POOL CLUB
Business House League (seasonal) – Monday to Wednesday (as required) – 7.00pm start
Mini-league round-robin competitions before and after the Business House League season.
Inter-club and Club Champs (seasonal) – Sunday – Start times vary.
For all inquiries please contact:-
Pool Talk
Sunday 18 October 2026 - RAMS v Warkworth
RAMS Club, Whangateau
First a loss, then a draw, and now a win – RAMS claim victory.
On a bright, sunny Sunday, 14 enthusiastic players left our car park for an afternoon of competition. This was our sixth match against RAMS in three years. We always enjoy playing this team and visiting their club, reached by a scenic drive and set in an idyllic spot by the sea.
We began with doubles, using the usual three-frame format and the same rules we play by, although the tables were very fast. Gary and Jill lost to Rich (wearing two shirts 😊WW and RAMS) and Jan, while Bobby and Marcia eventually secured our first win. From there, it looked as though we would record only one doubles loss, but a tin hat in the third frame added another L to the board.
Play paused while we sat, chatted, and enjoyed a feast of slow spit-roasted chicken, salad, potato bake, and dessert. I suspect it was a clever ploy by our competitors: with great music and a sumptuous lunch, who felt like returning to the tables?
We then returned for the singles, which did not quite go our way. It seemed to be a day of truck-and-trailer play for our team, with three or four matches lost when the white followed through. Emma showed she can still own the table, playing brilliantly to win her match. The day came down to the final game: Jenny v Sue. It took five shots before a ball was potted, but Jenny’s win reduced our deficit to two.
Final Score 13 – 11 to RAMS.
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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NO play on 25 October - Labour Weekend
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Sunday 1 November - (Yes, November folks!) - Birkenhead @ Home
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Sunday 8 November - Prizegiving
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Saturday 21 November - Kerikeri away
Pool Talk
Men’s Singles — Warkworth RSA, 11th October 2026
This was the biggest line-up we have had for a Mens Singles Warkworth RSA members-only competition: 21 players. It was great to see new faces joining in and, of course, our familiar players whose names were on the board early, all lining up for what is arguably the most sought-after win of our season. Word has it that Bobby arranged his flight home to be back in time, great to have you back! It was also awesome to see our youngest member, Japhi, putting himself out there and gaining competitive experience in a challenging environment — he can certainly play!
Play was under way just after 9.00am, and by 11.30am it was becoming clear who the front-runners and potential qualifiers were. However, as we know from the mixed pairs, that means absolutely nothing if a countback occurs! Alas, for others it wasn’t their day and they could enjoy lunch and relax before the afternoon’s play.
Lunch was served at 1.00pm, with only three rounds left to play — still a lot of games with 21 players. Once everyone was fed and once the barbecue smoke had cleared, play resumed, with the quarter-finals starting at 3.00pm.
The quarter-final matchups were Grey v Rich, Tony v Dave H, Bobby v Kerry, and Gary v Kevin. They battled it out, play for play, with the victors progressing below.
Heading into the semi-finals, it was Grey v Tony and Gary v Bobby. Three frames of amazing play followed. In the match I watched, it came down to three attempts at one ball that simply refused to be potted, allowing the eventual winner time to catch up and sink the black.
The final between Bobby and Tony was to be played over five frames. Bobby gifted the first frame to Tony by placing the black perfectly over the pocket. Tony took the second frame, Bobby the third, and Bobby again claimed the fourth. After a nail-biting fifth frame, victory went to Bobby. Well done both of you — great entertainment! Congratulations from us all, Bobby. You held your nerve after going two down and produced an amazing comeback.
Notable moments, in the absence of Murray’s chocolate fish:
Dave Harvey was a good sport. You have all seen the photo in our chat: Tony, playing at his finest, left someone unable to pot a ball and having to don a certain hat!
JJ and Rich showed us what can be achieved: our two most gregarious players kept quiet for nearly two hours. Miming at its best — Marcel Marceau, move over!
Thank you to Pauline, Tracey and Seth; Jo and Jill for lunch; Dave, Tony and Murray for keeping the day running; and, most importantly, to all the players.
Next up: Rams @ Rams on Sunday the 18th. It is always a great day, so sign up!
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Sunday 18 October - Ram’s at Whangateau
Pool Talk
Warkworth v Papatoetoe – away Saturday 3 October
Sixteen players set off for Papatoetoe in one van and several cars. Our last match against them at home in March ended in a draw—could we improve on that result? We made good time and arrived to find a packed pool room, with our 16 players facing more than 20 from Papatoetoe.
Papatoetoe plays by different rules, which presented a challenge. We embraced it, and the games moved much faster, mainly because of the “no snooker” rule—a tactic we often use. It was great fun learning the new rules and focusing on potting.
The three-frame doubles matches were closely contested, and only one point separated the teams at the end. In the singles, Papatoetoe soon showed their home-table advantage. Although the one-frame games were tight, they had the edge. After a beautiful buffet lunch, we returned to the singles. Well done to Jo, who for some time had the only W on our board. A long run of losses followed before we added a few more wins. It was not our day, and Papatoetoe retained the trophy.
