2009/2010 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
JUNCTION ‘A’ PREVAIL IN THRILLING NEIL CLARK FINAL
NEWPORT (Shropshire): The Junction A came back from 0-2 and 1-3 down to break Railway Tavern hearts and win a thrilling Neil Clark Memorial Trophy on a tie-break frame at a heated Royal Navy Club on Wednesday night.
A stunning double by Louis Fudge had put the local side in front and Ben Clewes emerged from the haze to make it 2-0 to the Newport side. But Ian Mason maintained his composure to give the Staffordshire side hope against Anthony Winfield.
The tension was paramount in rack four and Keith Rogers had two chances to level the match against Ray Talbot, but the Tavern stalwart was smoking on full gas and managed to push the Upper Bar side within sight of the promised land with a stunning clearance.
The doubles draw pitched Rogers and Mason against Winfield and Fudge and the Tavern side were never in the frame after the break off. Rogers had his chance to seal the rack with seven Tavern balls remaining, but it took a measure finish from Mason to give the Norbury side hope.
Up stepped Clewes and Talbot to face Junction skipper Hyla Marklew and Sion Richards in frame six. It was a nip and tuck affair with advantage to the Junction for long periods, but a Norbury mistake handed two shots to Clewes, who looked certain to clinch the match and the prestigious trophy. But the Tavern skipper haplessly potted a red on his first visit instead of taking the black and he left the frame ball safe on his second visit.
The Norbury side could not believe their luck and Richards held his nerve to level the match and send the final into a sudden death tiebreak. Marklew pitted Mason against Talbot in the last rack and the Staffordshire side had early chances to seal the title.
Mason missed a straightforward pot at a crucial time and Talbot found a potting rhythm that edged him ever closer to glory. But the Newport player miscued at a crucial time, handed two shots to Mason and the Gnosall-based player held his nerve to sink the final colour and slot the black into the corner to send the Junction A side into raptures and stun the partisan home crowd.
Gnosall’s Navigation comfortably eased through against Audco at the Shake in the earlier Neil Clark Memorial Trophy third-place play-off match. Steve Whitlock edged Ross Richards-Jones in a scrappy first frame and Alan Smart made it 2-0.
Will Dorsett had no answer to Scott Smith’s potting prowess in rack three and veteran Geoff Arrowsmith sealed the trophy for third place with a tight frame win over Richard Anthony.
League coordinator Neil Perkins paid a special thanks to the Navy Club for their excellent hospitality on finals’ night and to Barry and Ann Clark, the parents of the late Neil Clark, who donated a cheque for £50 to the Newport Cottage Care Centre. League matches resume next week.
Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – final result:
Junction A v Railway Tavern, 4-3
Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – 3rd place play-off result:
Audco v Navigation, 0-4
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com