JIMMY AND KEVIN MAKE IT A JAXX DOUBLE IN FINALS

JIMMY GRATTON (winner) and BEN MONK contest the OMYA Cup final at Marehay.

THE first two individual finals of the season took place with firstly prolific league winner Ben Monk taking on Derbyshire renowned Jaxx player Jimmy Gratton in a much anticipated OMYA Cup clash played at Marehay Miners Welfare.
Jimmy was out of the blocks the fastest in the opener with a 22 break putting him into the lead but Ben struck back quickly with 38 before the Jaxx man chiselled his way back into the frame to eventually take it on the blue.

Monk came back strongly to take the next 81-18 but this inspired Jimmy to go 2-1 up straight afterwards with the aid of a 57 break.

The next saw Ben knock in 37 but it was nip and tuck near the end, Ben missing what for him would normally be a routine pink for the frame and Jimmy stepping in to snatch it thanks to a storming long pot from the length of the table on the black.

That was probably the turning point and Jim pressed the accelerator again in what proved to be the final frame to see off one last challenge by 58-36 to take the match by a 4-1 margin.

MARTIN FORSTER and KEVIN HOLMES (winner) before the B Individual final at Bolehill.

Meanwhile, the B Individual Handicap competition was won by Kevin Holmes, also of Jaxx, who defeated Martin Forster of Bolehill No 2 3-0.

Kevin took the first 62-41 on the blue and then aided by breaks of 25 in the next and 24 in the third frame, quickly sealed the deal to lift the trophy.

Elsewhere it was semi final time in the Jaeger Trophy Champion of Champions team event and Edgefold Club, fresh from ousting the No 1 seeds Marehay the previous week, repeated the dose against No 2 seeds Bolehill No 1.

Andrew Brough got the visitors off to a flying start, but from thereon the hosts bossed proceedings, Rob Muxlow and Duncan Harwood enjoyed wide margin victories before Jason Ankers took yellow to blue to put the game beyond reach as they eventually ran out 4-1 victors.

Belper Strutt Club No 1 also ran out convincing winners against Gladiators Social Club with Mark Newby, Steve Bullock and Justin Weller, the latter on the black, all on the mark en route to the final with a 5-0 success.

Jaeger Trophy Champion of Champions play offs semi finals: Edgefold Matlock 4, Bolehill Inst No 1 1; Belper Strutt No 1 5, Gladiators SC Matlock 0.
OMYA Cup Indiv Scratch final: Jimmy Gratton (Jaxx) 4, Ben Monk (Marehay) 1.
B Indiv Handicap final: Kevin Holmes (Jaxx) 3, Martin Forster (Bolehill 2) 0.
Breaks: J Gratton 57,22,20; B Monk 38,37,24; K Holmes 25,24.