Workington’s Veterans Club A became the new L&L Property Contractors Snooker League Trebles Team Handicap champions.
They took the title after a hard-fought 5-2 win over fellow townies Station Road B.
The six red handicap format is always one that can go either way but with some solid play the Vets A side went away worthy winners.
In the first frame Kevin Basnett (Scr handicap) started with a break of 29 and even though Mark Tunstall (+7) tried to peg him back the damage was already done, as the Vets A captain went on to win 56-18.
Frame two saw Peter O’Hagan (Scr) produce an early contribution of 24 and in following it up with two reds and colours he was out of sight as he won the frame 45-11 to pull Station B back into the match.
Station B captain Stephen O’Hagan (+5) made the most of his early chances to take control of frame three but as the frame progressed Steve Garroway (+13) slowly dragged his way back into it.
With the last two balls remaining Garroway was still behind, however, a brillant pink and a tricky black later it was the Vets A cueist who proved victorious with a 35-24 win.
At 2-1 to Vets A, Kevin Basnett was in amongst the balls from the off and with a break of 27, Station A’s Peter O’Hagan was up against it.
This didn’t faze O’Hagan, however, and in getting to colours the Station B talisman could still win. A safety bout ensued but it was Basnett who crafted the chance he needed to clear for a 49-20 win and a 3-1 Vets A lead.
In the next Stephen O’Hagan produced some fine pots to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but in being matched all the way to the final ball the Station B player looked likely to lose the frame.
By leaving the black to the middle Vets A seemed certain to take a crucial 4-1 match lead.
As O’Hagan watched on the black disappeared, but with the white travelling round the table and dropping into the same middle pocket, the Station B captain won the frame 36-34 to reduce the match deficit to 3-2.
Vets A’s Steve Garroway maintained his small handicap advantage all the way to the colours in frame six with Station B’s Mark Tunstall hanging on.
As the remaining balls were well placed it was still anyone’s frame but in potting a good yellow Garroway was in.
Taking the green with good position on the brown he confidently completed the clearance to win 43-18 for a 4-2 Vets A scoreline.
In what turned out to be the final frame of the match another early trade-off saw a close frame between the two captains, Kevin Basnett and Stephen O’Hagan.
As the last four colours stood Basnett faced a tricky brown, but in missing it left an equally difficult pot for O’Hagan.
Unfortunately, this also eluded the Station B cueist and in leaving a mid-distance pot Basnett duly obliged to clear the last four balls for a 40-17 frame match and title victory.
