Right On Cue

The Yorkshire Snooker Championship final went right to the wire before Oliver Lines finally claimed the title at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

Leeds youngster Lines was taking on defending champion David Portman of Sheffield in a repeat of last season’s showpiece and this time came out on top.

Portman actually opened up a two-frame lead as both players struggled to find top form but Lines hit back to draw level at the interval.

Frame five saw Portman make a telling break of 69 in taking a 3-2 lead, only for the Leeds teenager to again pull level.

It looked as though the trophy was heading back to Sheffield in the decider but, with a 13-point lead, Portman played a loose shot to leave Lines the opportunity to clear with 25 on the table.

This he did by holding his nerve and dropping a fantastic black as he added to the Yorkshire under-19 trophy he won earlier in the season.

* The Bradford & District Billiards & Snooker Association has implemented a new website, which is still in its early stages of development but is expected to be fully operational by the start of next season.

The address is www.bsa-cuesports.com and at the moment includes reports and photos from recent events, as well as the latest round of the Dudley Hill Snooker Pairs.

This will be a focal point for cue sports in Bradford and will be a fantastic site that is long overdue.

Space is available for anyone wishing to advertise on the site and there will be many user-friendly features added as time goes on.

* Cue Gardens at Odsal is hosting a night with Stephen Lee on Wednesday, July 17 and the club are expected to run a series of competitions, based on local league handicaps, to earn the right to play against the former world number five.

More details will appear in this column next week and will be posted on the new website in due course.