2013 INTERNATIONAL SINGLES – PERTH, AUSTRALIA

Players from the British Lions and Australian Test squads played out an individual event following the successful Test series. The starting block saw nine Australian test squad members along with the seven members of the British Lions compete in the International Singles competition.

2013 International Singles Winner
Giuseppe D'Imperio (England)

Matt Brannan, who was top of the Test series averages winning 12 frames from 15 played, went out at the last 16 stage losing in the deciding frame to Dane Beeton. Gavin Lomax defeated top Aussie star John Wheeler by 5-2 to also progress into the quarter finals.

A lot of the Australian squad are known for their top class ability from playing in the world championships. None more so than Justin Sajich who defeated Ben Flack in the deciding frame to go into the semi-finals where he was paired against Gavin Lomax one of the leading test players for the Lions. Giuseppe D’Imperio took out Dane Beeton by 5-3 to gain a match against former World championship semi-finalist Ben Nunan in the other semi-final match.

With four of the best players in the world involved, the scene was set for a real Aussie against Lions battle but it was Gavin Lomax and Giuseppe D’Imperio who produced top form to go forward for an all Lions final which was won in the deciding frame by Giuseppe.

The British Lions would like to express their sincere thank you to the Australian players for a great week of world class competition, there were no losers in this brilliant advert for Eightball pool.

Friday 18th October - 5th Test

BRITISH LIONS WIN TEST SERIES.

After a great and very equal test series,  the final result was down to who could win Test 5.

First set gave the Lions a 4-3 advantage with Gavin Lomax dishing off the break.

Second set was a repeat of the first with that man Lomax proving what a great asset he is to the team,  Lions now had an 8-6 advantage.

Third set and Lomax getting his hat-trick with yet another break and dish, backed up with a captains win by Matt Brannan to take the score to 10-6,  looking good for the Lions until Australia used their trademark never say die spirit to take the next three frames.

Looking like another final frame decider until Wayne Smith put away a magnificent eightball to clinch the series for the Lions.

British Lions captain was top of the averages with 12 wins from 15 frames followed by Gavin Lomax with 11 frames to his credit. Great win for the Lions and a great performance from the Aussies,  what a brilliant test series.

2013 Test Series Winners - British Lions

British Lions Captain - Matt Brannan

Thursday 17th October - 4th Test

"KANGAROOS  MAUL  LIONS"

Just when it seemed safe for the British Lions to relax and enjoy the local scenery, along came a squad of Kangaroos to trample all over them, Perth is a dangerous place with them Aussie pool players on the rampage

1st Set was taken by Australia with scoreline of 4-3 but this was reversed in the 2nd set to leave the match equal at 7 frames each.

First 4 frames in 3rd set were shared with that man Brannan and Gavin Lomax scoring for the Lions to take the score to 9 frames each but then the Aussies spoiled the party by taking the final 3 frames to give them a 12-9 win and level the series at 2 tests each.

It looks like a great finish to the series with the 5th test deciding the honours, best of luck to both teams.

Wednesday 16th October - 3rd Test

LIONS COME ROARING BACK.

Third test in a series of five. For the first time in the series the Lions take a lead in the first set with wins for Brannan, Flack, Dixon and Smith, Lions lead 4 – 3.

Second set, the Lions showed great form taking six of the next seven frames to open up a lead of 10 – 4, leaving the Aussies with a massive hill to climb, requiring all of the frames in set three.

Third set, there was to be no miracle comeback as Lomax broke and dished the first frame ensuring a victory for the Lions, The Aussies showed their tenacity by winning the next four frames, further wins for D’Imperio and Brannan gave the Lions a healthy winning margin of 13 frames to 8.

Tuesday 15th October - 2nd Test

KANGAROO’S STRIKE BACK.

After narrowly losing the first test on a final frame decider the home team reversed the tables and took a final frame win to win the second test and level the series.

The Lions took an early lead in the first set with wins for Smith, Lomax and Brannan. Australia fought back by taking the next four frames to take the set and open up a slim lead of 4 frames to three.

