Coates defends Merit title following hard-fought final
Gareth Coates became the first winner since 1988 to retain the Sowerby Bridge Association’s Percy Carter Merit,sponsored by Yorkshire Timber and Builders Merchants, at Sowerby T. & B.C. on Sunday. The Akroydon Victoria man defeated Scott Haynes, of Hill Crest, by 21-13 in the final.
Coates’ first game was against Martin Greenwood, of Siddal, who held an early 7-5 lead before Coates leveled the scores at 9-9. He hen went on to take the lead by 15-12.
Greenwood trailed by only a single point at 14-15 but scored only one further single as Coates claimed victory by 21-15.
Coates was behind 2-4 in his second game against Hill Crest’s Geoff Jaskolski but took command with a break of nine and, after a further single by Jaskolski, ran out with a break of 10 to win by 21-5.
In the semi-final, against Matthew Hargreaves, of New Street, the two were level at 2-2 before Coates commandeered a mark along the green edge to score a break of 13 and lead by 15-2.
Hargreaves’ attempts at recovery were in vain as Coates reached the final with a convincing 21-8 victory.
Haynes also made a good start to the competition to take a 12-5 lead in his first game against his Hill Crest team-mate, Brian Holroyd.
Holroyd fought his way back into the game at 10-14 but Haynes then ran out to win by 21-14.
Haynes’ second game, against Ian Smith, of Akroydon Victorua, was one of the the closest of the day.
Smith had the better of the early stages to lead by 9-4 but Haynes responded to draw level at 10.
The two remained tied at 13, 15 and 17 before Haynes took his score to all-but. Smith refused to give in and leveled again at 20-20 before Haynes clinched victory with a single at the final end.
In his semi-final, against Luddendenfoot’s Dennis Hartley, Haynes conceded singles at the first three ends but then took control with breaks of seven and eight to lead by 15-4.
Hartley, who had come from 1-14 to win his previous game by 21-18, was unable to repeat that performance and Haynes reached the final with a 21-12 victory.
In what was predicted to be a closely fought final, Coates led by 7-4 before a break of six gave Haynes the lead by 10-7.
Haynes was still ahead at 12-10 before Coates’ break of seven opened up a five point lead.
Haynes regained the jack at the next end but was unable to take full advantage as Coates then ran out to complete a successful defence of his title by 21-13.