Ell of a close battle - but Slessor wins

SECOND-HIGHEST ranked player Elliott Slessor (off minus 40) edged past third seed David Lilley 3-2 in the final of the latest one-day handicapped event at Whitley Bay SC.

Slessor’s hat-trick of 3-0 wins to reach the final included the Wallsend potter having to concede 95 points a frame to Daniel Blake, whom he still beat with runs of 96, 98 and 78.

He then went on to out-score scratch players John Best of Gosforth and Durham’s Adam Parker, each of whom received a 40-point start.

Gary Wilson, now handicapped 10 more points than the rest of the field, found conceding 95 points a frame a little too much to North Shields’ Carl Sexton, who made the most of his massive advantage to triumph 3-1.

He then fell victim to Shields’ TJ Rendles (gave 15), who also went out 3-0 after losing to Lilley (gave 60).

Lilley reached the last four with a 3-1 defeat of Gateshead’s Brandon Hall (off -10)

In the decider, Lilley led all the way to the colours but one missed pot on the yellow allowed Slessor (below) to clear up to claim the frame and the match. Slessor (pictured left) then made it a winning double by taking the highest break award with a run of 98.

Best narrowly saw off Blyth’s Darrin Erridge 2-1 in the final of the plate competition.

■■IN the Ashington Chisholm and LWC Snooker League, Whitley Bay A’s 4-2 away victory against Stakeford B took them into joint first place with Regent A, who could only draw 3-3 with Seaton Terrace.

■■THE two front-runners in the snooker section of the Ashington Veterans’ Billiards and Snooker League are Bomarsund and Veterans.

In the billiards section, S/Hirst C’s three points off Veterans B took them five points clear of their nearest rivals Choppington A, who could only manage two points against Bomarsund. NEWCASTLE EAST END LEAGUE RESULTS – Division One: Newcastle Snooker Centre 2 Innisfree 3, Heaton Meadowfield 1 Gosforth A 4, Labour 3 Buffs A 2, Teams 2 Whitley Bay Comrades 3.

Division Two: Buffs B 2 Engineers 3, Gosforth B 3 Newcastle United GC 2, East End Liberal 1 Fairholm 4, Social 3 Westholme Farm 2.