English Double at Home Internationals Snooker

It was a successful 2015 HIBSF Home Internationals at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds for Team England as the hosts won both the Main and Masters categories.

Representing the English Association for Snooker and Billiards (EASB), the England side in the main event consisted of Nick Jennings, Jake Nicholson, Ryan Causton and Shaun Wilkes.

They began their campaign with a narrow 7-5 win over Wales before a more comfortable 10-2 success against Scotland.

Northern Ireland held them to a 6-6 draw, but they made amends later on when getting the better of Scotland B 9-3.

Going into the final day, England knew they probably needed to win their remaining two fixtures to achieve top spot in the table, and therefore the title. They dispatched the Isle of Man 12-0 to set up a winner-takes-all clash with the Republic of Ireland, who had an identical record as them. However, the English came through with a bit to spare in a 9-3 triumph.

Jennings finished top of the individual stats with an incredible record of 17 frames out of 18 – two in front of second-placed Irishman Rodney Goggins. Northern Ireland’s Jordan Brown made the event’s highest break with an effort of 138.

The English Masters team of Jamie Bodle, Wayne Brown, David Brown and Graham Beardsmore won all five of their matches to top the group and claim the championship. They defeated Scotland B 9-3, Wales B 7-5, Wales A 7-5, Republic of Ireland 7-5 and Scotland A 10-2.

Bodle was the event’s MVP having won 13 frames out of 15. The Republic of Ireland’s Allen Matic finished second in those individual stats. Wayne Brown’s effort of 90 was the competition’s highest break.

Written by Michael Day, published on 11th August 2015.