MARK WOOD won a gripping final in the latest Griffin Sixteen.

He beat county man Craig Gant 21-20 after both players had the chance to seal glory in a final sponsored by Mark Sykes.

Wood and Gant played really well throughout and the final was nip and tuck until Wood opened up a 19-14 lead.

Gant got back to level at 19s, when Wood again got in front to be on the verge of victory at 20-19.

It was then he led probably his worst wood of the day, with Gant bowling his first just 6in short of the jack.

Wood only slightly improved with his second delivery, leaving Gant an easy opportunity to get another for game – but he went two yards through leaving the scores level again at 20s.

Gant played his first wood 5ft short while Wood seized the initiative with a back toucher.

Gant struck but missed, leaving Wood a deserving winner.

Wood was delighted to win his first Sixteen, having been runner-up in quite a few finals, and he’s hoping to carry the form through to Sunday’s Pairs Final (11am) with partner Graham Tandy.

First round: Alex Byrnes 21 Danny Radcliffe 17, Mark Bramall 15 Jack Dyson 21, Peter Kain 17 Craig Gant 21, Richard Brook 15 Ray Whitwam 21, Graham Tandy 21 Peter Hopkinson 14, Chris Davies 9 Mark Wood 21, George Fellows 18 Brian Morley 21, Gary Siswick 21 Steve Parkin 12.

Quarter-finals: Byrnes 21 Dyson 19, Gant 21 Whitwam 13, Tandy 8 Wood 21, Morley 21 Siswick 13.

Semi-finals: Byrnes 8 Gant 21, Wood 21 Morley 17.

Final: Gant 20 Wood 21.

Saturday’s Sixteen is being sponsored by A&S Hirst and starts at 11am.

Draw: Danny Fountain v Alan Crowther, Nathan Haigh v Ian Haigh, Danny Radcliffe v Ashley Daykin, Ray Whitwam v Trevor Holmes, Richard Punshon v Dennis Tattersley, Mark Richardson v Peter Kain, Frank Greenwood v Terry Brook, Barry Tinker v Donald Rae.

Draw (with odds in brackets) for Sunday’s Pairs Final sponsored by Duncan Reeves:

Steve Hirst and Danny Fountain (6/4) v Tony Marren and Richard Punshon (20), Mark Wood and Graham Tandy (5/1) v Duncan Reeves and Terry Brook (4/1), Roy Sutton and John Ineson (10/1) v Jack Dyson and Nathan Haigh (5/2), Peter Hopkinson and Gary Siswick (10/1) v George Fellows and Ashley Daykin (4/1).