TEESSIDE ROUND-UP
Southfield & District League
At 17 years of age Robin Wilson became the youngest ever winner of the Southfield League Billiards Championship when he defeated Darren Kell 250-219 at the Priory Social Club on 30th April. The match was close throughout, the scores having been called level at 137 and again at 177. With Kell having edged 13 points in front, Wilson then put together an unfinished break of 44 to take the title. Wilson had won his semi-final against Lee Lagan in similar circumstances. On that occasion he had crafted a 72 unfinished to take the match 200-122, having made a break of 83 earlier in the game. In the other semi-final Kell had defeated team-mate Paul Boden 200-82.
Results
Redcar & District League
The billiards division of the Redcar League was won by Eston Institute whose team included two juniors, Darren Clark (+60) and Billy Bousfield (+80). Their trio was made up by veteran player Kenny Hopwood (+80). South Bank St. Peters team of Tommy Murphy, Neil Hutchinson and Mark Wallis finished runners-up. Matches in the League are 200- up. During the latter part of the season, Lee Lagan (North Ormesby Inst), playing from a handicap of -100, made a break of 226 to defeat Danny Cornwell when visiting Eston Labour Club.
Middlesbrough Friendly League
Jeff McKeown (South Bank Albion) defeated Mark Lane (Acklam Steelworks) in the final of the Friendly League Individual Billiards Handicap played in front of a packed house at the Ironopolis Club on 26th April. McKeown had reached the final last year when he was defeated by Lee Lagan and made a nervous start on this occasion before a break of 71 pulled back most of the 80 points handicap he was conceding. However, Lane succeeded in setting up a tense finish as he managed to keep his nose in front until the very last visit. At this point McKeown put together an unfinished 21 to win by just 12 points. In the semi-finals McKeown had defeated Steve Best, making a break of 91, and Lane had overcome Dean Sandbach.
Results
Teesside Boys' Billiards League
Billy Bousfield won the Teesside Junior Individual Championship on 1st May when he defeated Craig Murphy 136-97 in the 30 minute final held at the Billingham Trade Union Club. In the semi-finals, held on the same night, Bousfield had narrowly beaten Darren Clark in a close finish, while Murphy had a more comfortable victory over Dominic Mulhall. Last year's champion, Robin Wilson, had been eliminated in an earlier round by Darren Clark.
Danny Beagrie (Riley´s M´bro) took the under-15 title by defeating Anthony O´Brien (Ormesby) 111-87 in the final.
Individual Results (all games 30 minutes)
Under-15 Results
The President´s Cup Team knockout brought together League winners Ormesby Institute and runners-up Middlesbrough Riley´s in the final at Eston Institute in May. On this occasion it was the Rileys team who came out on top with a convincing 895-663 victory from the six 30 minute games.
Stockton & District League
Tony Mackinder (Elm Tree) eventually won the Stockton & District League Individual Billiards Championship quite comfortably, although he found the early part of his final against Paul Lawrence to be hard going. Lawrence (Newtown ‘B´) who was playing in both the snooker and billiards finals on the same night, had just won the snooker title and started well in the billiards, quickly gaining a 60 point lead. At this point Mackinder, who was averaging just 2.6, picked up his game and with contributions of 48 and 72 followed by three others around the 30 mark, completed his victory is some style.