Baggeridge fight way into semis (From Dudley News)

Baggeridge fight way into semis

9:28am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Sport

BAGGERIDGE Social A sealed a place in the Stourbridge Snooker League Cup final with a win over Norton Social A.

Starting with a 184-handicap points advantage, the Second Division side were able to hold off their Premier Division opponents.

After losing the first three games, Dave Whale did well to beat Neil Rollinson and ensure his side still had a lead of 33 going into the final frame, which was enough for Frankie Bennett, who held off Graham Tomkins.

In the other semi-final, newly crowned Premier Division champions Kinver Constitutional A once again got the better of rivals Brierley Hill Snooker and Pool A.

Ashley Sidaway got Brierley Hill off to a strong start but Reanne Evans was held to a tie and two further close games saw Kinver take a lead of 13 points into the final game.

Some very good matchplay snooker from Kinver’s Darren Oakes kept Eliott Bastable at bay to see his side through.

In the Plate semi-final, First Division side Dibdale SC made the most of their 131 point headstart to shock Premier Division outfit Pockets.

Chris Jevons got them off to the perfect start and Laurence Binfield held Andrew Smith to a winning margin of 18 points.

Dave Timmins then beat John Betton to ensure Dibdale took a 134-point advantage going into the final frame, where Alan Woodbine did enough against Matt Emms.

The other semi-final was an all Second Division affair as Stourbridge Institute kept their hopes of a league and plate double alive with victory over Wombourne.

Graham Tranter, Keith Rollinson and Bob Jones all won on the black for Wombourne but these narrow wins were matched by the Institute’s Dean Banks’ 25-point win over Paul Churchman.

Colin Lewis then beat Stuart Taylor to see his side home.

Bastable claimed his third Premier Division singles title in four years by beating Brierley Hill team-mate Callum Downing 4-3.

Bastable had trailed 2-0 but found his form with a 65 break to snatch the third frame and won the next two to lead by one.

Downing fired in breaks of 38 and 49 to take the game to a decider but Bastable showed a cool head to make a crucial 38 break in the decider.

Kingswinford’s Paul Ross ended Mark Jeffries run of three successive First Division singles’ title with a 3-2 victory.

It capped a fine season back in the sport for Ross, who returned after a break of 12 years.

Baggeridge potter Frankie Bennett retained his Second Division crown, defeating Rob Sidaway 3-2 in a closely-contested match.