the next break he makes an unforced error on the 1-ball and "Dynamite" doesn't waste time in clearing the table for a 3-1 lead.
These big matches invariably go hill-hill or are one-sided, this match was the latter. Appleton spent some extra time racking the next rack and broke very gently, obviously attempting to learn the character of the break on this match table, but the result was poor and dry and this was to be the only soft break used in this match as it appeared that a confident stroke bore superior results.
The tone was set for the entire match, Donlon not performing his characteristically sharp and deadly game, the consistency that won him all those titles, and Appleton playing solidly with less unnecessary mistakes.
When the score reached 28-13 Donlon made a thrilling start to a comeback... His game got faster, more confident, more decisive, stroking harder, playing without hesitation, and not missing...
Everyone noticed it...
The appreciative and knowledgeable audience KNEW this was the "pressure switch moment" - the time when the pressure is lifted on Donlon. Now was the time he could make it difficult to get over the line, rack by rack, the pressure would build on Appleton gradually eating away at the confidence he had built up along with his commanding lead.
Donlon dished...
28-14
And dished...
28-15
Donlon ran out...
28-16
Unfortunately Donlon was cursed with a dry break on the next rack and Appleton was given a chance to come to the table, and although impressive, the come-back wasn't sufficient to close the scores to add the required pressure to force errors, as Appleton took the final two racks with style and precision.
The match was recorded by CueSport.TV and release details will be announced shortly.
Darren Appleton at the table at the DvD Cash Match.
THE CONTENDERS
Two legends of English 8-Ball take on the ultimate challenge in American 9-Ball as they go head-to-head £5,000-a-man in a race to 30 racks for the winner-take-all prize!
DISHER : At 38 years old, Tommy "The Disher" Donlon has numerous UK Pro Tour event titles to his name, former UK number 1, and a World Pool Masters runner up, he is one of the few players still faithfully using a Meucci cue, and although originally an English 8 Ball player, he was one of the first to convert to the American style game and is therefore regarded as a UK "old school" 9-ball player.
DYNAMITE : Yorkshire's "Dynamite" Darren Appleton is only a relatively recent convert to the 9 Ball discipline, but he has already shown more commitment to the game than many other players. Taking his game around the world and putting his own cash on the table, from the States to the Philippines, has earned him a fearsome reputation.
THE CLUB FACILITIES
For anyone who hasn't been to "Jella's" club you are in for a real treat - for exhibitions and challenge matches like this he rearranges the room into an arena style that he calls a "mini Crucible" around the match table.
The club is simply second to none when it comes to food and drink, not only does the club have a full English menu including breakfasts, but there's also a lavishly authentic "fully loaded" Indian restaurant menu too.
Jella's reputation for attention to detail has won him many plaudits from celebrity pool players, from his meticulous cloth and table care, to his friendly nature. Tom Ford and Gareth Potts are among the many star players that have played big money matches at his club recently.
The spacious club is on a trading estate and has it's own free parking both front and back. The nearest train station is Wolverhampton, and the 79 bus stops 50 yards from the front door.
THE FORMAT
9 Ball
Race to 30
Winner breaks
4.5" pockets on Simonis 860 cloth.
No jump cues
No phenolic tips
Jump with your playing cue, not break cue
2 Ball at the back of the rack.
NICE AND TIGHT - these two balls would go no further into the pocket.
NICE AND THIN - Pro9 regular Karl Boyes showing off his new slimline physique.
JUST PLAIN NICE - Our host for the evening, Jella Singh, knows how to put on a show.
"ROCKET" IS A BLAST FROM THE PAST - It was great to see Andy Richardson again.
KERCHING! - Ben Swinnerton correctly predicted the final score winning the £76 sweepstake.
WELL DONE - Jella Singh congratulates an elated Darren Appleton.
THE 2007 DvD £10,000 CASH MATCH | |||
DYNAMITE vs. DISHER | |||
RACK-BY-RACK RESULTS | |||
1 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 0 : 0 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
2 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 1 : 0 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
3 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 2 : 0 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
4 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 2 : 1 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
5 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 3 : 1 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
6 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 4 : 1 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
7 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 5 : 1 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
8 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 5 : 2 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
9 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 5 : 3 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
10 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 6 : 3 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
11 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 6 : 4 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
12 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 7 : 4 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
13 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 7 : 5 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
14 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 8 : 5 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
15 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 9 : 5 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
16 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 10 : 5 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
17 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 10 : 6 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
18 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 10 : 7 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
19 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 11 : 7 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
20 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 12 : 7 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
21 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 13 : 7 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
22 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 14 : 7 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
23 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 14 : 8 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
24 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 15 : 8 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
25 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 16 : 8 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
26 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 17 : 8 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
27 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 17 : 9 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
28 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 18 : 9 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
29 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 19 : 9 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
30 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 20 : 9 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
31 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 20 : 10 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
32 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 21 : 10 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
33 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 22 : 10 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
34 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 22 : 11 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
35 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 23 : 11 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
36 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 24 : 11 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
37 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 24 : 12 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
38 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 25 : 12 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
39 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 26 : 12 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
40 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 26 : 13 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
41 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 27 : 13 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
42 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 28 : 13 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
43 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 28 : 14 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
44 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 28 : 15 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
45 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 28 : 16 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
46 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 29 : 16 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
47 | Darren "Dynamite" Appleton | 30 : 16 | Tommy "The Disher" Donlon |
THE WINNER: DARREN "DYNAMITE" APPLETON | |||