2012/2013 NEWPORT & DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE
For immediate release
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
LSC AT THE TAV WIN NEIL CLARK MEMORIAL TROPHY FINAL
· Shakespeare A stun Horns Gnosall B to claim third place
NEWPORT (Shropshire): LSC at the Tavern claimed victory in the 2013 Neil Clark Memorial Trophy (Newport Pool League Cup) at the Royal Navy Club on Wednesday evening.
The Upper Bar side survived a first frame scare to seal the cup in five frames to become the seventh winners in as many years. Hyla Marklew put the Norbury underdogs into a 0-1 lead and Keith Rogers had his chance to make it 0-2 before a costly foul gifted Paul Cartledge two shots. The Telford player held his nerve to level the match.
Steve Roycroft was never in the equation against 2006 Newport Open champion Paul Trevor and, when Sion Richards fouled and gifted John Wlliams two shots in a tense fourth frame, the writing was on the wall for the 2009 champions. Skipper Heathcote opted against squad rotation to ensure an LSC win and he and Cartledge got the better of Rogers and Roycroft in a tight fifth frame to seal the trophy for LSC.
Earlier in the evening, Shakespeare A earned a surprise win over Horns Gnosall B in the third-place play-off game. Richard Hendy got the better of Dean Smith in a scrappy first frame to make it 1-0, but two missed blacks proved costly for Andy Potter and Mick Manning levelled the match.
When Neil Dale gave away two shots attempting to get out of a snooker, Neil Perkins made a five-ball clearance to make it 2-1 and Dave Marshall stunned an out-of-sorts Colin Pink to make it 3-1.
The light-hearted contest was settled in the Shakespeare’s favour in the first of the doubles frames. Ross Richards Jones, who had teamed up with Shake landlord Ben Holmes, potted a tricky black in a baulk corner pocket to prevent Smith and Manning from taking the game to the sixth frame.
The awards were presented by Barry Clark – the father of former double league-winning pool captain Neil Clark – who lost his battle against a cancer-related illness in October 2006. Barry and Ann Clark also made a charitable donation to the Shropshire Blood Trust Fund.
2013 Neil Clark Memorial Trophy – results
3rd place play-off
Horns Gnosall B v Shakespeare A, 1-4
Final
LSC at the Tav v Junction A, 4-1
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com