Well done, team. A big thank you to everyone who drove and ensured we travelled safely. It was a thoroughly enjoyable trip away.
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Curry League Tuesday nights’ @ 7:00pm
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Sunday 11 October - Men’s Singles
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Sunday 18 October - Ram’s at Whangateau
Pool Talk
MIXED PAIRS - Sunday 27th September
We had a fantastic turnout on Sunday with 14 pairs battling it out for the 2026 Mixed Pairs.
For qualifying we divided into two sections of 7 and played round-robin, single frame, sudden death frames, which always adds to the tension and excitement. There was some great pool on display throughout the qualifying with many winning clearances and just a few near misses for good measure. As we finished the qualifying, we were making great time and were able to take a break to finish the food, before moving into the Quarter finals round, which was best of 3.
The teams were now a bit more relaxed and, in the zone, and the standard didn't let up one bit with some fantastic and tightly fought matches in the quarters.
Ultimately prevailing were our four semi-finalist teams:
· Storm & Tammy vs Murray & Jo
· Yash & Anjali vs Rich & Shirley
Both semis went the full distance, with nail-biting finales, and produced our finalists:
· Murray & Jo vs Rich & Shirley
Before we started the final, Murray handed out a couple of chocolate fish as fun prizes, which I think we'll continue as a tradition going forward. The lucky winners this time were Rich and Trout.
As is becoming the norm for our tournaments, the final lived up to expectations and went all the way to a final frame with the score poised at 2:2. It was a great final frame where both teams had their chances, and ultimately Murray & Jo were able to convert for the win!
Many congratulations to Murray & Jo for the win, and equally to Rich & Shirley for making the final, playing together for the first time!
It was a fabulous day, and everyone really enjoyed themselves!
Next Saturday 3 October we have an Away game at Papatoetoe - please put your name on the sheet if you would like to play.
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Curry League Tuesday nights’ @ 7:00pm
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Saturday 3 October - Papatoetoe @ Papatoetoe
Pool Talk
The 2026 Charles Upham Darts & Pool Tournament
On Saturday the RSA Pool Section teamed up with the Treblemakers to send three teams down to Hibiscus Coast RSA for the Charles Upham tournament.
Each team comprised four players - 2 darts & 2 pool - and so twelve of us made our way down for 8 am.
Lester Putze and the team from the Tribute to NZ Heroes Association were there selling various raffles and promoting mental health awareness and raising money for the NZSAS Trust. We had a warm welcome from our hosts, Shaun & Bevan, plus a reading of the ode followed by short speeches from Lester, a representative from the NZSAS Trust and a presentation of the trophy to Caroline Reynolds, Charles Upham's daughter.
The teams were split into two sections and there was a round-robin within each section, followed by the knockout rounds for both the Plate and the Main event. For each match, the pool and the darts were played simultaneously, and players could quickly catch up on their team's progress. I t was a great format that added to the excitement - you were never quite sure exactly where you stood as a team until the match ended.
It was all sudden death (single frame/leg) games, much like our BHP, and this too added to the tension and excitement.
There were also some fun sideline games to play, such as having to land the cueball on a red circle on an A4 piece of paper at the other end of a snooker table, without hitting a cushion!! That is no mean feat, I can tell you. I think JJ was the first to get into the circle, followed by myself and Tony....but ultimately this was taken out by Kare who landed slap-bang in the middle 🙂
In the tournament there were some very tight games for both pool and darts as we progressed through the round-robin and into the knockout stage, where the sections were then divided into Main and Plate sections.
In the Plate, Warkworth featured with Jo, Murray, Robert & Bobby reaching the final, which then went to a draw! The decider was a single pool frame between Jo & Keith (HBSC) and this was a game for the ages with Jo getting to the black first but just missing a face-cut double and losing by the smallest of margins.
And in the Main event, Warkworth Teams 1 & 3 faced off for a place in the final, with Dave, Tony, Graham & Taine taking on Daniel, Milly, Kare & JJ. It all came down to the last pool frame between Tony & Daniel, which was an epic game of cat'n'mouse that ultimately Tony won.
In the final, we faced a team from HBSC and again this was close, but ultimately both the Pool and the Darts sides won2-1 giving us a team result of 4-2 and the win the Charles Upham Tournament for 2026!
And as an added bonus along the way, Jo won the pool cue raffle.
All of the placed teams were presented their winnings by Caroline & Lester and warmly congratulated by the crowd.
Finally, Shaun invited Tony to say a few words on behalf of the Warkworth RSA Darts & Pool sections and he made the excellent point that, not only was it a wonderful day with the perfect mix of fun, camaraderie and competition, but that it had also served to bring the Pool & Darts teams within each RSA closer together through a shared event.
We all loved it and are very keen to take part again next year!
Pool Talk
Dick Pye Open Singles — Sunday, 13 September, Warkworth
18 players arrived early for the annual tournament muster—not easy for some after a fabulous Saturday night concert at the RSA.
Murray was keen to get play underway. With an experienced field, there was no need for the usual opening briefing, and one-frame shoot-outs were the order of the day.
