‘Newcomer’ Norcliffe is crowned champion

Teams for the Three-man team final - from left Honley’s Paul Schofield, Sam Jobson and Lyndon Jones, referee Pete Gilbert and the Lower Hopton team of Dean Poutney, Ian Newby and Neil Ewart Armitage. Norcliffe posted a run of 17, which should have been more had he not missed the black off the spot.

At the colours stage, Norcliffe had pulled back to within 11 points and he was unlucky to go in off the yellow when successfully escaping from a difficult snooker.

However, he made amends after potting brown, blue and pink to leave a black ball game, and then made the last pot to take the frame by 10 points.

The third frame featured a fairly lengthy safety exchange, with neither player having the chance to gain any advantage like in the first couple of frames.

With half the reds potted, Norcliffe held a slight lead at 19-2 but, after shopping an excellent long red down the cushion, Armitage showed he was about to take the initiative with a run of 38, overhauling his opponent to lead 40-19.

He followed this by taking the last red with a black and then yellow, green and brown to lead 72-19, at which point Norcliffe conceeded.

Armitage started the fourth frame with a couple of foul strokes – the second of which split the pack to leave Norcliffe handily placed.

He didn’t need a second invitation and immediately posted a break of 44 to lead 54-0.

However, Armitage ran in 26 to get himself back in the frame, but when the colours were reached Norcliffe held the upper hand at 63-26.

And, after scoring another 14, Armitage conceeded.

Norcliffe was not given the same opportunities in the fifth frame and he did not help his cause by giving away a couple of fouls.

Armitage was now on top in a tactical exchange and with three reds remaining he led 48-17.

However, with only one red left, Norliffe delivered his master stroke.

Armitage missed it when attempting a pot with the rest but was also unfortunate to leave it – which was his last shot of this year’s Championship. Norcliffe took the red with a blue and then went on to take the frame and the match with a stunning 33 clearance. HONLEY Conservative Club won the Huddersfield Snooker Three-man Team final against Lower Hopton WMC at Crosland Moor Con.

The successful Honley team were Sam Jobson, Lyndon Jones and Paul Schofield and they took the crown in two frames, 73-63 70-43.

Lower Hopton’s beaten finalists were Neil Ewart, Ian Newby and Dean Poutney.

Jobson played Lower Hopton’s Ewart in the first frame, with the latter having to give 44 points start to his opponent.

Early in the frame Ewart was presented with a few opportunities to reduce the handicap difference, but did not take advantage.

However, he started to make his mark later and, by the time the colours were reached, he had reduced the deficit to 23 points.

It looked as though he might finally be able to overtake Jobson when potting yellow to pink to make it a black-ball finish.

Unfortunately he was unable to complete the task and Jobson potted black to lodge the first frame to Honley.

In the second, Jones of Honley was giving away only four points start to Newby of Lower Hopton.

After Newby had gone ‘in off’ from his break off shot, Jones ran in 16.

Newby had a chance to respond straight away but missed the black off the spot when being presented with a good opportunity.

With only one red remaining and trailing by 23 points, it looked like the writing was on the wall for Newby when he left it over the centre pocket.

However, Jones threw him a lifeline when he potted it but followed it ‘in off’.

Newby was unable to seize his chance and with only pink and black remaining he trailed by 27 points.

He did manage one snooker which Jones faied to escape from, but he never got another opportunity after Jones potted pink to take the frame and the match for Honley.

Frame Scores: Sam Jobson (Honley Con) 73 Neil Ewart (Lower Hopton) 63; Lyndon Jones (Honley Con) 70 Ian Newby (Lower Hopton) 43.