Right on Cue

Bingley Conservative Club beat Clayton Rugby Club to win the MOORHOUSE SHIELD for the first time after a fascinating billiards contest at Queensbury Conservative Club.

The result remained in the balance right to the end, although with Clayton receiving a 45-point handicap start the first two matches suggested this might be enough to earn them victory.

John Parkinson of Clayton defeated Chris Sneddon 200-135 and Paul Ascough only narrowly lost 200-180 to Bingley's Nigel Stebbings.

Sneddon started the strongest and built up a good lead before Parkinson found some consistency and ran out a comfortable winner.

Stebbings and Ascough were never far apart throughout their match but Stebbings made some telling scores towards the end to take the spoils.

Bingley duo Richard Duffield and Mick Sharp were last on against Stuart Gregory and Hughie Donnelly respectively.

At one stage, Clayton's interval lead of 90 points looked strong as Duffield and Gregory were tied at 68-68, while it was a similar story between Sharp and Donnelly.

The turning point of the match, which set the tone for Bingley's triumph, was a break of 50 made by Duffield, who went on to win 200-106.

With Bingley now narrowly in front, Sharp needed to hold his nerve - and he did so to run out a 200-156 winner, enabling his side to claim the trophy for the first time in the competition's 99-year history.

Meanwhile, the BRADFORD BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP got underway at the weekend, with the competition played down to the final four.

Qualifiers for the semi-finals as group winners were defending champion Richard Lodge, Stephen Kershaw and Brian Watson, with Paul Davies going through as the best-placed runner-up.

The draw will be made prior to the start of the semi-finals at Queensbury Conservative Club on Saturday, June 30 (10.30am). The final will be played that afternoon.

The final league presentation evening takes place next Tuesday, also at Queensbury, with the turn of the CONSERVATIVE GAMES LEAGUE.

Everyone is welcome, whether trophy winners or not, to the club situated on Chapel Street in the village.