Snooker legends Simon Bedford, Joe Johnson, Chris Wellham, Tony Emmott
Undercliffe cricket club hosted the 2015 Bradford pairs semi-finals on Saturday evening 14th march
It was a superb turn out for the pairs in action and it was great to see some of Bradford’s popular faces making an unexpected appearance to the venue.
Former Snooker Professional Simon Bedford came to watch along with friend and former potter Tony Emmott or know by some as bomber, after a few brief words with Simon it was great to hear he is once again hitting the baize.
But the most familiar face at Undercliffe was the brilliant 1986 World Snooker Champion and current voice of Eurosport Snooker Joe Johnson accompanied with his lovely wife.
Joe, Simon and Tony all good friends with Wellham Snr (Pictured above) was a great surprise for the players and must have been a great lift for them knowing who was sat watching them strike the next ball.
As much as I wanted to try and keep an eye on both tables I was mainly watching the match between club mates squaring off against each other from UCC.
First semi-final on table one was, current Yorkshire Handicap Champion Josh Walker and partner who is the Bradford Handicap Champion Adam Tipper took on giant killers Peter Hamilton and Damian Bentley who beat five times winners and defending champions Cooper and Firth in the previous round 3-2.
Joshua Walker & Adam Tipper 3-1 winners
Hamilton and Bentley raced to an early lead in the first frame and looked like taking it but a rare chance came for Tipper which he gladly accepted and pulled back the deficit, going into the colours frame evenly matched it was Walker that took green to blue giving them a 14 point lead with 13 remaining he later then followed with the pink for 1-0.
Next frame again scrappy mutual respect shown by all players not giving an inch to anyone, after a long period of touch ups Bentley and Hamilton with a slender 17 points advantage and what looked like a possible re-rack frame opened up the balls and Walker and Tipper took a chance with a well potted red.
A few pots later Walker and Tipper took the lead and with it the safety initiative, going into the colours it was looking like 2-0 but an unexpected miss judged safety by Walker left Bentley a tricky pot on the pink to the left middle which he calmly got down and stroked in for 1-1.
Damian Bentley & Peter Hamilton
Third frame was similar fashion to the previous two with much safety played not many risks and Walker and Tipper creeping over the line to go back in front at 2-1.
Fourth frame Yorkshire Handicap Champion got in early making a 40 break contribution which eventually took them over the line and into the Bradford Pairs final for the first time with a 3-1 win.
On the other table I could see the Green brothers off to a commanding start potting well and leaving little opportunities for the Wellham’s.
Anthony Green & Gareth Green 3-1 winners
Green brothers took the first frame and that seemed to settle them particularly Anthony who came out in the second frame in blistering form, coming to the table with nothing much really on and made a superb 46 break from fresh air very nice to watch.
Anthony Green made two 46 breaks in one frame.
But he wasn’t going stop there a few shots later Anthony was in again after his brother Gareth made an opportunity for him powered home another controlled 46 break to take the second frame and with it a 2-0 lead.
After a small interval the writing seemed on the wall with Wellham Snr and Jnr not really getting any chances but it seemed the interval came at the right moment.
John Wellham & Chris Wellham
Third frame was a complete turnaround, Chris potting some amazing balls and playing some quality safety putting the Greens in trouble.
John Wellham defending Bradford Singles Champion took his chances well and gave the Wellham’s a superior lead and clawed a frame back to 2-1.
Bradford Snooker Champion John Wellham
What looked like a huge turn around on the cards just wasn’t to be as four times former Bradford Snooker Champion Gareth Green turned on the heat making a 40 break contribution himself giving the Greens a big lead which was unrecoverable for the Wellham’s.
Final score Greens 3-1 winners
A big thank you for all that came to support the pairs and a special mention for Phil Gaunt for making the delicious curry and sandwiches which went down a treat.
Also a big thanks for the Referees of the night Bradford’s Richard Bakes and Castlefords Alex Crum.
Richard Bakes (left) & Alex Crum (right)
See you at the final.
