Bootham have dominated the York Conservative Clubs’ Ted Plant Snooker Pairs competition since it started in the 1989/90 season – but they were denied in this year’s final by Heworth.

Bootham, with 11 successes to their name, were targeting a hat-trick of wins when they met Heworth, whose sole victory was in 1997, in the 23rd final at their home club.

However, their hopes were blown away as Heworth won 3-1.

John Sherlock and Colin Richardson won the opening frame 38-34 after Bootham’s Colin Sanderson failed on the black when locked on the side rail.

Joe Bedford and Peter Hodgson made it 2-0 with a 72-45 win in a game peppered with snookers and fouls totalling 45 points.

Dave Rhodes and Nick Lawn secured the match with a 40-28 success before Matt Dawson and Jamie Robinson clawed one back by taking the last frame 66-42.

Heworth completed a hat-trick of title successes with a game to play when they defeated Bootham 5-2 in the Slater Cup Snooker Pairs League.

Richardson and Sherlock gave them a winning start and John MaCready and Keith Batty made it 2-0 with a black ball win.

Tony Cox and Ken Clifford pulled one back but Heworth took the next two frames to decide the match before Bill Flewitt and Peter D Henderson reduced the arrears with another black ball result.

This win moved Heworth ten points clear with only seven points available in the last match.

Acomb did Heworth a favour by beating Fulford 4-3, helped by two black ball results.

A and J Stephenson won the first frame on the black but Acomb then won the next three, the last one by G Rawling and M Bowker on the black.

Fulford made it 3-2 in the fifth game and M Taylor and P Stroughair levelled, also with a black ball one-point win.

However, Acomb gained the aggregate by just seven points for a 4-3 victory.

Heworth need two points from their last match against Acomb to make it six titles in a row after defeating Bootham ‘B’ 4-2 in the Faber Shield Billiards League.

Bootham captain Ian Robinson defeated Gary Rogers (-140 handicap) 150-8 and whereas Brian Birch, Steve Burdett, Mark Winskill (40 break) and Jason Milner won the remaining matches for Heworth, Robinson’s massive win meant that Bootham gained the aggregate.

Acomb and Bootham ‘A’ shared the first four games with John Ashwell and Keith Myers (27 break) winning for Acomb and Ken Taylor (28 break) and Chris Dower for Bootham.

Acomb had a 15-point aggregate advantage going into the last game which could have resulted in a draw or a win for either team.

Trevor Ventress was too good for Barry Rankin to ensure Acomb’s 4-2 victory.