Exhibition Report
Master of Ceremonies and sponsor for the evening Derek Walker opened the evening by introducing Andy Hicks as one of the most talented snooker players ever to emerge from the West Country. This compliment was to be fully vindicated over the following 4 hours as Hicks displayed an awesome talent for potting and break building with consummate ease. Referee for the evening Jeff Fox was flawless in officiating every one of the 17 exhibition frames.
Frame 1:
Peter Beckwith one of the many talented young WEBSF players emerging from Plymouth to face Hicks on the night started well with a couple of good pots before Hicks opened his account with a masterful 121 break to win 128-4.
Frame 2:
Chris Corry also started well before Hicks made quick fire breaks of 48 & 40 to win 108-14.
Frame 3:
Dan Legassick matched Hicks with some superb safety play followed by a 14 break. A number of near misses from both players ensued before Hicks cleared the colours to win 80-17.
Frame 4:
Adam Lewin like his peers started well before Hicks made a well timed 53 break near the latter part of the frame to win 91-12.
Frame 5:
Cody Hall matched Hicks in the potting department for a short period at the start of the frame amassing a respectful 22 points before Hicks once again cleared to win the frame 88-22.
Frame 6:
Haydon Pinhey the current Plymouth Bronze Waistcoat Champion made an early near miss to let Hicks in for a 49 break, Hicks was soon to return to the table after an uncharacteristic missed pot from Pinhey to clear with a brilliant 83 break to win the frame 132-0.
Frame 7: next up
Tom Vanstone a regular on the Silver Waistcoat tour and keen to make an impression started with some good safety play. However, Hicks sensed Vanstone can play a bit and moved up a gear capitalising on a Vanstone mistake fashioning a consummate 99 break followed by a 34 clearance to win 136-1.
Frame 8:
after the break Chris Coumbe produced some excellent opening safety play before Hicks fired in a rapid 82 clearance to win 99-8.
Frame 9:
Hicks had been given the nod that his next opponent Mitchell Grinsted was more than capable of producing an upset to the ensuing white wash of challengers. After the usual bout of excellent opening safety play Hicks compiled a truly masterful 131 break to win 131-0.
Frame 10:
Hicks showing no sign of tiring gave his next opponent Sam Lloyd little chance as he looked awesome in taking 10 reds and 10 blacks before narrowly missing a difficult pot red to the middle pocket when a possible maximum 147 look on the cards. Frame score 124-1.
Frame 11:
The level of early frame safety play was as good as had been seen all evening until a loose shot from Dale Branton saw Hicks make a superb 126 clearance to win 126-4.
Frame 12:
After 30 practice frames earlier in the day in preparation for the exhibition one could understand if Hicks was to falter. Poor exhibition play is not in Hick’s vocabulary as Dylan Chilcott was to find out. Hicks posted yet another century break, 103, to win 115-8.
Frame 13:
Grant Cole was next up and after a mistake from Cole Hicks broke down prematurely making a 46 break. Cole failed to capitalise on this rare opportunity letting Hicks in for a second bite of the cherry and a 55 clearance to win 109-2.
Frame 14:
Andy Trim came to the table and after a long bout of respectful safety play and some excellent single ball potting. Hicks took the lead with a 42 break going on to win an entertaining frame 68-39.
Frame 15:
Brother of Derek Walker, Jeff did not get much table time as Hicks enthralled the spectators with an incredible 136 total clearance, played at almost a running pace to win the frame 141-0.
Frame 16:
The penultimate frame saw Gold Waistcoat player and Pool champion Michael ‘Daisy’ Day fail to take his chances. There where no beaks of note in the 80-32 win to Hicks. However, Hicks demonstrated some excellent potting with the rest, in fact he never missed any rest shots throughout all 17 frames.
Frame 17:
The final frame saw Hicks amass a break of 83 to beat Albi Morrison 103-6
Thanks to the Victoria Snooker Centre, Plymouth for hosting the event.
Report by Steve Canniford
WEBSF 