Bannister makes home advantage count to scoop Merit crown

TONY BANNISTER won the Sowerby Bridge Association’s Percy Carter Merit at his home venue, Mytholmroyd BC, on Sunday with a 21-15 victory over Clive Austin in the final.

Bannister, whose company, Water Wizard, sponsored the event, was conceding a three start to Glen Normanton, of Pellon SC, in his quarter-final but was quickly out of the blocks to take a 2-0 lead. Normanton recovered to level the scores at 7 and 10 and was only a point adrift at 12-13 before Bannister pulled away to win by 21-14.

In his semi-final, against team-mate Kevin Mullin, Bannister enjoyed an early 5-0 lead, fell 11-7 behind but then stormed on to win 21-12.

Austin, also a Mytholmroyd member, was 5-4 down in his opening game, against King Cross’s Daz Turnbull but crafted a 16 break and eventually won 21–6.

His semi-final, against Ian Crossland, of Ripponden, also featured a decisive break.

Trailing by 9-7, he reached 19 with a break of 14, and after Crossland had briefly rallied to reach 13, made it into the final with a 21-13 victory.

In the final, Austin led 4-3 before Bannister eased ahead to lead by 11-5.

Austin kept himself in the game, reducing the gap to two chalks at 12-10 and 16-14 but Bannister finished strongly to win 21-15.

Meanwhile, Clive Austin and Gareth Coates won the Sowerby Association’s George Parkin Pairs, sponsored by Ray Davis, at West End, defeating Robert Holmes and Danny Barker 15-6 in the final.

In their opening quarter-final, against Andy Denton and Stuart King, they trailed 6-5 before finishing strongly to prevail 15-6.

Their semi-final, against Glen Normanton and Martin Dodd was a closer contest. They took an early 5-1 lead but Normanton and Dodd recovered to lead by 8-6. After a four by Austin and Coates gave them the lead by 10-8, their opponents responded to draw level again but failed to score further as Austin and Coates won the next two ends to win by 15-10.

In their first game, against Darren Turnbull and Julian Boddy, Holmes and Barker scored three at the next two ends to take the lead by 6-1 and remained in control to win by 15-8.

In their semi-final, against Andy Balmforth and Mark Lufferd, they led 5-0 lead and 12-2 before prevailing 15-5.

In the final, Holmes and Barker took the first end but were unable to capitalise. Austin and Coates compiled a break of ten over the next four ends and went on to win 15-6.