A dramatic finish has secured victory for Princeville B in this season’s Bradford Sunday School Billiards League's Team Knockout Shield.
They edged out their club rivals, Princeville A, by just one point in the final league standings.
Both teams secured maximum points in their final two-leg fixtures to finish first and second, with Princeville B on 12 points and Princeville A just behind on 11.
Princeville B recorded a comfortable home win against Pudsey in the first leg, while Princeville A benefited from an unusual situation in their match against Bradford Deaf Centre.
Both teams arrived short-handed, but a misunderstanding over team numbers led to Deaf Centre fielding only four players, when Princeville believed there was an agreement to play five-a-side.
This resulted in a 100-point concession from the Deaf Centre, effectively gifting victory to Princeville A.
The return leg was more straightforward, with both sides able to name full line-ups.
Princeville A gave a first game of the season to Don Hardcastle on his 95th birthday.
Princeville B’s second leg against Pudsey proved to be a tense affair.
After leading comfortably early on, Princeville B saw their advantage wiped out in the next two games, leaving just a single point between the teams heading into the final pair of matches.
Pudsey’s Graham Tudor started strong, compiling a break of 35—his best in several years—while teammate Scott Clayforth also made a positive start.
Princeville B’s Paul Devitt, though, took control with consistent scoring in the 20s.
With 10 minutes to play, word arrived that Princeville A had won their match, putting extra pressure on Princeville B, as Graham Bentley now trailed by over 70, while Devitt's advantage was only around 30.
Devitt put together a vital break of 36 and finished the match with 38 unfinished, while Graham Bentley narrowed his deficit, helping Princeville B finish 34 points ahead.
That secured all three points and the trophy.
There were a number of breaks in the thirties, but special mention must go to Richard Bowes, who produced one of 86 for the Deaf Centre in this final round of matches.
The final table saw Princeville B on 12 points, Princeville A on 11, Pudsey on five, and Bradford Deaf Centre on two.
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