Of all the impressive shots I witnessed—and there were many—this week’s standout came from Thrax on the black. He powered the ball towards what appeared to be a double, but it flew off the cushion, travelled around the table and dropped into the intended pocket. An amazing shot!
The games moved quickly, and we completed the full round robin before lunch. With only two lonely platters on the grazing table, we opted for a barbecue. Thank you to Tracey for organising the onions and bread, Rina for the delicious hot chips and sausage rolls, and everyone who helped cook.
Play resumed with the knockout rounds:
Quarter-finals: Storm v Tony; Michael v Gary; Ben v John; Dave O v Mark
Semi-finals: Storm v Michael; Ben v Mark
Final: Michael v Ben
What a contest it was, with both players making life difficult for themselves when attempting to pot the black. They traded frames and took the match to a fifth-frame decider. Ben had to play the black while Michael’s final ball sat a hair’s breadth away right over the pocket, creating a nail-biting finish for everyone watching. The match could have gone either way, but a few shots later Michael secured the win. Well done Michael!
It was another fabulous day of play. Thank you to everyone who made it so enjoyable, including Murray, Dave H, Dave O, Tracy behind the bar, and our fantastic group of players.
Pool Talk
Ladies Drawn Pairs Pyjama pool – 5 September 2026 @ Warkworth RSA
Where to begin, friends, fashion, food, fun, finals or fantastic player of the day award.
“What?” I hear you ask. “We don’t have a Fantastic Player of the Day award.” Well, we do now (especially as I had to begin with F). You’re right that we don’t normally single out one person for fantastic outstanding play; we all turn up and bring our best to the table. But this week, I was asked to give a special mention, and I’m sure the team would agree - Shirley, please step up and accept your virtual award. You didn’t miss a beat all day, approaching the table with confidence and potting shot after shot. Seriously amazing play, I don’t think we saw you without a smile all day.
Friends—we must be! Who else would spend a day playing pool in their pyjamas? It was lovely to see our Northern ladies. We truly appreciate the effort you make to join us, and I’m sure places will fill quickly when the invitation comes for us to visit you.
Fashion—ooh la la! I was reminded of that song about green alligators and long-necked geese. We had bright yellow ducks, frazzled birds, cats and mice—Minnie, of course—and, yes, striped pyjamas.
Food—as always, it was excellent, and all-day grazing is fast becoming our new tradition.
Fun—from the moment ‘Grandad Murray’ gathered us for muster and the draw, the laughter never stopped. Missed shots, shouted expletives and games lost on a hanging black didn’t matter; everyone helped make it a fun day of serious pool.
Then came the pointy end of the day. The semifinals saw Milly and Ange face Rochelle and Erana, while Jo and Shirley played Dawn and Marcia. After some hard-fought frames, Milly and Ange met Rochelle and Erana in the final, with Milly and Ange taking the win. Well deserved—you both played brilliantly all day!
The awards—a huge thank you to Dave Harvey and Jim for the amazing line-up of trophies. The bears were a great hit, and we truly appreciate the time you spent making them perfect for us. Having something special to take home made the day even more memorable.
Pool Talk
Interclub Pool: Onehunga Away Sunday Aug 30th
We had a perfect storm of events that conspired to result in us having only 8 players to go down to Onehunga for our second leg match 🙁.
There were players out of the country, hosting out of country visitors, sick etc etc. But that didn't put too much of a damper on things and Onehunga were very welcoming and understanding to our band of merry men & ladies - DaveO, Tony, Jim, Marcia, JJ, Kare and Anjali & Yash.
They had 20 players which meant we all got to play twice, and three times in some cases, to make it 20 vs 20.
After a brief refresher on the Northern Area rules, we kicked off with the doubles (best of 3) and Warkworth got out of the gates quickly and we ended up winning the doubles round 6:4.
Lunch / afternoon tea was on a mexican theme with tacos and fried rice etc, which was really lovely.
In the singles round, also best of 3, I'm afraid I led the team off to a poor start, losing my singles against my long-time rival, Wazza. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one and Onehunga snagged 8 of the first 10 singles to restore a commanding lead of 6 points.
But in true Warkworth style, we kept at it and won 6 of the last 10 singles, making the final score:
Onehunga 16:14 Warkworth
Oh so close to the win, and many ifs buts and maybes to mull over on the way home.
But regardless of the score, it was a great day out and we had a lot of fun and caught up with many old friends.
Next Saturday is the Ladies Drawn Pairs pyjama party - don't miss out if you'd like to play.
Cheers
Dave
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Curry League Tuesday nights’ @ 7:00pm
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Ladies Drawn Pairs (Pyjamas theme) - Saturday 5 September
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Dick Pye Open Singles - Sunday 13 September
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Special Event - Darts & Pool Saturday 19 September - Hibiscus Coast
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Birkenhead @ Warkworth - Sunday 20 September
Pool Talk
Ladies Singles Sunday 16th August 2026
At 8.45 am, we gathered around the board to watch the numbers being drawn and matched to our names. There were plenty of whoops and aahs as the pairs were announced. Fortunately, no introductions—or computer program—were needed.
