McNally win proves well worth a wait
SNOOKER
AFTER months and months of close calls and near-misses, Morpeth’s Gerry McNally (off 28) pocketed first prize at Whitley Bay Snooker Centre’s latest oneday handicapped pro-am event.
McNally defeated Newcastle’s Robert Drane 3-2 in the final.
His place in the decider was secured with 3-1 wins against North Shields’ Carl Sexton (off 14), Gateshead’s Keiron McNeice (off 21), Whitley’s Tim Taylor (gave seven) and fellow seasider Tony Robson (level).
Making his way to the last two in the top half of the draw was Drane (off seven).
He has not played on the competitive scene for several years.
However, he is still a player to be reckoned with, as he showed with 3-1 victories over North Shields’ TJ Rendles and Whitley’s Chris Kelso – who both received a 35-points-a-frame start.
With one more match to win before he could take his place in the final Drane – given a 14-points-a-frame start – had to beat his old friend Wallsend’s Billy Hunter, which he did 3-1.
In the final Drane’s penalty of having to concede 21 points a frame played a major part in his deciding-frame defeat by McNally, some of whose games were only clinched by a handful of points.
McNally made it a day to remember by making it a winning double – taking the highest break of the day award with a top run of 63.
In the best-of-three frame plate final, North Shields’ Craig Sexton (conceding 42) edged past Gateshead’s Keiron McNeice to win a nip-and-tuck match 2-1.