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| RICKI SLACK ...three ball victor |
Receiving 30pts on the handicap against his seasoned opponent, the Wirksworth based player seemed to be holding sway until a superb half century break of exactly 50 put Neville four points ahead with the clock showing just ten minutes to play.
But some favourable leaves thereafter around the red spot saw Slack do most of the scoring for the remainder of the match as he eventually ran out the winner with a bit to spare.
With the scoring being pretty consistent, it was perhaps surprising the final totals were a little lower than each would normally record and raised some question of whether the timing mechanism had been entirely accurate but it was not really possible to gauge this in retrospect even if the match seemed to race by.
Elsewhere the final round of T & M Snooker League matches (barring a couple that don't affect the top placings) were played and the make up of the Jaeger Trophy top four plays offs became known.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood No1 played a re-scheduled game prior to the main fixture list and were beaten 3-2 at home by Tansley Potters, who thus took revenge for their own defeat to the same opposition a week earlier.
Joe Hawkins and Richard Roper won each of their singles and doubles legs while Des Smith and Andrew Haggarty were on target for the hosts.
Later in the week the Amber Valley side bounced back to record a 4-1 home defeat of Edgefold No2
Des Smith and Haggarty were again in winning form while John Smith took a one point success and only Scott Brooks could reply which did put him in with a chance of the award for most individual wins though long-time leader Steve Bullock of Belper Legion still has a game to play.
Alfreton Palmer Morewood No2 became the second team to defeat champions Edgefold No1 in as many weeks after their 16-game winning league run was ended as they triumphed 3-2.
Ben Monk and Jack Lowe put the visitors 2-0 up and although Duncan Harwood and Richard Ferguson (40 break) pulled them level, Lowe then teamed up with youngster Alfie Richardson to bring home the bacon.
All this left Bolehill Institute knowing a win would see them into the runners up spot at Tansley and they reeled off the opening three frames to put the issue beyond any doubt.
Colin Marchington edged the opener on the black, Ricki Slack (35 break) made it two and Simon Zoppi scored a 72-41 success for the third.
Thereafter Steve Hawkins pulled one back and then took the doubles on the black partnered by Joe Neville.
The play off match-ups are thus finalised - Edgefold No1 will entertain Alfreton No2 once again while Alfreton No1 will travel to Bolehill Institute.
The other game saw Clay Cross Brotherhood run riot with a 5-0 win over Crich Comrades. Duncan Waring continued his good recent form with a run of 33 whilst Tony Blant notched a break of 23 in the doubles leg.
T & M Motors Snooker League week 18: Alfreton P Morewood No1 2, Tansley Potters 3; Alfreton P Morewood No1 4, Edgefold Matlock No2 1; Edgefold Matlock No1 2, Alfreton P Morewood No1 3; Tansley Potters 2, Bolehill Institute 3; Clay Cross Brotherhood 5, Crich Comrades 0.
Breaks: R Ferguson 40; R Slack 35; D Waring 33; T Blant 23; C Marchington 21.
Williams Cup (billiards individual handicap) final: R Slack (Bolehill) 133, J Neville (Tansley) 86 (50 break) (at Whitworth Institute).
Edgefold Matlock No 1 18 16 2 61
Bolehill Institute 18 12 6 53
Alfreton P Morewood No 1 18 11 7 52
Leading wins: S Brooks 13/15; S Bullock & A Haggarty 13/16.