With eight teams in total, we had the makings of a full day of play, with three-frame games throughout.
Marcia and Dave (O) were unstoppable throughout the day, finishing with seven wins. They were followed closely by Rachael and Gary, Tony and Eddie, and Murray and Jan. The final stand-off between Marcia and Dave and Tony and Eddie was an epic battle, but there could be only one winning team. Congratulations to Marcia and Dave on a well-deserved victory.
No chocolate fish award this week, however, we did have one tin hat (JillnJo), one flying ball incident (TonynEddie) and our usual hit and hope player – Jennie!
Thank you to the board runners for keeping the matches on track, the Bar team for their excellent service, everyone who contributed to the grazing table, and those who donated to the tin. Special thanks to Kim for giving the plate some much-needed silver polishing.
Upcoming – put these dates in your calendar – reach out if you need any further information about any of the events – or join our chat page.
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Curry League Tuesday nights’ @ 7:00pm
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Onehunga @ Onehunga - Sunday 30 August
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Ladies Drawn Pairs (Pyjamas theme) - Saturday 5 September
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Dick Pye Open Singles - Sunday 13 September
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Special Event - Darts & Pool Saturday 19 September - Hibiscus Coast
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Birkenhead @ Warkworth - Sunday 20 September
Pool Talk
Ladies Singles Sunday 16th August 2026
Where to begin? I’ll start where I usually finish, because this win deserves to headline Pool Talk this week. Congratulations, Anjali.
Just 18 months after being introduced to pool, our youngest female player has won the singles tournament, overcoming far more experienced opponents who know exactly what one-frame games demand. Anjali was calm and composed throughout, taking every challenger and difficult shot in her stride. She potted some outstanding, carefully measured shots—none of them flukes. And not to take anything away from her excellent opponent, Chaz; we all know what a brilliant player Chaz is.
For the rest of us, it was a day of missed chances, unexpected wins, and occasionally setting our opponents up for victory. Jenny, as always, didn’t disappoint with her trademark “hit and hope” successes.
El Capitan, aka Muzza, introduced a new Chocolate Fish Award for the player who brought plenty of enthusiasm, fun, and talent to the table. This week it went to Tracey, whose highlights included remonstrating with pockets that refused to accept her ball. It may not have been the award you wanted, Tracey, but we hope you enjoyed it with your late-night cuppa.
Enough pool talk for now.
Thanks to Dave and Murray for working together seamlessly throughout the day, combining digital and manual systems to keep everything running smoothly. Dave’s newly written computer programme had players back at the tables within seconds of the previous games finishing—can we claim that as a first?
Fortunately, Murray was an expert on the board, keeping table numbers organised and wins and losses accurately recorded.
And to end where I began: well done, Anjali—the pictures say it all!
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Drawn Pairs - Sunday 23 August
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Onehunga Away - Sunday 30 August
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Special Event - Darts & Pool Saturday 19 September - Hibiscus Coast
Pool Talk
John Stephens Invitational – Saturday 8 August
The John Stephens Invitational brought together a full field of 32 teams for a strong day of competition, support, and play.
The line-up board said it all, with teams travelling from far and wide to ensure we had a full complement. It was an amazing effort, supported by the unseen organisation behind the scenes (Dave) that ensured the main event was a showcase of play.
Special mention was made of a female team who progressed through, however, applause and accolades to the other 4 or 5 female players as well.
Heading into the semi-finals, it was standing room only as teams and non-playing supporters gathered to watch the closing stages of a long day of play, reflecting on what might have been had the right shot been played.
The semi-final matchups were Carl and Dennis versus Frank and Robbie, and Joshua and Bryce versus Jaques and Eric.
The results set up a final battle between Carl and Dennis and Joshua and Bryce.
Shot for shot, it was anyone’s game, but in the end Joshua and Bryce took it out.
Congratulations to Joshua and Bryce, and well done to everyone involved in organising, supporting, and competing in this memorable event.
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Sunday 16 August - Ladies Single - Come on, ladies - put your name down for a fund day of pool. We are aiming to shorten the day while still ensuring enjoyable, fulfilling games
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Sunday 23 August - Drawn Pairs, no need to find a partner - one will be chosen for you. This is a great way to meet new people, improve your skills, and gain confidence and experience
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Sunday 30 August - Onehunga Away
Men’s Pairs – Sunday 2nd August
What do you get when you bring together eight teams, one truck and trailer on the black, one tin hat, three easy black-ball misses, and the girls on the BBQ.
An awesome day of pool!
With eight teams competing, there was enough time for a full round robin of three-frame games. Given the experience and calibre of the players, the day flowed smoothly.
Not every game went to plan, with more than a few surprise wins and losses on the board before lunch.
After a 30-minute break for a delicious BBQ lunch, thanks go to Tony, Gary, Dave, and Eddie for their food contributions, and to Rachel and Jill for running the BBQ. Cooking is easy when you have great produce, including steak from Warkworth Butchery and homegrown sausages.
