Boy From Bush Arrives in City
/After being 0-2 down in the Final, promising Bathurst player Scott Middleton has “come back from the dead” to record a determined and impressive 3-2 victory over defending champion Nick Abbenbroek in the 2012 NSW State U/18 Snooker Championship.
Played at Narrabeen RSL Club on 9th December, Middleton showed he had benefited immensely from the experience gained during last year’s unsuccessful attempt at the title and returned a far more formidable opponent in 2012. He recorded some solid performances right throughout the Championship including the highest break of 35. But perhaps his most impressive achievement was the way he handled the pressure in squaring the Final at 2-2 with two black-ball-frame wins – culminating in yet another black-ball game in the 5th and deciding frame. Spectators thoroughly enjoyed the tense atmosphere and Middleton showed that he definitely has the potential to go further in the game. He will return to his home town club of Bathurst Panthers as a very worthy State Champion and it will be interesting to note his progress in coming years.
Nick Abbenbroek is also a player with undoubted potential and put in a spirited defence of his title. He did little wrong in the Final and could be considered a little unlucky after leading 2-0 and then losing the next three frames on the black ball. Both Abbenbroek and Middleton are eligible for one final year in the State U/18 Championship and it promises to be a mouthwatering clash in 2013.
The NSW State U/15 Snooker Championship was also staged and saw Tayla Williams defeat her sister Nikki to take the title. The twins are new-comers to snooker and it is pleasing to see their involvement and the support of their parents.
Many thanks to host club Narrabeen RSL Snooker Club, their members and President Bill Springett, who also assisted with refereeing and table maintenance. The effort of Northern Beaches Snooker & Billiards Association in sponsoring the State Junior Championships for the second consecutive year is also greatly appreciated.
Whilst the number of players involved could obviously have been greater, it was an increase on last year and clearly shows that there are still potential future players interested in our sport. This highlights the importance of conducting these Championships each and every year. The BSA NSW Committee needs the ongoing support of its members in locating these young players and ensure they are given the opportunity to participate and learn about our game.
Gary Knight
Tournament Director
