MARK HANCOCK came agonisingly close to joining this season’s century club with a brilliant break of 98 against Adam Shorto in the semi-final of the team straight knockout.

Shorto, so often the one dishing out the tons, and Martyn Desperques are the only two players to have made a century this season, and it looked like Hancock (pictured) was set to join them when potting the black off the last red before the colours.

But the white caught the knuckle of the centre pocket leaving a tricky cut-back yellow off its spot that went awry, as did his team’s bid to make the final.

With Darren Hughes and Adrian Lihou both winning, Gremlin Galacticos beat Ex-Service Hot Butts 6-2 to set up a repeat of last year’s final against rivals La Villette Hotel Gremlins.

• Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details. Individual editions are also available.