Workington Golf Club held their nerve in a thrilling L&L Property Contractors Snooker League Division Two Top Four Play-off encounter.
They edged Whitehaven’s Rack Shack 4–3 in a match packed with momentum swings, quality scoring, and a tense final frame decider.
The Golf Club made the ideal start through Mark Brasted, who produced a composed and controlled performance against Neil Docherty.
Brasted dictated the early exchanges, building a steady lead before maintaining his advantage through the colours to secure a solid 58–31 victory, handing the Division Two champions an early foothold at 1–0.
Whitehaven’s Rack Shack responded in emphatic fashion in frame two, as Andy Moore delivered one of the stand-out performances of the match against Bryan Walker.
Moore quickly asserted control with confident potting and clever tactical play, pulling clear before a decisive contribution around the final red that eventually allowed him to return and clear the remaining colours. He sealed a convincing 56–16 win to bring the match level at 1–1.
The first doubles frame saw Rack Shack seize the initiative. Docherty and Moore combined effectively against Mark Cowan and Walker in a tightly contested frame that remained in the balance deep into the closing stages.
With the scores close approaching the final colours, the Rack Shack pairing produced the more clinical finish, holding their nerve to take the frame 55–41 and edge ahead 2–1.
Facing a potential shift in momentum, Workington Golf Club responded with authority in the second doubles frame.
Simon Fraser and Lewis Tilley delivered a commanding display against Paul McAvoy and Andrew Carruthers, taking control early and steadily extending their advantage.
Their superior scoring and composure ensured there would be no way back, as they closed out a dominant 65–22 victory to level the match once again at 2–2.
With the tie finely balanced, the final three singles frames provided high drama. In frame five, Tilley and McAvoy were locked in a tense and tactical battle, with neither player able to establish a decisive lead.
As the frame moved into the colours, it was McAvoy who found the crucial edge, producing composed pots under pressure to take the frame 44–25 and restore the Rack Shack’s advantage at 3–2.
The Golf Club refused to go away, however, and forced the match into a decider in emphatic style. Cowen produced a dominant and assured performance against Lee Dougherty, controlling the frame from the outset.
Cowen’s consistent scoring and tight control limited his opponent’s chances, allowing him to close out a convincing 64–13 victory and level the match at 3–3.
With everything resting on the final frame, the Golf Club’s Phil Sorfleet and the Rack Shack’s Carruthers stepped up for the decider. In a nervy and tactical encounter, both players showed composure under pressure, with safety play and shot selection proving crucial.
As the frame progressed, Sorfleet gradually edged in front before capitalising in the closing stages.
A composed finish on the colours saw him pull clear and secure the frame 76–14, sealing a hard fought 4–3 victory to the delight of his Workington Golf Club team mates.