In the second half of the day, teams pulled out their best shots as places in the semi-finals became hotly contested. In the last pre-semi match, excitement built as one ball became the decider—but alas, someone’s truck-and-trailer curse struck again. The semi-finals featured Dave and Tony v Jim and Muzz, and Storm and Thrax vs Eddie and Lance. Both games were great entertainment, showcasing skill and strong teamwork. Muzz and Jim won their match, as did Storm and Thrax. As the day drew to a close, the finalists agreed to play three frames. It came down to the wire, with Storm and Thrax taking the win.
Thanks to Tracey and Maree on the bar, Muzz on the board, and all the contestants— events like this would not happen without everyone turning up
Upcoming Events to pop into your diary:
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Saturday 8 August – John Stephen Invitational Pairs – not many spots left
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Sunday 16 August - Ladies Single - Come on, ladies - put your name down for a fund day of pool. We are aiming to shorten the day while still ensuring enjoyable, fulfilling games
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Sunday 23 August - Drawn Pairs, no need to find a partner - one will be chosen for you. This is a great way to meet new people, improve your skills, and gain confidence and experience
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Sunday 30 August - Onehunga Away
Business House Pool 2026
As Business House Pool ends, so do a few rivalries(at least, officially).
One such between Ty Maker (left, player for Masons) and his brother Jordan (right, player for Infinit) in their own family tournament the Makers Cup - the stakes being not only bragging rights, but a small chalice with a double measure of Makers Mark.
No doubt they will be eager to repeat their little challenge next year when Business House is upon us yet again!
19th July 2026 Ladies Pairs Warkworth RSA
What a turn out – potentially one of our biggest pairs competitions – 12 teams, 24 players of varying degrees of experience, talent and enthusiasm. Heartwarming to see we have such a strong team contributing to the success of Warkworth RSA Pool!
Before I get to the main event, I feel a need to award a few accolades first:
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Successful ‘Basher’ - Jenny, I lost count of your successful black shots taking the hit and hope approach - I am sure there is more to it than you make out
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Basketball’ shot of the day – Tammy, who would have thought it was possible? Up and over a ball, flying through the air, and straight into the pocket.
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‘How did that happen’ – Aly – shot was to hit the 6-ball head on, instead came off the cush at the back of the ball, across the table and still into the pocket
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Success Dance’ – Kim, some of those moves are good enough to be showcased in the world cup football
We always knew that it was a stretch for all our games to be three frames, so a call was made after the first three rounds to reduce to one frame shootouts. It was interesting to see the change in play and gave some less experienced teams a chance to finally get a ‘W’ on the board.
After the round robin which is always so enjoyable, as introductions are made and new acquaintances are met (Caroline and Sue), we went straight to semis and enjoyed watching the talent of Rachelle/Marcia v Tracy/Tammy and Jo/Rachel v Emma/Leigh.
The final came down to Tracy/Tammy and Jo/Rachel. After a long day of play, a nail-biting playoff began, with everyone cheering and applauding both teams and finding it hard to choose a side. The first frame went to Tammy and Tracy, the second to Jo and Rachel, and the third and deciding frame to Jo and Rachel!
Well done Jo and Rachel, 2026 Ladies Pairs champions.
POOL TALK - Saturday 4th July
2026 Colin Whalen Invitational Pairs Tournament
On Saturday we had the 2026 Colin Whalen Invitational Pairs tournament. This event has been running for several decades and is our oldest fixture! It's great to see it still going strong with many players who weren't born when the tournament started.
We had 29 teams, 3 short of a full compliment, from clubs from Auckland, the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast, Mangawhai and all the way to Kerikeri! This year, it was great to see that we had 3 all women and 3 mixed teams.
There were many familiar faces, who have been supporting this tournament for many years, but also a few new faces in their first Colin Whalen tournament; Welcome to Jason (Wellsford), Dave (Swanson) and Chris (Hibiscus Coast).
As is always the case, the standard of pool is very high indeed, and progressing far in the tournament is no mean feat. Congratulations to Bob & Chris for making the Quarter finals of the Main and also to Gary & Trout and Jim & Marcia for making the Quarter finals of the Plate - Well Done!
The final of the Plate event was between Paula & Maurice and Peter & Toby. It was a hard-fought tussle, with Paula & Maurice just edging the victory.
And in the final of the main, it was a battle of youth vs experience, with Deon & Eli taking on Clenn & Richie. Youth took an early lead winning the first two frames, before Experience brought the deficit back to one frame. But in the 4thframe Deon & Eli played fabulous pool with Deon taking on a difficult and very risky (potential in-off) black to win the frame and the match. Well done!
A great day was had by all and Raina & her team put on a fantastic lunch, which everyone appreciated hugely.
The next, and last, invitational tournament is the John Stephen memorial pairs which is scheduled in about a month on Sat August 8th.
The sign-up sheet will be going up soon.
Sunday 20th June - Warkworth v Hibiscus Coast @ Warkworth
This little beauty is back where it belongs – on our trophy shelf. First win of the season.
The day began with doubles: three-frame games that took us through to lunch with a 6–4 lead.
