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Search forMarshall shoots down city rival Smith to secure series win
Friday, October 31, 2008, 16:51
Saturday's Band 1 event saw top seeds and local junior rivals Richard Marshall and Chris Smith cruise into the final, where Marshall had the edge in a close encounter, taking it and the £50 first prize by four games to two.
Freddie Cutler took third place from Exeter veteran Colin Snow, but not before squeezing out Sanja Quamina in a thrilling quarter-final.
Sunday's event ended with the same result but not without numerous twists and turns.
This time Quamina edged out Cutler to take a semi-final spot, but Mike and Elaine Short, not present the previous day, added some spice to the event.
First Elaine gave Chris Smith a surprisingly stiff test at the group stage and she repeated the dose to husband Mike in the quarter-final, losing both narrowly in the final game.
The semi-final between her two conquerors was an epic. Short, giving over 40 years but no quarter to his young opponent, took the first game, conceded the next two but then drew level again.
A five-game match would have gone Smith's way 12-10 but again Short levelled, only to finally concede 11-9 in the seventh. The match seemed to have taken its toll as Marshall shot to a speedy three game lead in the final. However, a heroic comeback saw Smith 10-8 up in the sixth and virtually level. Marshall's next service return hit the very corner of the table, the psychological tide had turned and he closed out the next three points for another victory.
Band 2 was, if anything, even closer fought.
On Saturday, Mark Perfect from Exeter, the only contender over 20, proved just too good despite losing to Sam Wilson in his group. He defeated Sam Hurst in the final with 13-year-old Ben Snow pipping Wilson for third place.
On Sunday, in Perfect's absence, both semi-finals went the full distance as Wilson saved five match points to beat Sean Mills and Hurst edged out Amy Whiting.
Hurst had to settle for second again as Wilson took the final by three games to one, while the third place match also went the full distance, with Mills victorious this time.
Band 3 went to Alex Persade on Saturday and Oliver Davis on Sunday, while ever improving 10-year-old Jordan Bone produced a shock Band 4 victory on Saturday then repeated the dose for a glorious double the following day.
The next instalments of the Super Series are at Okehampton on Saturday, November 15 and Woolwell the following day, with keen competition building for the £200 Band 1 series prize and £100 of Thornton's vouchers for the overall Band 2 winner. Further details can be obtained on the Woolwell club website www.Woolwell.co.uk or from John Smith on 01752 695158 or wttc@hotmail.co.uk
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