2008 COORS NEWPORT POOL OPEN
For immediate release
Friday, September 19th, 2008
KEENAN AND HEATHCOTE GO MARCHING ON
NEWPORT (Shropshire): Ed Keenan and Anthony Heathcote marched into the quarter-finals of the 2008 Coors Newport Pool Open with 3-1 wins over Greg Heathcote and Ben Longstaff at the Audco.
Longstaff started well in his match and cleared the table from Anthony Heathcote’s break in frame one. He had his chances to make it 2-0, but Heathcote managed to level with three useful pots and subsequently strolled into a 2-1 lead. Longstaff wasn’t his usual accurate self with the all-important safety shots and Heathcote managed to clinch the match in the fourth frame.
His brother Greg was a firm favourite to beat Ed Keenan – the surprise of this year’s tournament – but Keenan started like a sprinter out of the blocks. He sailed into a 2-0 lead with some relentless potting. Heathcote had no answer and the game should have been over in the third frame, when Keenan jawed a tricky black to clinch the tie.
Heathcote managed to claw his way out of the corner and snatched the vital frame. The fourth rack was evenly matched and Heathcote was awarded two shots to clear his final three balls and the black. But the hapless youngster jawed a crucial red that was sitting over the pocket and slammed his cue on the table in disgust.
Keenan had no option but to take a black double into the middle pocket. The ball sank below the baize, Keenan put a triumphant fist in the air and duly booked his place in the quarter-finals.
Bob Perry and Luke Hayward were awarded walkover wins against Aaron Brotherton and Sam Higgins in their second round matches.
Defending Worthington’s Doubles champions, Anthony Heathcote and Andy Lycett, survived the fright of their lives to overcome Telford’s Charlie Hayward and Kim Worrall in a five-frame thriller.
Lycett missed a golden chance early in the match to put the Audco pair into a commanding position, after Heathcote had made a useful clearance in the second frame, but Hayward and Worrall managed to fight back and take the game to a deciding rack.
Hayward potted an outrageous final red in the decider and set himself up for a simple black hanging over the pocket. But he missed the crucial pot and Lycett made amends for his mistake earlier in the match to force a useful clearance and move himself and Heathcote into the semi-final draw.
Remaining results should be sent by text message to 07831 123153, clearly stating the names of players and the score.
Results – singles
Bob Perry beat Aaron Brotherton, W/O
Luke Hayward beat Sam Higgins, W/O
Ben Longstaff lost to Anthony Heathcote, 1-3
Greg Heathcote lost to Ed Keenan, 1-3
Results – doubles
Anthony Heathcote/Andy Lycett beat Kim Worrall/Charlie Hayward, 3-2
All ties to be played by Friday, September 26th.
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com