Birring claims Tuesday League title

A FORMER junior from Southampton’s now defunct Pot Black snooker club has won his first title since picking up his cue again in his forties.

Cuestars Seniors Tour player Ram Birring (pictured) edged first-time finalist Dan Hammond 2-1 in a cagey Tuesday Singles League Series 11 play-off at Chandler’s Ford SC.For over an hour, the 43-year-old’s attacking style failed to overcome the more measured approach of his opponent from Winchester. Birring, from Bassett, who was runner-up at his first attempt in Series 10, took the first frame on the black but needed snookers on the colours in the next.And he did the damage in the decider with a 36 break.“I was waiting for my chance,” he said. “I was cueing well all day but you can only pot them if you get the chances. “Luckily, I got in at the right time. I was pleased with the result.”

Earlier, eight-time champion Mitch Wade failed to make the final for the first time after going out 2-0 to Dave Nunn in the last-eight.And Hammond secured a 2-1 semi-final victory over Series 9 champion Anthony Rice with a full length of the table fluked pink.

As a teenager, Birring was a regular at Pot Black, which shut in 2008, until “work and life took over”. “Now I’m a bit older and I’ve got more time to play snooker, I thought I’d start playing again,” he explained. “I’m enjoying it – and I’m getting some results, which is even better.“I’m not going to make a living out if it but I want to play the way I’ve always played it. If I don’t enjoy it, and I’m not playing the way I play it – I’ll give up.”

A new scratch league kicks off at 8pm on Tuesday. The top eight after ten weeks play off for the money.

PLAY-OFF RESULTS (BREAKS)

Quarter-finals (£15): Ram Birring 2 Carlo Cavagnetto 1, Mitch Wade 0 Dave Nunn 2, Anthony Rice (34) 2 Neil Carroll (31) 1, Dan Hammond 2 Steve Tonks 1.

Semi-finals (£30): Birring 2 Nunn 0, Hammond (36) 2 Rice 1.

Final (£120/£60): Birring (36) 2 Hammond 1.

Picture by Tim Dunkley

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