Newcomer faces ex-champion in premier snooker final

The Joe Brisco Cup, which dates back to 1969, is the premier singles competition in the Carlisle and District Snooker League.

This year’s final saw debutant Ian Pattinson face off against three-time finalist and 2013 champion Mike Griffiths.

The match started off with a high quality, safety dominated frame, with Griffiths establishing an early small advantage.

Pattinson fought back with a couple of breaks to forge into a small lead but Griffiths potted a long green and cleared up to take the opener 65-48.

The second frame was a much quicker affair and after a high-quality safety battle, Pattinson got in and established a 32-0 lead. Griffiths, however, struck back with a medium length pot and a 76 break to go two up.

The third frame was the longest of the match, still of high quality, but with eight reds ending up together on the side cushion and five colours on the cushion, it led to a tough drawn-out battle.

Eventually Griffiths cleared the colours to take the frame 60-15.

The fourth frame was a more open affair. Pattinson won the safety battle and established an early 17-1 lead before Griffiths finished the match off with a 71 break, the majority of which was with browns, to win his second crown 10 years after the first.

The three major team trophies were all shared between the top two teams, Qzone and Rock. As Qzone had won the Downie Fours the previous week the Rock were after revenge in the Team KO final sponsored. by Woodpecker Kitchens.

Brisco finalist Ian Pattinson put Qzone ahead early on with a 63-46 win, before a master-class on the colours saw Ste Little get Rock back into the match with a 53-37 victory.

Paul Cowing played an amazing frame in defeating his opponent 85-17, but Paul Wright kept Qzone in the match with an 89-45 success.

At 2-2, Qzone’s Giles Finneghan, fresh after completing a 100 per cent success in the league season, faced off against Idris Trophy champion Mally Lancaster.

Finneghan broke off, Lancaster played safe and Finneghan returned the favour,. Then the magic happened. Lancaster potted an unbelievable long red from off the cushion, landed on the black, and went on to produce a 100 break in the decider to take the title for the Rock!

Given the circumstances of the match, this is surely the best break in the history of the Carlisle League! Congratulations to the Rock.

In Division One it was all to play for going into the final game, with Qzone at home to the Rock in a title decider. The Rock needed a 6-1 victory to take their first title this century, while Qzone had won 20 of the last 22 titles.

It was over quickly, as the home side won the first two frames, Giles Finneghan recording an astonishing achievement of going unbeaten over the entire season in defeating Paul Cowing.

Paul Wright brought it home with his victory over Mally Lancaster. The rest of the match was a dead rubber, however Mark Ballantyne pulled one back for the Rock, winning 53-1.

Brisco finalist Ian Pattinson clinched the victory for Qzone by winning 61-43, and Chris Forrester sealed a 5-1 home win with a 58-38 success in his frame.

Other Scores: Southend A 4, Longtown 2; Rock A 1, Inter Qzone 6; Cons A 2, Denton Holme 5; Annan 2, Qzone Originals 5.

There was another direct title decider in Division Two, with Ex C and Eastriggs facing off for the title after both secured promotion last week.

Ex C number one Dave Turley got the home side off to a great start, a 27 break helping him along to a 71-18 win.

Sarnie Sanderson extended the lead for the home side, and Stuart Styth and Robbie McKenzie won their frames. Jim O’Donnell pulled one back for Eastriggs with a 65-39 victory, but it wasn’t enough to stop Ex C winning the title on games won on the final day!

Other Scores: St Margaret Mary’s 5, Cons 1; Penrith 0, Buffs B 7; Southend D 2, Ex B 5.