Wood completes a handicap hat-trick

8:29am Friday 28th March 2008

Heworth's Neil Wood claimed his third York Conservative Clubs' Fosters Challenge Snooker Cup when he defeated Steve Burdett 3-0 in the final at Heworth club.

In the final frame, Burdett potted the first red but flicked another playing a safety and Wood was left an easy opener. He went on to make a 69 break.

Burdett conceded when he went in-off the last red, Wood winning the frame 73-22 to take the handicapped knockout tournament.

Burdett enjoyed billiards success, though, when he applied his snooker potting ability and beat Barry Rankin (Bootham) in the final of the York Conservative Clubs' Hylton Foster Knockout.

Burdett (+35 handicap) struggled initially and Rankin (-5) was able to overcome the handicap and lead 73-63. But Burdett got into the match with a 23 break and gradually pulled away to win 165-129.

In the semi-finals, Burdett (+35) beat Keith Watkinson (Heworth) (+65), while Rankin (-5) defeated Colin Robinson (Bootham) (+10).

After their shock defeat in the semi-final of the Kutters and Shannons Team Cup, Heworth A' came back with a 6-1 thrashing of Acomb A' to take the York Conservative Clubs' Carlsberg UK title with one match to play.

Kevin Gall, Jason Milner, Mark Winskill, Wood (40, 71 unfinished breaks) Tony Tennyson and Burdett (37 break) took them to victory.

Bootham A' gained some revenge for their semi-final defeat by coming from 2-0 behind to beat Fulford A' 4-3 and stay second, albeit eight points adrift. Rankin (48 break) ensured the success.

Bootham B' followed their surprise defeat of Heworth A' in the Team Cup with a 4-3 success against Fulford B' which kept them fourth and gave them a firm grip on the B' Team Trophy. Tony Lambert and Lionel Barnes won the vital last two.

Acomb B' recorded only their third victory of the season, 4-3 at Heworth B', as John Ashwell inflicted only the second defeat of the season on Darren Colleage.

Bootham lost 4-3 on the aggregate point to Fulford, but had done enough to retain the York Conservative Clubs Slater Cup Snooker Pairs League title. Acomb finished second with a 5-2 defeat of closest rivals Heworth.

Heworth retained the York Conservative Clubs Faber Shield Billiards League title as a 6-1 thrashing of Boo-tham B' meant they finished the season unbeaten. They won through Burdett (27 break), Winskill (54), Dave Birch, Vic Gamble and Mick Frampton, though captain Keith Watkinson lost to Chris Granger in the last game.

Bootham A' surprised Fulford by recording only their fourth win, Colin Robinson (20), Don Pringle, Ken Taylor (25, 31, 34) and John Woodall (31) doing well.

Birch's win in the last match ensured he won the Cameo Engraving Player of the Year contest. Runner-up Winskill was the only undefeated player with ten wins. Winskill, though, stole the Highest Break award with a last-match 54.

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