Swain caps off consistent year with award

05 Oct, 2011 01:00 AM
 

EXETER snooker player Ben Swain capped off an excellent year by winning the A-grade most consistent player award.

Swain, who also won the award in 2009, started the year on a handicap of 24, ranked number 15 in the league, however, after winning 20 out of 31 frames played, he reduced his mark to 12 and is now ranked at number seven.

Peter Donati, of Works Blue, had a similar season, finishing a close second in the award with 20 wins from 33 frames.

Donati reduced his handicap to scratch, from 8 last year, and is ranked at number four.

Keith Coomber, of the Raiders, finished third, with 25 wins from 41 frames, Andrew Rainbow with 23 from 40, finished fourth.

Dean Wilson (Works Green) won the A-reserve award from green Horns duo Zane Brown and Ethan Brown.

Interclub

THE Works Club will be black and blue tomorrow night as the two Works teams square off in the A-grade grand final. Works Blue moved through to the grand final, beating the Flaming Devils in a tense preliminary final, needing extra frames to decide the winner.

The teams were tied after the first round, with wins to Blue from John Stevenson (36), considered to be the backbone of the team, 2-0 over Heath Rainbow (26) and brother Rolf Stevenson (30) with a 2-1 win over Andrew Rainbow (26) that forced the tiebreaker.

For the Devils Scott Kopriva (36) won 2-0 over Peter Donati (scr) and Josh Rainbow (40) winning 2-0 against Michael Leslie (44).

The Devils have not fared well in tie-breakers, losing to Black in last weeks semi-final, and this week was to be no different. Three close frames went Blue's way, Leslie using all his years of experience to turn the tables on Josh Rainbow and Rolf Stevenson again proving too steady for Andrew Rainbow.

Despite the loss it has been a great season for the Devils, sporting the two youngest players in the competition, Andrew and Josh Rainbow, both junior champions, who will be back bigger and better next year.

Tomorrow night's grand final starts at at 7pm at the Works Club, with the Devils refereeing.

Team selection will be vital for both sides, which could see Black's David Bates and Blue's Graeme Pickett, the Northern snooker championship finalists, in action.

The A-reserve grand final tonight, also at the Works Club, pits youth against experience. The Green Horns, a first-year team, featuring four new players play Works Navy, the most experienced team in the league.

Eightball roster

THE Northern Tasmanian eightball roster is due to start on October 11. Also due to start on October 12 is the Northern billiards roster, with team nominations closing on Saturday.