Victory Wan to savour for potter Craig

IN a smaller than usual field of 11, Howdon’s Craig Wanless (off 21) and his Wallsend practice partner Billy Hunter battled out in the final of the latest one day handicapped pro-am event at Whitley Bay Snooker Centre.

It was Wanless who emerged the 3-1 winner.

With the majority of players off medium to high handicaps, (21-49) scratch player Hunter made progress to the final with wins over North Shields ‘Carl Sexton (off 49), Gateshead’s Daniel Mallat (off 35) and a 3-1 defeat in the semi-finals of the only minus player in the field Gateshead’s Brandon Hall (minus 14).

In the other half of the draw, Wanless (pictured below) made similar progress to the last two.

He outgunned both North Shields’ Craig Sexton - off level – and Stanley’s Ash Wilson received seven - before booking his place in the final with a 3-1 off level victory against Durham City’s Dale Allen.

Receiving 21-points-a-frame advantage, Wanless proved to be the better player on the day by taking the close-fought decider.

The smallest run ever to win the event’s highest break award went to Gateshead’s Brandon Crawford, who clocked up a small 24 which was added to his handicap of 49 gave him a grand total of 73.

Washington’s Phil Curry beat Carl Sexton 2-1 in the final of the plate event.

■ ONLY Jon Astley of the region’s four qualifiers reached the second round of the Yushan World Open Championships at the Number One Middle School in China.

After beating Wallsend’s Sam Craigie 4-3 in the first round, the Gateshead potter lost 5-2 to Essex’s Jimmy Robertson.

■ ANY clubs wishing to enter a team(s) in this season’s North Shields Winter League should attend tomorrow’s annual meeting at High Howdon Social Club (7.30) or contact Stan Chambers on 0191 234 3331.