FULFORD'S Richard Stroughair picked up York Conservative Clubs' Fosters Challenge Snooker Cup when he defeated Heworth's Kevin Gall 3-1 in the final at Bootham club.
Both played cautiously in the first frame but Gall (receiving 21) led Stroughair (receiving 14) 42-27. Gall then made two consecutive mistakes and Stroughair scored 14 points with each visit to lead 55-42 and eventually won the frame 77-43.
In the second frame referee Bob Ventress offered a re-rack as a cluster of reds had gathered around the pink in the jaws of the left black pocket, but both players agreed to continue, with Gall leading 30-28.
After several safety shots from which Stroughair gained eight points from fouls, another offer of a re-rack was refused.
Gall moved in to a 60-45 lead and escaped from two snookers and than sank the last red and a yellow, then picked off yellow, green and brown to win the frame 72-45 to level the match.
Stroughair led 41-23 in the third frame but Gall reduced the gap to 46-35 before Stroughair went on to win the frame 65-41.
Gall started the fourth frame with a 21 break, the highest of the match, but Stroughair responded and trailed 44-33. Gall went 72-41 ahead but later made a poor safety shot on the last red when the frame looked to be his.
Stroughair potted the red, then yellow and green, and was in with a chance but needed all the colours. He gained brown and blue to trail 72-69 and rattled the pink trying to get on to the black.
Gall also rattled the pink and left it near the yellow pocket and Stroughair took it to lead the frame for the first time. He doubled the black to baulk cushion and when Gall's next shot double-kissed he accepted the easy black to win the frame 82-72 and the match.
In the quarter-finals Clive Whyte (Heworth) won the first frame against Stroughair with a 33 break but Stroughair levelled with a 38 break and took the third to win 2-1. Gall defeated Keith Lawrence (Heworth) 2-0 and then defeated Ken Taylor (Bootham) 2-0 in the semi-finals.
The trophy and mementoes were presented by Lee Walsh, sales manager of sponsors John Smith's brewery.
Updated: 11:38 Thursday, April 17, 2003
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