England Masters National Qualifying Event No. 2 – Pontefract

Truro was represented at this major event by Dave Matthew in the O70s and Tim Smith in the O55s. The circuit consists of six events across the country, and the top six players (plus two reserves) are selected to play for England based on points accrued throughout the season.

Dave has become a strong contender in his division after a solid performance at the first event, the Masters British Open. He powered through his early round opponents, setting up a quarter-final match with David Smiley from Durham and Cleveland. In a competitive match, Dave proved too clinical and consistent, winning 3-1 to secure a spot in the semi-final against England regular Ian Graham. In a very tight contest, two of the games went to a tie-break before Ian narrowly defeated Dave 3-0, despite a strong performance.

Tim was looking to make up for lost ground after withdrawing due to injury at the Open. He followed a similar path, winning his way to a challenging quarter-final against Cheshire's Karl Hardy. In a tough four-game match, Tim prevailed with some extremely long rallies and aggressive play. However, in the semi-final, he faced England captain Sam Hanbury, who proved to be a level above and won 3-0.

Current Standings After 2 of 6 Events:

• Dave Matthew, O70s, England No. 6
• Tim Smith, O55s, England No. 9
• Mark Campen-Howarth, unable to play in Pontefract, O40s, England No. 10