Cooper close to landing pro prize

10:31am Wednesday 16th April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Right on Cue

Wayne Cooper has taken pole position in the Pro Ticket rankings after an excellent run in the North of England last-16 section of the ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

Lying third, 2005 English runner-up Cooper saw off the challenge of Jonathon Clarke 4-1 in his first match, before beating Christopher Leake by the same score in the next when aided by a break of 90 in the final frame.

Cooper again excelled in the last four with another 4-1 victory over Andy Lee, a break of 80 being the highlight, to see him through to the final, where he met 2004 English champion David Grace of Leeds.

Grace had won the narrowest of semi-final matches against clubmate Jonathon Bagley, with a respotted black needed to separate the pair.

Cooper made the best possible start, making a 104 break in the first frame, and then led 2-1 and 3-2 before Grace levelled at 3-3 after Cooper had looked set to extend his advantage.

It seemed the match would go the full distance but Grace picked off the remaining frames to win 6-3, taking him to the national final where he will play southern section winner Ben Hancorn next month.

The final PRO TICKET event takes place this weekend at the Northern, with Cooper heading the rankings on 886 points ahead of second-placed Grace on 777.

It appears the automatic main tour prize is a straight shoot-out between the two but, with a further 160 points available to Grace should he win the national final, Cooper will be looking for another good run to cement his place among the professional ranks alongside Bradford team-mate Simon Bedford.

The pair are in INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE action on Sunday (7.30) at bottom side Wakefield No 2, where a comprehensive victory will guarantee the Division One title for Bradford No 1 after rivals Sheffield dropped frames in their game in hand over Barnsley last week.

Meanwhile, Bradford No 2 had an excellent 4-2 victory at Leeds No 1 to keep their Division Two promotion hopes alive.

Boover Singh set them on the way, winning both opening frames comfortably, before Gareth Green continued his fine record to put Bradford 4-0 up, which included a break of 64 in his second frame.

Captain Hanif Rafiq was well below his best and lost two scrappy frames on the colours but the result keeps the pressure on second-placed Sheffield No 2, with the sides due to meet a week on Sunday at Manningham Ward.

The Flexprint Services-sponsored HEYS TROPHY team final takes place tomorrow night at Undercliffe Cricket Club.

It features Cooper's Laisterdyke Cricket Club and Cuedos Snooker Club, made up of Bradford No 2 players, and should be a fascinating contest. Spectators are welcome.

The BRADFORD CHAMPIONSHIP semi-finals get underway on Saturday, with Mark Slater (Great Horton Cons) taking on John Wellham (Girlington Cons) at the Manningham Ward Labour Club.

The same venue hosts the first of the pairs semi-finals on Monday, with Cooper and Donald Proctor (Laisterdyke CC) taking on Richard Duffield and Mick Sharp (Bingley Cons). All matches start at 7.30pm.

• Start or join a debate on this issue in our on-line forum - Click here