The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Jason Green lifted his second Snooker Scratch title on Saturday night after edging out four-time winner Craig Fitter 4-3 in the show-piece match of the Spalding and District Snooker and Billiards League’s finals weekend.
Pyramid potter Green, who first lifted the President’s Cup back in 2011, shaded a titanic tussle with Services star Fitter 4-3 (66-9, 33-71, 23-71, 71-26, 27-64, 70-39, 80-26) in the undoubted game of the weekend.
Green sank a 42 break in the final, while Fitter, who won the trophy in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2013, added a 33 in a high class final.
A GREEN DAY: Jason Green shows off the Snooker Scratch title after his second career win on Saturday.
The top team trophy up for grabs at the Springfields Events Centre-hosted weekend also ended up in Green’s hands, as his Pyramid F side beat holders Services B to secure the Norey Cup for an amazing fifth time in seven years.
Green, Spencer Dawkins and Alfonso Palumbo saw off Craig Fitter, Vince Fitter and Kev Fitter 5-1 to deny the Spalding side what would have been their third successive title.
Dawkins starred with a 30 break in that one, while Vince Fitter reeled off scores of 31 and 29 in what was the final game of the weekend.
CUP KINGS: Sunday night saw Pyramid F close out the finals weekend with their fifth Norey Cup win in seven seasons. Fixtures secretary Susan Lefley was on hand to present the trophy to (from left) – Spencer Dawkins, Jason Green and Alfonso Palumbo.
The action got under way on Friday night, with Consti A getting the better of Holbeach A 600-526 in the Billiards Shield final.
Alan Hansard (R80) starred with a 37 break as he, Stewart Davies (R30) and John Bellerby (R100) beat James Glover (R90), Ben Harding (R40) and Colin Dodd (R30) respectively to deny the league leaders a possible double.
A GREAT START: The first trophy of the weekend went the way of Consti A on Friday night as they lifted the Billiards Shield. Receiving the trophy from league legend Rob Childs (dark jumper) are (from left) – Alan Hansard, John Bellerby and Stewart Davies.
There was better news for the impressive Dodd in Saturday morning’s first final, as he dispatched Gosberton’s Shane White (O20) 200-118 in the Billiards Handicap.
Dodd pocketed a 35 break en-route to lifting the trophy for the first time in his promising career.
ONE TO WATCH: The talented Colin Dodd (left) receives his Billiards Handicap title from Steve Spencer.
There was also a new name on the Snooker Senior Masters trophy after Martin Deacon (O7) defeated Bryan Turnell (R21) 2-1 in a close contest.
Tulips potter Deacon lost the first frame to Consti’s Turnell 51-56, but came back with frame triumphs of 66-58 and 68-39 to clinch the crown.
SENIOR MASTER: Martin Deacon is given the Snooker Senior Masters title by Bill Parker after his first win.
It was closer still in the Snooker Mixed Pairs, as two-time winners Susan Lefley and Sean Swinburn (O28) were pipped by Chrissy Allwood and Neil Reynolds (O63) on the final black.
The 2017 winners took the victory 128-118, with Reynolds racking up a pivotal 32 break en-route to their second win in three seasons.
CLOSE CLASH: Chrissy Allwood and Neil Reynolds show off their Snooker Mixed Pairs crown.
Next up was the Snooker KO Cup final, which went with the form book as top tier title chasers Holbeach D defeated Division Two side Boundary C 4-1. Denis Hix (R7),
Paul Daw (O28), Neil Grant (scr), Donald Monk (R7) and Ian Woodberry (scr) now have the chance to secure an impressive double.
KNOCKOUT BLOW: Holbeach D won the KO Cup final. From left – Denis Hix, Donald Monk, Neil Grant, trophy presenter Stuart Atkin, Paul Daw and Ian Woodberry.
The exhilarating Snooker Scratch final then closed out Saturday’s play.
League legend Rob Childs was the first of Sunday’s winners as he beat Dodd by a closer than expected 361-266 in the Billiards Scratch.
Childs made a 50 break as he lifted the crown for an 11th time since 1998, but Dodd’s efforts against the maestro earned plenty of plaudits.
MASTER CUEMAN: Rob Childs (right), is pictured with David Lefley after winning his 11th Billiards Scratch title.
Next was a super sixth Ladies’ Snooker title for Tanya Peel (scr), as she defeated mum Karen Howlett (R21) 2-0.
SUPER SIX: Tanya Peel receives the Ladies’ Snooker title from Tony Scully. She’s now a six-time champion.
That was also the score in the Snooker Handicap final, with Mike Knight (O21) getting the better of Neil Grant (scr) 75-67, 68-48 for his first success in the competition.
MAIDEN WIN: Mike Knight (right) gets his hands on the Snooker Handicap title, courtesy of Mick Tiller.
There was a familiar winner in the Snooker Pairs, with formidable Bourne SC duo Mark Gray and Mike Byrne (O98) seeing off Turnell and Robert Adams (R7) 163-133 for their fourth win in six years.
Gray made a 46 break en-route to sealing the victory.
DOUBLES DELIGHT: Mick Byrne (left) and Mark Gray (right) are handed their trophy by Malc Dennis.
Long Sutton’s Sean Swinburn and Wayne Dent then got their hands on the Snooker Scratch Pairs trophy by seeing off Pyramid’s Green and Dawkins 2-1 (58-32, 45-57, 65-60).
Better was to follow for the Bourne duo, who went on the close the night with their Norey Cup success.
UP TO SCRATCH: Sean Swinburn (left) and Wayne Dent (right) defeated Jason Green and Spencer Dawkins to win the Snooker Scratch Pairs. They are with Jane Palumbo.
This Saturday sees the Singles and Pairs final at Crowland RBL (7pm), with Joe Garland (scr) and Ady Sibley (O21) squaring off against Mike Sampson (O7) and Deacon (O7) in an all-Tulips showdown.