In the second set the Aussies capatalised on their form with a win for Wheeler over Lomax, 5 -  3 in favour of the home side, the Lions won the next three with wins for Bareham, Smith and Brannan, 6 – 5 in favour of the Lions. The last three frames swung backwards and forwards, two going to Australia and one to the Lions, end of set two seven frames each.

Third set show down, the first six frames were shared, who would have believed that once again the sides were level at seven each with just the final frame to play.

Final frame, Ben Flack for the Lions and Dane Beeton for the Aussie’s, the frame swung one way then the other, finally victory went the way of the Aussies, Test two winners by 11 frames to 10. The series is finely poised going in to the third test tomorrow

Monday 14th October - 1st Test

"LIONS TAKE FIRST BLOOD” -  BUT ONLY JUST".

British Lions got off to a great start winning a last frame decider for a 11-10 win against the might of Australia.   In a see-saw match either side could have taken the spoils, this series is not going to be decided until the final ball of the 5th test.

Gavin Lomax, Tem Dixon and Matt Brannan put the Lions 3-0 ahead in the 1st set, only for Kitchener, McCartney, Wheeler and Saxon to take the next 4 frames, giving the home nation a 4-3 lead at the start of the 2nd set.

Australia really put on the pressure and by the end of the set had increased their lead to 8-6 with McCartney and Saxon winning their second frames and Lomax plus Brannan doing likewise for the Lions.

However there is a lot of character in this Lions team, winning the next 4 frames with Captain Brannan and Lomax again on top form to give them 3 wins.  Australia fought back to take the next 2 frames,  for a 10-10 scoreline and a last frame decider.

Jake McCartney the last man on for Australia with the chance of  a hat-trick took the initiative but  ran out of position to allow Wayne Smith back to the table where he cleared his 3 remaining balls plus the Eightball to take the first test for the Lions, a great team performance.

British Lions on arrival in Australia

Western Australia with the British Lions

Saturday 12th October - Warm Up Match

As a warm up game the British Pool Lions played against a very strong Western Australia team in Perth, which will be followed by 5 test matches against the Australian National Squad commencing on Monday 14th October.

The Lions won by 20-8 with Temujin Dixon, player of the match, winning all 4 frames followed by Giuseppe D’Imperio, Ben Flack, Gavin Lomax and team captain Matt Brannan who all won 3 frames. Wayne Smith and Darrell Bareham each won 2 frames.

The hospitality and sportsmanship of the home state has been excellent, without doubt Perth is going to be a fabulous venue for the test series.

The British Lions Pool Squad head out to Perth, Western  Australia on the 9th October to compete in a 5 test series against the home nation,  returning on Tuesday 22nd.
Only Gavin Lomax experienced the last journey down under in 2011 when the first ever Lions squad had a narrow victory against the Aussies, winning a play-off to decide the series.
Since then the British Lions have visited South Africa in 2012 winning the test series by a large margin and now they return to face the might of Australia.  Although we have seen teams from Australia attend all of the World Championships which have been held in England since 1993,  they have never managed to bring their full squad but in their own backyard, it will be a different proposition.
The Australian National Finals commence on 14th October in Perth which is where the WEPF was founded 21 years ago,  and it will be at that very same venue the British Lions will compete in the 2013 test series. This year is also the 30th anniversary of the AEPF National Finals.

Steve Mills (Manager)

Matt Brannan (Captain) (Scotland)

Ben Flack (England)

The current British Lions squad is one of the strongest teams we have sent abroad to compete, full of top level internationals and managed by Steve Mills who recently led his England team to become World Eightball Pool Champions.
Steve has Scotland's Matt Brannan as his captain for the test series,  another player who has experienced the tensions of being a Lion, he was in the successful 2012 South African squad.
Ben Flack, Darrell Bareham and Giuseppe D’Imperio join the squad as current England Internationals whilst Temujin Dixon is recognised  as one of the rising band of new stars who are coming into the sport.   The seventh squad member will be from Wales who have as yet not completed their qualifiers.

Darrell Bareham (England)

Gavin Lomax (England)

Giuseppe D'Imperio (England)

Temujin Dixon (England)

Wayne Smith (Wales)

The Lions will play five test matches against Australia at their National finals, not an easy task but with the strong squad we are sending,  hopefully we will see Matt and Steve hoisting the trophy when the series is complete.