I’m a bit late this year in posting my twice-yearly predictions of who might do well at Yarmouth, so apologies for that. Back in April we saw the dream final, with Trent Trophies beating Leicester in a battle of the two biggest guns in the armoury. Few people would bet against them meeting up again, provided the draw works out that way, in another final – but Yarmouth can do funny things to people!
It’s disappointing that Waterloo 2 is not involved this time. We failed to qualify and were not lucky enough to get one of the ‘lucky loser’ spaces in the draw. Waterloo 1 is there of course, but it has a monster of a group … But more on that later!
This will be the first October Yarmouth I have missed since Waterloo first made it to the finals, so I’ll be rather at a loss that weekend. But good luck to the rest of the guys!
So, who do I think will do what?
Defending champions Trent Trophies A start off in Group 1 and look pretty safe to come through. Our London comrades Barnet, mistakenly registered as Finchley, are also in this group and will run them close, but not close enough. Barnet should beat Buckingham for second spot.
Group 2 contains no real superstar teams but it will be a decent slog between journeymen Leek A and Crawley, with the Staffs outfit squeezing it I think. I do not know anything about newcomers Raywood.
Group 3 is a pretty weak group, and although they have no track record as such, I am going to stick my neck out for Renegade B, because the Berkshire set-up is getting better each year. Hinckley from Leicestershire should see off Worcestershire’s Reddith A in the other game.
Group 4 is a no-brainer – perennial semi-finalists Brighton A will cruise this group, ahead of Penrith from Cumbria, which is a decent side, and Cambridge KSR.
Group 5 includes Dinnington, who were surprise semi-finalists in April. They should still be on a roll so I expect the South Yorkshire mob to clean up here, ahead of Medway. Having said that, Medway are benefitting from a number of ex-Rochester players switching sides (Rochester has dissolved) so they could be more dangerous than usual. This could be a really interesting game to watch. I know nothing about Normans Elite so I tip them for the wooden spoon.
Leicester will win Group 6, of course. Bicester Select from Oxfordshire is good enough for second, and Littlehampton Select from Sussex has a decent record, but neither can match Steve Robertshaw’s world-beaters.
Group 7 throws up another curve-ball – who in the name of Hades are Snooks? We’ll find out in due course, but in the meantime, let’s go with who we know, and tip Derbyshire’s Long Eaton to squeeze past Luton Lions and win this weak group.
Group 8 is one of the best groups in the draw. Two teams in this group are top-drawer. Birmingham’s Small Heath has a terrific track record, one of the best in the country, but I fancy them to lose out to in-form Preston South, which boasts Gareth Hibbott and Lee Clough among others. Biggleswade, making their second visit to the finals, can only sit and watch.
Group 9 contains no real contenders but I fancy veterans Holderness to progress. The Leicester Bulls may be a new name for one of the many established Leicester sides, while Hammersmith has only appeared once before and has no real stars in its line-up. I will opt for Yorkshire grit!
In Group 10, I am plumping for Essex’s Braintree A. They have no track record whatsoever but I have heard rumours that this year they have signed up a certain Rob Hill! If so that could make all the difference and inspire the rest of the team to victory. Andover (there are two teams with this name, of course, so I might be mistaken) are a decent side and will start as favourites but I am going for an upset here. Cumbria’s Whitehaven will give it a go.
Group 11 is a nightmare! There’s Ely, perpetual journeymen and underachievers with Phil Harrison in the side, plus Godalming A, the Surrey outfit capable of beating anyone, and then there’s a team called Q Club. Q Club is new to the finals, but I am guessing it is really just a new name for the old Chester-le-Street team that has made it to national semi-finals before, and contains guys like Stu Green and Marc Farnsworth. They played out of the Q Club in Chester-le-Street so if I am right I am nudging towards them. If I am wrong, I think Godalming will win.
One of the top sides in the country is Weston A from Somerset and they should clean up in Group 12. South Norfolk A and Northampton’s NVPL B will be left a ways behind.
On the neighbouring table, Weston B could make it a family double, as they are in the very weak Group 13 against Dorking and the Stockport Sharks. Groups like that make one yearn to be there!
Group 14 is a toss-up between Chesterfield and Chorlton. Although the Manchester boys are in form I think Chesterfield has the experience and should squeeze it. Wallingford are out of their depth.
In Group 15, Kent’s Romney Marsh will start favourites, over Dawley B from Shropshire and Witney from Oxfordshire.