Because we played the doubles so efficiently, the singles could also be played over three frames. That made for a longer afternoon, but a better contest, giving players more chance to show their skills rather than leaving the result to a one-frame shootout that can sometimes come down to luck.
There were plenty of highlights and funny moments. In one game, no ball was potted until the sixth attempt, and there were several cliff-hanger black balls that somehow defied gravity — though, as always, the white never seems to do the same. As expected, Hibiscus Coast gave us a tough challenge, and a lot was riding on our final three games. Under pressure, Dave Harvey, Marcia and Rachel held their nerve and secured the overall win. Well done to everyone who came away victorious, and commiserations to those who didn’t — but we wouldn’t be perfect hosts if we claimed all the glory.
Thanks to Hibiscus Coast, for a great afternoon; JJ, for your BBQ skills, Dave H, for stepping in to fill a gap, Marcia and Jim, for our wonderful supply cupboard, it is almost like a mascot, Rina and Eddie, for accommodating us in the kitchen, filling the sauce bottles and appreciating my rice-cooking skills, Rachel putting the trophy in its rightful place and everyone who contributed in some way to the day
Sunday 14th June - Warkworth v Onehunga @ Warkworth
It was an unforgettable day, filled with strong results, fierce competition, great food, plenty of laughter, and exceptional cheerleading.
This was a day like no other and one we are unlikely to experience again until we next host Onehunga. Please forgive any slight inaccuracies in the numbers below:
28 Onehunga players 27 Warkworth players, although numbers were even at one stage during the day. Thank you to those who left their work sites to support us (JJ) and to Kea, who dropped in to say hello and kindly offered to play if needed.
The catering effort was just as impressive: 9 crockpots, 48 sausages, 2 kilos of rice, 3 loaves of bread, 48 bread rolls, 8 kilos of chicken, and a full dessert table …..not a pizza in sight.
This was undoubtedly one of the most memorable inter-club matches of the season so far. The clubrooms were full of energy, and while Onehunga’s cheerleading was outstanding, Warkworth held its nerve in both the doubles and singles. Every game was fiercely contested, with many results coming down to who could sink the black first.
Warkworth made a strong start in the doubles, but Onehunga fought back to finish level. After lunch and the final doubles matches, play moved into the singles. In the one-frame shootouts, the day did not go our way, and Onehunga pulled ahead.
Results: Doubles 7–7
Singles 18 - 10
A great team effort made the day run so smoothly. Thank you to everyone involved, pre-game organisation, board organisers, food preparers, those who contributed financially, Tony on the BBQ, Jennie, Jan, and Trout on dishes, and Marie and her bar staff.
Next match: Sunday 21 June – Hibiscus Coast at home
Entries are now open for the Snooker Open on Sunday 28 June and the Colin Whalen Invitational Pairs on Saturday 4 July – sheets are up so make sure you get your name down early.
Sunday 7th June - Ladies 9 Ball
Murray and Jo had everything well organised by 9:00 am, although the coffee supply could use a little improvement 😊.
Murray provided a clear and engaging overview of the rules; despite hearing them many times, there is always a new nuance to take away, making the pre-play briefing worthwhile.
Play began shortly after, with 13 players split into two groups competing in single-frame games. The pace of play highlighted two distinct approaches: some players focused on aggressively targeting the 9 ball at every opportunity, while others adopted a more measured strategy, working through the balls in sequence before concentrating on the 9.
The morning was filled with fun and laughter, including moments of shared humour that echoed across the tables. The first round was completed by lunchtime, followed by the quarterfinals. Three frames progressed quickly, with several games turning on failed attempts to escape snookers, often resulting in ball-in-hand opportunities and straightforward shots at the 9 for opponents.
Marcia, Michelle, Rochelle, and Cheral competed for places in the final. A larger group of supporters gathered to watch Marcia and Cheral contest a five-frame final. Both players demonstrated impressive skill, combining precise positional play with occasional attacking shots. Marcia ultimately secured the win in what was an entertaining and well-contested match.
Saturday 23rd - Warkworth RSA Invitational Singles
We had an impressive turnout, with 32 players participating – and 14 representing our own club, which made for a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day. Dave kicked off the event with a warm welcome and a quick rundown of our rules. There were more questions than usual, showing just how seriously everyone was taking the competition!
The morning games consisted of three-frame matches that everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy. I was genuinely amazed at how efficiently we moved through the rounds, arriving at our lunch break right on schedule at 12.30. Ryna treated us to a mouth-watering roast lamb and vegetable feast, and I think I speak for everyone when I say a huge thank you to Ryna for her delicious efforts.
The quarter finals brought out some real skill, with Gary taking on Maurice and Lee facing Tony. It was clear that missing just one ball could turn the tide of a match! Tony advanced to the semi-finals to face Glenn, while Toby went up against Maurice. The final itself was a five-frame battle between Maurice and Glenn, with Maurice ultimately claiming a well-deserved victory.
Meanwhile, the plate title was contested between Murray and Trout, with Murray emerging as the winner. Dave wrapped up the day as he began – expressing heartfelt thanks to everyone involved and leading us through the all-important prize giving.
