Finals Week
KENILWORTH BILLIARDS TROPHY
Nigel Croft (Nelson) v Tony Marsh (Nelson)
Croft has retained the trophy he won last season with a defeat of team mate and close friend Marsh.
BIRMINGHAM MAIL CUP
Richie Evans (Nelson) v Geoff Barrett (Lillington Bowls)
Meeting in the final for the fifth time, it was 2 wins each for these giants of the local league. Barrett has been a scintilating form all season and was always going to be favourite for this. And that's how it turned out as Barrett won his sixth title.
CAMKIN CUP FINAL
Simon Gelfs (Lillington - 25) v John Grubb (Leamington Liberals - 10)
Grubb, the 2007 winner of the tournament, started the better against first time finalist Gelfs, carving out an early 30+ point lead. However, Gelfs hit back to level matters with some steady, if not spectacular scoring. Grubb edged ahead again and had the winning line in sight before Gelfs atrted clawing his way back again. Both men missed numerous chances to clinch the match, but it was Gelfs who held his nerve to edge over the line 100-97 to take his first ever individual billiards title.
PAIRS CUP
Kev Robinson & Mark Smith (Priors) v Ian Wagstaff & Glen Powell (Ken Cons)
The match did not start well for the Priors side, as both men give away fouls with their first visits. Wagstaff then got in with a long red and made an excellent break of 67 with some pin point positional play, keeping the break going with a superb thin cut red to break the remaining reds open, only to miss the black when a century looked a distinct possibility. Robinson and Smith just didn't get a chance at all, although Robinson missed a straightforward brown when looking like clearing the colours at the end of frame 1, which would have reduced the gap to 55, but instead the Kenilworth men lead 110-26 going into frame 2. Wagstaff got in immediately in frame 2 and made a 32 break to leave the Priors side in deep trouble. A low scoring frame saw Wagstaff & Powell stretch their lead to 119 into frame 3, which became very scrappy. By now the match was all over with Powell taking over the scoring for the Kenilworth men with a number of small breaks on the way to securing a 222-80 victory, Wagstaff's sixth Pairs title.
THREE MAN CHALLENGE CUP
Nelson A v Windsor
Nelson were looking to retain the trophy they won last season, whilst Quinton & White were looking for their second title in 3 years. Parkin give the Nelson side the perfect start with an excellent run of 70 seeing off Magnus. The experienced Croft then knocked in a break of 29 on his way to making it 2-0 against White, and a scrappy frame win from Baylis over Quinton put Nelson in complete charge. White kept Windsor in the match with victory over Parkin, but Baylis once again prevailed over Quinton to win the title for Nelson 4-1.
PETE HILEY OVER 50s CUP
Gordon Milling (Warwick Cons) v Bob Holloway (Harbury)
Both these men were making their first appearance in the final. A very tactical opening frame saw a number of fouls conceded by both players, with Holloway taking the frame on the black. The second saw a similar pattern, with Holloway again pinching it by taking pink and black. Milling opened his shoulders in the next and played with a lot more confidence. A run of 20 helping him reduce his arrears, before yet another black ball frame saw Milling force the decider. Both players nerves had settled by now and the deciding frame was 'neck and neck'. With the scores level at 57 each Holloway held his nerve to take pink and black for frame and match.
ERIC BRIGGS UNDER 35S CUP
Ben Deller (Warwick Cons) v Sam Blundell (Harbury)
Two time former winner Blundell started in confident manner although not scoring heavily. However he had enough to take it 47-9. Deller oozed confidence in the next as be crafted a fantastic 86 break (13 reds, 3 blue, 5 pink, 4 black), the highest of finals week so far. Another quick frame next saw Deller among the balls again, this time a run of 33 helping take a 2-1 lead. With Blundell giving 18 points away in fouls in the next proving desive, Deller strolled to the frame 78-41 to take his first Under 35s title.
EJ RILEY INDIVIDUAL SINGLES FINAL
Kevin Robinson (Priors) v Phil Parkin (Nelson)
Friday saw the main event of the week, the EJ Riley Individual Singles Final between two-time defending champion Phil Parkin, and 1995 winner Kevin Robinson (Priors). Parkin stamped his authority on the match immediately, taking the opening frame with the aid of a 29 break, as Robinson struggled to get into his stride. Frame two was more even as Robinson finally got his arm going. Robinson was in on a break of 16, but a slice of misfortune left Robinson left him with hampered cueing, forcing a safety shot. Parkin duly potted a long red and made a confident break of 52 to take the frame. A scrappy third frame saw both players give away fouls, but a run of 23 from Parkin was enough to see him take the frame and a 3-0 lead at the interval. Robinson again fought hard in the next frame with the lead changing hands a number of times as both players scored small breaks. But it was defending champion Parkin who again made the most of his chances as he stroked in a decisive break of 21 to take the frame and match for a third title in a row.
