ANDY STONE lifted the first of this season's York Conservative Clubs' knock-out trophies when he won the Les Hawkins Memorial Trophy played at competition sponsors Bootham Club.

Acomb player Stone beat Heworth's Darren Clark in the final, overcoming an 18-point handicap to take the crown.

Clark never really challenged after a nip-and-tuck opening which saw a lot of safety play, in which Stone eventually built a 43-23 lead.

Clark then failed to get the white safe, leaving his opponent with a red and blue. A good snooker followed, which the Heworth man was unable to get out of, and, with only colours remaining, he conceded defeat as Stone potted green and brown to go 65-23 ahead.

The semi-finals were played on the same night, with the draw in the last four seeing Stone net a bye through to the final as opponent Matt Smith, of Bootham, was unavailable due to work.

Clark, meanwhile, beat Phil Hart, of Malton.

Hart gave a 13 handicap start and, after a bout of safety play, he mis-cued over the black letting Clark in to score a further ten points.

There followed further safety play before the game changed when Hart, while potting a red, went in off the blue to give Darren a 16-point lead.

Hart from then on never potted a ball as Clark took control, Hart conceding at 59-18 with the last red remaining.

The matches were refereed by Tim Fillingham and the trophy and awards were presented by Bootham president Derek Ward.