DEFENDING premier Works Green won a marathon semi- final against the Flaming Devils to advance to this year's Northern billiards grand final.

Locked together at 2-2 after the initial round, the match went to playoffs.

Under the playoff format, three alleys were drawn to determine who played a further game to 200 points off half their handicaps.

The match was again tied after the first two games, Dean Wilson beating Andrew Rainbow by three points and Roydyn Bishop beating George Zammit by 12 points.

The match between Glen Johansen and Heath Rainbow became the critical one with Johansen winning the 200-up game by 11 points.

Works Blue, which finished sixth, continued its winning way, eliminating the minor premier, Works Black, in the second upset of the finals series.

Featuring Graeme Pickett and Peter Donati, ranked two and three in the North, as well as Michael Leslie and Hans Georgieff, Works Blue proved too strong for the Black team. David Bates and Bruce Lockley had a great season for Black, however, with early success, their reduced handicaps made winning was a tough assignment.

Andrew Saltmarsh and Peter Wallace also had good seasons.

This week, Blue plays the Devils in the preliminary final tomorrow night at the Working Men's Club, the winner taking on Works Green for the title next week.

RESULTS - First semi-final: Works Green d the Flaming Devils 2-1 in a playoff. First round Dean Wilson (280) d Andrew Rainbow (275), George Zammit (270) d Roydyn Bishop (130), Glen Johansen (275) lt Heath Rainbow (270), David Thomas (300) lt Josh Rainbow (315).

Round 2: Dean Wilson (140) d Andrew Rainbow (137) by 3 points, George Zammit (135) lt Roydyn Bishop (65) and Glen Johansen (137) d Heath Rainbow (135).

Second semi-final: Works Blue d Works Black, 3-1, Michael Leslie (230) d Peter Wallace (275), Peter Donati (100) d Andrew Saltmarsh (230), Graeme Pickett (-110) d David Bates (-100) and Hans Georgieff (240) lost to Bruce Lockley (225).

Best breaks: David Bates 72, Peter Donati 69, Graeme Pickett 68.

Foreshore to the fore

THE Foreshore team broke through to win its first state team title in 17 years at the weekend.

Played at the Launceston Working Men's Club, eight teams and 60 players from around state competed for the prestigious title of team champion.

After the seven rounds of round- robin play, the Foreshore team found itself in third position on the ladder and having to face the HWC Niners in the preliminary final with the winner to advance to the final to play the top of the ladder team, the Alexander Red, of Devonport.

The preliminary final match went down to the wire with scores at 9-all going into the last set. The Foreshore team managed to win 13-11 with veteran Geoff Youd winning a great tactical match against Andrew Triffitt in the second last frame.

The final proved just as close with the Devonport team winning 4-2 in the last set to salvage a draw at 12-all. This resulted in both teams putting up five players each in a race to three, unfortunately the strength of the Foreshore team saw it wrap up the playoff 3-0 and deny Devonport a state team title after being runner-up on four previous occasions.

Trent Brooks, of Alexander Red, was player of the carnival winning 25 frames from 27 played - a great effort in a field of more than 20 current and past state team players.