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| BEN MONK ... four-timer |
Weller struck first in the opener with a 22 break en route to a 67-42 verdict before Monk hit back strongly with runs of 41 and 28 to equalise.
More swings and roundabouts ensued as the Strutt man, remaining undeterred, hit back for 2-1 after needing two snookers on the colours and then completing a clearance from brown onwards to snatch the frame.
Monk struck early in the next with a run of 32 but Weller worked his way back into the frame. Needing a difficult pink down the bottom cushion from the opposite jaw, the Strutt cueman agonisingly rattled it in the jaws as he strived for position on the black and Monk stepped up gratefully to tap in for 2-2.
Buoyed by that success, Monk was again in with a 35 break but still could not shake off Weller and eventually needed a long pink to edge the frame 61-48.
The Strutt man was still battling valiantly and notched an early 35 break to once again level at 3-3 before Monk replied with a 31 in the decider to take the frame 70-14 in a pulsating contest.
Ben afterwards dedicated the win to his ex-work colleague and friend Paul Bates who had passed away recently in tragic circumstances.
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| ROB MUXLOW...black ball decider |
It was an evening of gritty snooker with lots of tight finishes and after a double-kiss on the pink from his opponent, Harwood struck first with pink and black for a 60-47 success.
It was soon 2-0 as Harwood controlled the second and 25 adrift in the next, Muxlow's prospects appeared bleak until he gradually battled back and clipped in a long pink and then despatched a straight black into the middle pocket.
Still it appeared to be going Harwood's way as he held a lead of 35 early doors in the next but again Muxlow did not yield and eventually completed another fine comeback by taking blue and pink for 2-2.
And in a nip-and-tuck decider, Muxlow stepped up to knock in pink and black for a nerve-tingling victory after a safety shot had gone slightly awry from his opponent.
Meanwhile, the Jaeger Trophy play off semi finals took place with the tightest contest seeing Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 defeat Bolehill Institute 3-2 on Hall Street.
The euphoria of Bolehill's last gasp qualification soon wore off on the night as a late withdrawal left them one man down from the start and Simon Mays (31 break) and Kyle Ryde (runs of 54 and 27) were in barnstorming form to boot as the hosts raced into a 2-0 lead.
Ian Birks pulled one back with an 87-57 win in the next and when Simon Zoppi, giving the extra handicap as the substitute player doubling up, levelled with one of his best performances of the season, there seemed a chance of pulling it out of the fire.
But that was reckoning without the impressive Ryde, who was virtually unplayable all night, and he completed the job in hand in the doubles leg with runs of 25 and 21 to see his side into the final.
Their opponents will be Matlock Golf Club, who ended the unbeaten home run (in straight frames events) of Tansley Potters courtesy of a 3-1 win.
Joe Neville put Tansley ahead early doors but after that, the golfers dominated proceedings with Les Mooney, Graham Jones and Tony Blant all registering decisive wins to see them into the final.
OMYA Cup (Individual Scratch) final: Ben Monk (Alfreton PM) 4 Justin Weller (Belper Strutt) 3 (at Tansley): 42-67(22); 83(41,28)-13; 41-53(22); 52(32)-42; 61(35)-48; 19-59(35); 70(31)-14.
"B" (Intermediate) Individual Handicap final: Rob Muxlow (Edgefold) 3 Duncan Harwood (Edgefold) 2 (at Edgefold): 47-60; 20-55; 59(22)-53; 63-51; 70-58.
Jaeger Trophy (top four play off) semi finals: Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 3, Bolehill Institute 2 (K Ryde 54,27,25,21; S Mays 31; B Monk 21); Tansley Potters 1, Matlock Golf Club 3.