Sun Valley from Nottingham have plenty of championship experience and will win Group 16 easily enough. Both Lowestoft Town Select and Lancaster are capable sides but the former champions are better.
Group 17 gives my perennial outside bet, the wholly under-achieving Renegade A from Berkshire, a chance to shine. The team skippered by England manager Rob Uzzell really does need to establish itself in this competition after years of threatening to do so. They should have enough strength in depth to beat High Wycombe and Riverside from Hertfordshire.
I think Norwich B will just beat Shrewsbury A to win Group 18. I saw them thrash Waterloo I last April. Cornwall’s Camborne and Redruth have not been here for a while.
Group 19 sees the return of East Herts, although I am guessing that this is actually EHPL renaming itself in the guise of its more successful league neighbour. If so, I think they will flatter to deceive but I think they might still win the group, ahead of Gosport A and Cherry Tree from Nottingham, both of which are decent teams.
Speaking of comebacks, what about this – Barking Elite is back at the Interleague in Group 20! That’s great news for fans of the game’s history, although this team probably won’t contain the megastars who combined to win the 2001 Interleague. Event so, any team with that name is worth supporting, and I fancy them to beat the strong Wigan side and I feel really sorry for hapless Brighton M being drawn in this group.
Group 21 is very hard to call. Coventry’s Reds I can beat anyone on their day, with their blend of youth and experience, while South Norfolk have shown how good they can be on their day as well, but I am edging towards Accrington mainly because this team, which used to be called Hyndburn, contains a number of ex-All’oas and includes some of Lancashire’s best.
Clacton will win Group 22. Just as one former Barking Elite man, Rob Hill, now lines up for Braintree, so does another, Darren Collison, for Clacton, which will mean anyone watching this table will get to see a true legend in action. Leek B and Punchbowl, about whom I know nothing, are in for a treat, of sorts, as well.
In Group 23 I fancy Cambridge Elite, and I think they could be a real dark horse for the competition as well. The battle for second place between Trent Trophies B and Pocket Rockets B will be tight, but I will go for the Staffs team edging out the Northants outfit.
Group 24 looks on paper to be pretty weak. Neither Shrewsbury B nor Ipswich B strike fear into anyone’s hearts, and who, one might ask, are White Rose OAPs? New name, for sure, but I am gambling on a guess that this is not a new team. I am guessing they are from Yorkshire and have plenty of experience, and given that neither Leeds nor the ex-Sheffield (Mexborough-Railway) teams are in action, this could very well prove to be a cunning deception. Refusing to be deceived, I am going for the White Rose old-timers.
Group 25 should belong to Dawley A and I hope it does but Norwich A are more than capable of surprising them. Driffield come here every year and enjoy the trip, but rarely get very far in the competition.
The Surrey Warriors should win Group 26, but they have to first get past Derbyshire’s men-in-pink, Corn Exchange, which is no easy thing. Luton Elite have once again drawn a tough group and will therefore have to wait another year before they justify that ‘elite’ tag.
Our friends from Frank Smith are in Group 27, which is a winnable group but not an easy one. Both Nuneaton A and Wolverhampton Wednesday B are decent teams, quarter-finalists, so they won’t be intimidated by the Londoners.
I think Leicester’s second team, Leicester City, will win Group 28, ahead of the St Albans Saints and Bracknell and Ascot A.
In Group 29 I am going for Marcus Lannie and the Worcester Dream Team. Essex’s Barking Phoenix often promise more than they deliver, while Nottingham are not in the same class.
One of the best teams in the county is Surrey’s Tolworth and they will show that when they win Group 30, seeing off Surridge-driven St Johns from Worcestershire and Cornwall’s Truro.
Group 31 is the group of death. It certainly seems that way for our own Waterloo 1 boys. They have been drawn in with not one but two potential champions. Not only do they draw former semi-finalists Reds Elite from Coventry, which is a real all-star team, but then they also draw top-four team PJ’s Stourbridge from the West Midlands, complete with Mick Hill, Rob Chilton and Neil Raybone. Whatever they do, the Waterloo lads will have a ball and give it their best, and who knows, anything is possible, but I have to say in all honesty I cannot see my squad-mates winning either of their matches in this horrific group. The group is likely to be decided in the opening fixture, as Reds Elite take on PJ’s. I would not be at all surprised if the Coventry team pulls itself together to cause a big upset here, but my reason tells me it probably will be the mighty PJ’s that comes through, just.
Ipswich may be weakened from various departures but they should still win Group 32, ahead of East Leeds, a decent side, and Northampton’s NVPL A, who have been coming for years and not achieving anything of note.
