North retain North-South Trophy

The annual Billiards International North-South Challenge Tournament took place at Celbridge Snooker Club, on Saturday and Sunday, 15th and 16th April 2023.  The format of the event was that each team of eight was divided into two groups of four, so that each player met four opponents from his corresponding group, with the consequence that all benefited from the variety of games the format provided.

Play started at 10.30 on Saturday morning, the first session producing level scores at 4-4. In the second session, the Northern team, with a clean sweep 8-0 result, put us on notice that the Southern team would need to up their game to stay in the contest. The third session produced a 6-2 result for the South, reducing their tournament deficit to 4 points. In the fourth session, which wrapped up Saturday’s play, the Northern team rallied to restore on overnight lead of 6 points.

When play resumed on Sunday morning there was little evidence of a revival of form for the Southern players when their deficit was stretched to 10 points and, sharing Sunday’s second session 4-4 made no contribution to their overall position. A 6-2 victory for the North in the penultimate session of the tournament assured them of the trophy for 2023, with a session to spare. Taking the final session 5-3 was about the only consolation remaining for the Southern team who had to concede victory to the better team on the day.

Tournament results:

Our thanks are due to Celbridge Snooker Club for the excellent playing facilities they provided and for the welcome they extended to the players all of which did so much to contribute to the success of the tournament.

Congratulations to the Northern team on a well deserved victory and commiserations to the South whose play was perhaps not justly reflected in the final score line.