Thrilling finish as Bradford thwarted (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Thrilling finish as Bradford thwarted

5:50pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Sport By Richard Bakes

Bradford No 1 travelled to Harrogate in the Yorkshire Inter-District League looking to extend their lead at the top of snooker’s Division One but came across a home side refusing to give in.

Wayne Cooper found it tough against a determined Andy Blamire, who led for most of the first frame, but an uncharacteristic miss on the final red gave Cooper a chance and he duly delivered with a 36 clearance to take it 70-50.

Blamire again took control in the second frame, opening up a 30-point lead and looking good, but a timely break of 60 edged Cooper to victory 63-31.

Captain Kevin Firth struggled in the opening stages of his first frame against Stu Jauncy and the Harrogate player looked to be heading for victory. He led by 24 with one red left. Firth then produced a moment of brilliance and made a superb clearance of 35 to steal the frame 62-51 to put the league leaders 3-0 up.

Firth started the second well and took a 31-point lead but Jauncy hit back with a 43 break and held on for a 66-45 win to reduce the deficit to two.

The final match between Mark Slater and Gyles Behbood got off to a scrappy start but soon livened up, with Behbood making a well-controlled break of 72 to take the frame 110-16.

The final frame of the night headed in the same direction, with Behbood making a 53 break. Slater though, who had barely been at the table, replied with a good 31 break under pressure and kept things tight.

However, Behbood struck a devastating blow, clearing with a break of 30 to take the frame 89-38 and with it a deserved share of the spoils, 3-3.

Bradford No 2 hosted Brighouse No 2 at Manningham Ward and were looking for a good result to climb back near the top of Division Three.

They found their visitors in good form, going down 4-2.

Tanveer Mohammed lost both frames to Jimmy Sykes, the Brighouse player winning 73-22 and 62-42.

Boover Singh made a break of 66 in taking his opening frame against Chris Evans 75-4 and followed up with a narrow 56-49 to level the match.

Captain Hanif Rafiq lost the first frame 70-1 to Andy Kitson, who then pinched the final frame with a superb clearance to win 61-51.

The billiards side are in action on Saturday when they take on defending champions and league leaders Leeds at Great Horton CC (7.30pm).