So, who might win the whole thing? To be honest, I think there are four teams in it – the ‘big four’: Frank Smith, Leicester, PJ’s Stourbridge, and Trent Trophies A. If I was to name a fifth team capable of pulling a surprise, it would be Preston South, who have so many first-rate and in-form players. But it is hard to look beyond the big guns. This year, I am going to do something unusual and pick my champion by rating each player who is likely (based on previous tournaments) to be in the starting line-up for each of these teams. I might be way off, some of these guys may not be actually playing, or the line-ups may change, but I can’t know that for sure, so I will base it on what I can surmise. So, in alphabetical order …
FRANK SMITH (London)
Sean Halligan Experienced campaigner unlikely to be phased by anyone 8/10 John Kelly IPA pro returning to some form after a poor spell 7/10 Rob McKay Former World Championship semi-finalist but team form is inconsistent 7/10 Danny Miller High-flying professional of whom much is expected 8/10 Jack Pople Youngest starter is also the team’s most reliable frame-winner 8/10 Rob Southey Capable enough but not playing at his best 6/10 Mark Thrussell Good attitude to the game makes him a safe bet 8/10 Neil Toms Fantastic record for county and team and expected to open well 9/10 Dean Wisher Model captain whose commitment is beyond reproach and who always pulls it out for the team 9/10
Likely reserves
Ramesh Gokhul Missed a lot of the qualifying campaign, so unlikely to be given a starting spot John Runghen Reliable in qualifying, likely to be brought on as a substitute Adam Toms Junior player unlikely to be used in important matches
TOTAL: 70/90
LEICESTER (Leicestershire)
Vinny Allen Leicester anchorman, solid as a rock 8/10 Steve Chambers Proven tournament winner with indifferent record in finals 8/10 Tommy Donlon Nine-ball commitments detract, but always a dangerous opponent 9/10 Tom Ford Snooker pro capable of beating anyone 9/10 Gavin Lomax Another snooker pro with plenty of experience 8/10 Steve Morris There are no actual weak links in the Leicester side 7/10 Steve Robertshaw The ultimate captain and consummate team player 9/10 Mark Selby Former World Champ and all-round cue maestro 10/10 Colin Treadwell Often plays in opening three and rarely disappoints 8/10
Likely reserves
Andy Lee Snooker pro outstanding when drafted in to fill some significant gaps in 2007 Interleague, but probably back on the bench this time Harry Patel Reliable reserve for the Leicester team Lee Ross Often gets a starting place but probably not if the team is at full-strength
TOTAL: 76/90
P.J.’S STOURBRIDGE (West Midlands)
Wayne Bedford Unheralded player with final experience 6/10 Rob Chilton Vastly experienced pro star 10/10 Paul Dunkey Reliable ex-captain with plenty of matchplay experience 8/10 Ritchie Foxall Always strong in competitions, individual and team 8/10 Mick Hill Many still rate him as the finest player of all time 10/10 Hitan Patel Climbing fast up the professional rankings 8/10 Neil Raybone One of the in-form players in the world at the moment 9/10 Ben Swinnerton Rising star yet to establish his full credentials 7/10 Pat Ward Experienced captain will need to raise his game 7/10
Likely reserves
Ty Bradley Likely first reserve, played in recent final but lost Rob Clark Probably not in contention any more Jarrod Griffiths Probably not in contention any more either
TOTAL: 73/90
TRENT TROPHIES A (Staffordshire)
Mark Blackshaw Experienced player but has poor record in finals 6/10 Steve Bridgewood Plays outstanding for county but not so well at Interleague, so will need to be on his best form 7/10 Jamie Croxton Very talented cue sportsman is having a terrific season 9/10 Adam Davis The most reliable player in the team, its opener, and the world number four 10/10 Lee Kendall England captain, former world finalist, and one of the best players of all time 10/10 Daz Lightfoot Vastly experienced and rock-solid former England International 8/10 Gareth Potts World Champion for a third time – ‘nuff said? 10/10 Darren Shone May not have celebrity status but has performed outstandingly for his team in recent years 9/10 Liam White Talented youngster with indifferent record in finals 8/10
Likely reserves
Phil Cummins Played in qualifying but unlikely to get on to the main stage Jamie Latham Also unlikely to see any main action Steve Prince First reserve, having won Staffordshire Open title
TOTAL: 77/90
So, there you have it – Trent Trophies A to win, AGAIN!
Come on all the other teams, prove me wrong! And COME ON WATERLOO!