Thank you to everyone who made the day such a success. Looking forward to our next event!
Sunday 17 May - Birkenhead
What fantastic Sunday weather we had heading out for the away match—Warkworth vs Birkenhead! While we didn’t come away with a draw this time, the final score of 12–18 to Birkenhead doesn’t quite capture the energy and camaraderie of the day.
Fourteen of us set off from the club under clear, sunny skies, and a huge thank you goes to our wonderful van drivers, Mike and Rachel, who made sure everyone got there and back safely. Tony, Jamin, and Japhi joined us at the Birkenhead RSA, raising our team to 17 players—a strong turnout with room to grow in future matches.
The doubles matches were played in a best-of-three format, and each one was fiercely contested. Most games came down to a nail-biting shootout to sink the black, but despite our best efforts, Birkenhead managed to pull ahead, building up a 6-game lead. We took a well-deserved break for a delicious lunch at 3, which had some of us feeling a bit too relaxed, but we rallied for the singles and finished the day at 18–12—a six-match loss, but one played with great spirit and determination.
It’s worth noting that playing under different rules, especially having to adjust to the requirement that balls must hit the cushion, added an extra layer of challenge. Even so, there were some standout moments: we brought home three chocolate fish awards! Special mention goes to Jodene, who pulled off some outstanding potting, sinking two blacks against a very strong opponent. Kudos (and chocolate fish!) also go to Jamin and Japhi for their exceptional play and sportsmanship, which truly exemplified the spirit of our club, mention was also made of how open we are to have young players join our team.
Thanks again to everyone who participated and helped. Let’s keep the enthusiasm high and look forward to our next outing.
Next match: SATURDAY 23rd We have an overfull sign up sheet, if you are on the fence about playing and feel you would rather spend the day in your garden or relaxing please make your decision early in the week so that we have time to contact the reserves.
Sunday 19 April - Wellsford v Warkworth
The match concluded in a draw, continuing what has become something of a pattern for us this season. This result marks our third home draw, a good result for both sides.
Wellsford arrived with a full complement of 12 players. It was a pleasure to see several familiar faces and to catch up with old friends. With a strong turnout on our side, we were able to field our team comfortably, with two players held in reserve (thank you, Ash and Kevin).
The doubles commenced at a brisk pace, with short, sharp games and an overall 4–2 win to Warkworth. Well, done Shirley and Trish, who pushed Bryce and Bob to the black in both frames and ensured they had to work hard for their victory.
Following a break for afternoon tea prior to the start of most of the singles, the afternoon proceeded at a more measured tempo. Unfortunately, after the interval we recorded one win to Jenny but then dropped four singles in succession, leaving the overall contest finely balanced. The match remained close through to the final game of the day, played by Trish. As many will attest, playing under the attention of the full gallery can be challenging—well done, Trish. Bob greatly appreciated the standard of competition and the enjoyment shared across both your doubles and singles.
Next match our first away game - Sunday 3rd May Warkworth v Wellsford @ Wellsford, 12 players required for this away game.
2026 Clive Hume VC Singles Tournament
Before we get into some highlights from the day a few notes of thanks:
A massive thank you to all players particularly those that travelled some distance to support this tournament, between petrol costs and adverse weather warnings we really appreciated your willingness to remain in the line-up.
Bob, Gary and Kare – stepping in at the 11th hour to bolster up the run sheet getting us to our 32 players.
Referees – great to see everyone stepping up from a loss to referee the next game.
Rina and her team – another scrumptious lunch enjoyed by everyone
Jan, Kelsey and Seth for looking after us throughout the day, from early morning coffee, a quick whip around with the vacuum to late afternoon drinks and everything in-between.
Dave O and his team, the day ran from smoothly, from initiation to the correct prize envelopes being in the magic black box. What a lovely surprise to have Jo join us for the day – great to have you back Jo.
The games began quickly, with most finishing fast due to the high skill level of the players. Below are a few highlights from the day that I observed:
Tim was an early ‘taxi’ call when two of his balls went flying off the table (I expect some pride flew off as well), that set us up with a good laugh and set the tone for a relaxed but serious competition.
Bobby v Deon – Deon was lucky to get a shot in one of their frames with Bobby breaking and clearing all but one ball off the break;
Marcia v Shay – 2 and almost 3 8 ball clearances
J
azz v Ritchie – alas it wasn’t Ritchie’s day and boy did he cop some stick from his team – beaten by Jazz
The results:
Plate Semi = Trout v Shay & Gary v Grant = Shay v Grant with Shay the victor
Main Semi = Bobby v Bob & Tony v Jared = Bobby v Jared with Jared the victor
Medals were awarded this year to 3rd and 4th winners, Bob and Tony.
Next game is Sunday 19th Wellsford v Warkworth at Warkworth
PAPATOETOE v WARKWORTH - Saturday 28th March
Well, another week and another draw!
We faced Papatoetoe in a closely contested match, with the outcome once again ending in a tie.
Papatoetoe arrived with 21 players compared to our 20. Thanks to Brian and Jan for stepping in at the last minute, and to Marcia and Jennie for playing a couple of extra games. Their efforts ensured that both teams were evenly matched.
