Lilycroft WMC have won Bradford's oldest billiards competition for the fourth time.

They claimed a narrow 25-point victory over Clayton Rugby Club B at Chapel Green Liberal Club to lift the 104th Moorhouse Shield final.

Clayton received a 125-point start on the handicap but after the first two matches were only 19 in front.

Youngster Josh Walker started well for Lilycroft, making a 32 break to lead 66-30, but opponent Kenny Holmes raced ahead and led 109-98 and then 150-136.

However, Walker found some form and stormed to a 200-165 win.

There wasn’t much between Lilycroft’s Pete Smith and Clayton’s Gary Jacklin throughout the first 100 points, with Smith making a run of 21 to hit the halfway point at 100-82.

This provided the platform to forge ahead, and he led 135-96 and 173-111 before eventually ending a 200-129 winner.

Dave Walker (Lilycroft) then fought out another closely contested match with opponent Dave Llewellyn. The pair were level at 49-49 and it was tight until Walker took the initiative to lead 132-100, but Llewellyn came back hard to level once again at 162-162.

In the other match, Clayton’s Dave Pickthall faced Brian Pearson, and it was the Lilycroft player who started the strongest going 50-25 up.

Pickthall clawed back and went in front 111-84 and 150-143, at which point Walker had edged his match with Llewellyn 200-176, meaning there were only two points in the contest.

As expected, the final game was tense and there was still little to separate the sides as the pair were tied at 160, but then Pearson sneaked away and won 200-180 to secure the trophy for Lilycroft, much to the delight of his team-mates, and in particular non- playing captain Peter Craven.

The Bradford Snooker Pairs final is next Thursday at Great Horton Cons (8pm) after John Wellham and Daniel Frost (Shipley Social Club) squeezed through 3-2 against Paul Young and Steve Moore (Eccleshill Victoria Cons).

They now face Bradford singles champion Gareth Green and his brother Anthony of Lifeline Leisure.