DOBNEY TAKES THE SCRATCH TROPHY FOR SECOND YEAR

SEAN DOBNEY retained his OMYA Cup title

EDGEFOLD'S SEAN DOBNEY retained the OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch knockout) with a 4-1 final defeat of Bolehill's Ricki Slack with two black ball deciders proving pivotal in retaining his crown.

Slack, a five times past winner of the event himself, looked set for a big break on his very first visit but on 24, left a red short to the bottom pocket with another black to follow.  However, he ultimately secured the frame 64-20  before the next went down to the wire.

Dobney had built up an early lead but Slack came back into it with a 21 break before spurning a great chance to go two up with a missed pot on pink into the green pocket from mid range. The Matlock cueman needed no second invitation to take both remaining balls to snatch a 52-50 success.

With the momentum having swung, Dobney notched a run of 28 to take the third 65-15 and then snatched another black baller with Slack catching the jaws of the middle pocket before the Edgefold man took it into the opposite bag.

And buoyed by a 3-1 lead, he reeled off the concluding frame in convincing style with a 64-25 success ensuring the trophy was returning to its home of the previous year.

OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) final: Sean Dobney 4, Ricki Slack 1 (at Bolehill): 20-64(24); 52-50(21); 55(28)-15; 51-43; 64-25.