The Doubles matches were hard-fought, especially as many of us found it challenging to get into the game after a busy morning at the successful RSA Market. Despite these challenges, we managed to come out on top in the Doubles. However, Papatoetoe took the Singles.
Kim took the spotlight as she finished the day for us, securing the draw against Papatoetoe. Whether or not Kim realized everyone was watching her game, she remained cool, calm, and collected throughout the match.
It was a solid result for our team, and I am sure they will be practicing hard to ensure the win at their place in October.
Easter this weekend = no games
Following weekend Saturday 11th = Clive Hulme
19th April = Next team match Wellsford at home
RAMS v WARKWORTH - Sunday 22nd March
Our first hosting of the year, The Rodney Rams from Whangateau were quick to bring out their cues and set to practising on our tables.
There were a few mentions from them of the last time we faced off at Whangateau on their brand new tables and we took home a resounding win!
Approximately twelve players per team with a couple of late starters, our usual format doubles first and then the singles. Most doubles were over and done with quickly, meaning we could enjoy three frames in the singles as well.
Play ended with a win by Dave Harvey taking us to the draw, well done Dave!
Well done to all of us, the games were evenly contested with most going down to the black. A draw was an awesome result considering there was no strategy in the pairing of teams or the run list this time, we shan’t be doing that against Papatoetoe on Saturday!
Thanks to all the cooks and helpers, our lunch was well received.
Papatoetoe numbers are usually big, so please put your name down to ensure we have another great day on Saturday. Rustle up your favourite recipe and bring it in for all to share – doesn’t matter what it is every contribution helps and saves us having to pay to bring food in.
2026 - 9 Ball Open
A big congratulations to Michael, our 9 Ball Open Champion for the season!
Sixteen teams took on the challenge of three‑frame matches, and the beauty of 9 ball was on full display — it truly can be anyone’s game, with opponents sometimes doing all the work for you.
Chasing that elusive 9 ball proved great fun, with cheers and whoops of delight ringing out throughout the day as every player enjoyed moments of success, even if not always the win.
The standard of play lifted even higher in the semi‑finals, with some outstanding potting on show.
However, the match of the day had to be the final. Michael raced out to a commanding two‑frame lead before Tim fought back to take the third. Into the fourth‑frame showdown we went — or so we thought — when Michael sank the 9 ball straight off the break to seal a thrilling victory.
Well played to all competitors, and congratulations again to Michael on a fantastic win!
2026 Scotch Doubles
Our first competition of the year didn’t disappoint, plenty of amazing shots, but equally plenty that left some partners shaking their heads in wonder.
A line of up thirteen teams and a starting position of three frame games, alas that wasn’t to be with one of our first games lasting a mammoth 75 minutes (what were they doing), after some quick calculations a decision was made and down to one frame games we were.
The round robin matches took us through to our usual amazing smorgasbord for lunch, after which we headed into the quarters, semis and then into the final. First semis Bobby and Brian v Dave H and Gary and the second Bros and Jamin v Yash and Anjali, the photos below reveal the victors who headed into a five frame final.
Congratulations to Bros and Jamin, winners of the 2026 Scotch Doubles, some hard-fought battles through the day led them to the final challenge against Bobby and Brian.
Well-deserved as Bros and Jamin had not only shown great skills and collaboration but awesome team sportsmanship throughout the day.
Sunday saw the annual WW RSA v WW Golf Club competition (postponed from late last year).
We had eight keen participants, but sadly the Golf Club had no challengers, gifting us the win for 2025.
Determined to make the most of what was a less-than-ideal situation, we went ahead and played golf. The threatened rain never materialised, and the course was in great nick despite the deluge the day before. It turned out to be a great day, and Robbie Blair made the most of it with an impressive 40 points. Next closest were Dave Harvey with 33, and Gary Mowday and Kevin Baldwin with 32.
After some refreshments at the Golf Club, we headed back to the RSA to play pool. We decided to run a mini tournament, and after a round of singles qualifying, our final four were Kevin, Gary, Robbie, and me.
In our semi-final, I took the first frame against Robbie, and then he fouled on the black after snookering himself in the second frame, handing me the win. In the other semi-final, Kevin cleared his last few balls and the black to win the third frame against Gary in a well-fought match.
Kev and I then played the final, which I won, and that brought an end to a great day that everyone enjoyed, despite it not being quite what we had hoped for.
Big thanks to Art, Chris, and Jodene for being part of it, along with the players mentioned above, and to Marcia for the early opening.
T H
2026 Pool Season - Starting with the Curry League
Hi Everyone,
The 2026 pool season will be kicking off with the summer curry league, which will be played on Tuesday nights at 7pm from March 3rd through until April 21st. The format is 8 drawn teams of 4 players and the play is 4 singles plus 2 Scotch doubles for the match. We normally finish the night with a game of killer ($2 entry).
It's great fun and numbers are limited to 32, so please put your name down if you'd like to play.
Please also add your name at the bottom if you'd like to be a reserve.
The sign-up sheet is now up on the board
Cheers
Dave