MARIA Catalano and Kev Franklin, from West Midlands Police, beat Netherton Sports and Social's Dan Petch and Jamie Spence in the final of the Stourbridge and District Snooker League's Pairs’ Handicap Final.

The final took place at Amblecote Institute and was refereed by Roy Gannon.

The Police pairing began better than their opponents, soon retrieving the 36 point deficit, but they couldn’t establish a decisive lead, and had to rely on a fine clearance of the last five colours by Kev Franklin to stretch 18 points ahead at the end of the first frame.

In a low scoring second frame, Dan Petch cleared the last two reds and the early colours, but over-cut the blue when looking likely to clear up. On his next visit, Kev sank a long blue, but had to survive an anxious wait as the cue ball travelled the length of the table towards the corner pocket, stopping an inch or two short, before he rolled in the pink to make certain of victory, one with somewhat mixed emotions for Maria’s family who were also there to support Maria’s brother, Jamie Spence.

In the three-a-side handicap final at Amblecote Institute, Baggeridge Social beat Kinver Constitutional 238-229.

Chris Randle gave Kinver a great start, beating Luke Whale by 36 points, but Martin Collingridge reduced the advantage against Arnie Tromans, who sank the final black to give Kinver a lead of 14 points going into the third frame. Ron Smith then increased Kinver’s lead to 35 points, but couldn’t shake off the persistent Frankie Bennett, who took the final pink and black, to take the Charlie Randle Memorial Cup back to Baggeridge Social, runners-up last year and crowning a very successful season, which has seen them finish joint runners-up in the First Division, finalists in the Plate, with also Luke Whale reaching the finals of two individual competitions.

Premier Division Singles Final at Stourbridge Institute, refereed by Maria Catalano: Alan Hooper (Brandhall Labour) beat Callum Downing (Hotshots Snooker Club) 4-3. Frame scores 21-69 (27), 70(37,27)-50, 70-1, 7-52(43), 99 (24,75)-13, 1-75 (66), 57-50.

There was some excellent snooker played by these two former team-mates, with 22 year-old Callum Downing starting well and clinching the first frame on the last red. Six times former champion, Alan Hooper took a high quality second frame with runs of 37 and a 27 clearance to pink, and went 2-1 ahead at the interval with three small but significant scoring visits. Callum hit back in style with 43 to draw level before Alan with breaks of 24 and a fine 75 clearance to yellow, edged ahead 3-2. Callum responded with an equally impressive 66 to set the match up for a final frame decider. Strangely, however, the standard of play dropped with both players missing chances to lift the trophy. Alan had trailed 17-42, but gradually came back and drew level by potting blue and pink; he missed the black which ran safe, leaving Callum with a difficult next shot, and Alan took the opportunity to take his seventh title, with black to a middle pocket, for the Sam Kinnear Memorial Cup.