Workington’s Veterans Club A team have made it three L&L Property Contractors Snooker League Trebles Handicap Trophies in a row.
They completed the hat-trick with a thrilling 5-4 black ball win over fellow townies, the United Club B.
The final, hosted by Workington Golf Club in their beautifully refurbished lounge, saw its six red reduced handicap format produce a series of close frames pan out with the final one being the most dramatic of them all.
United Club’s former professional Dale Milton (Scr handicap) knocked in the first red but in missing a tricky black Vets’ Kevin Basnett (Scr) was in.
Three reds and high value colours may have only produced 22 but with two more reds and colours soon to follow Basnett was 40 points to the good.
A quick evaluation from Milton saw the deficit too great with a handshake offered as Basnett took the frame 41-1 to put the defending champions 1-0 up.
Frame two saw Stephen Jackson (+19) in blistering form with nothing looking safe. After a series of fantastic pots the United B cueist built up a substantial lead and even though Vets’ Paul Smith tried hard to get back into the frame the damage was already done as Jackson romped to a 66-13 win and a 1-1 scoreline.
The next produced good start for the United A team with Andrew Carter (+23) excelling in the early exchanges. The harder the Vets A side tried to get back into the frame the tricker it got and as Carter’s fine form continued he took the frame 33-24 for a 2-1 United A lead.
In frame four Kevin Basnett was quick to cancel out the handicap start with a break of 31 to give the in-form Stephen Jackson something to think about.
As Basnett maintained the upper hand, with some fine tactical play, Jackson’s momentum was dampened to the point where the Vets A cueman eventually went on to win 55-30 for a 2-2 interval scoreline.
Frame five produced the lowest scoring encounter of the final, however with Andrew Carter slowly building momentum the United A cueist was one point ahead with the last three balls on the table.
A fine pot on the blue was soon followed by an equally good shot on the next ball with the pink being deposited for Carter to defeat Paul Smith 26-12 and put his team 3-2 up.
Dale Milton was looking good for the United B side in frame six but with a couple of cruel slices of luck it allowed the Vets A team to draw level at 3-3 with a 48-10 win.
Vets A’s Kevin Basnett made a positive start to frame seven as he chalked off the 23 point handicap deficit in quick fashion. However, carrying on with the excellent play he demonstrated in his previous frames Andrew Carter managed to trade with Basnett taking the frame to the black.
As the final ball finished at distance but near the corner pocket Carter looked to be taking the match lead for the United B side again. However, an unfortunate miss ensued leaving Basnett a long pot with which the Vets A captain duly obliged for a 40-33 victory.
At 4-3 to the Vets A side the pressure was well and truly on the United Club B however, in rekindling the sort of play he showed earlier in the match Jackson was clearly up for it.
Potting some superb balls Jackson went from strength to strength and with the Vets A side unable to do anything about it the United B maverick won comfortably 40-14 to take the match into a decider.
The ninth and final frame begun with Dale Milton giving away 19 start to Vets A’s Paul Smith but with a break of 44 to the yellow the former pro was definitely in control.
As the next few balls were traded Milton only needed the blue to leave Smith requiring snookers. A cut into the middle pocket later and Smith was up against it, but the white ran behind the black and Milton was left snookered.
Trying to swerve around the black Milton missed the pink to leave Smith 12 behind with 13 points on the table.
After a safety shot on the pink by Smith, Milton attempted the return only to see the pink double kiss leaving the penultimate ball over the corner pocket.
Chipping the pink in Smith left a tricky black along the top cushion however in stroking it in the Vets A cueist walked away the hero by taking the frame 51-50, the match and the title in the process.
A more than useful footballer and cricketer in his youth, Smith was now showing his ability on the snooker table.
