THONGSBRIDGE CBC’S Nicky White (inset) proved he was made of the right stuff to claim his first Yorkshire Merit title in the 112th staging of the prestigious event.

The 38-year-old computer retailer programmed his game to perfection to see off long-serving Yorkshire stalwart Roy Nicholson 21-19 in an enthralling final at Elland CA and BC, who also sponsored the event.

It was a disappointing end for fans wishing for a repeat of history as Nicholson, who had previously won the Merit twice before in 1979 (at Bradley and Colnebridge) and 1986 (at Elland CA and BC), looked to be on course for a hat trick.

After easing into a 9-1 and 12-2 lead on a round peg from the far corner, White – a 16/1 shot at the start of play – eventually got in and started clawing back chalks down the green edge.

As White got within two points of Nicholson (8/1) at 14-12, Nicholson won an important measure to increase his lead to four points.

But White, winner of the 2005 Cockroft Memorial Handicap and 2006 Huddersfield Merit, immediately hit back as Nicholson seemed to wobble, levelling at 16-16, 17-17 but then trailing 19-18.

With victory in his sights and the chance of scoring two, Nicholson changed his road with his second wood.

But the tactic also showed the same route in for White who beat Nicholson’s close woods to claim the end and make it game on again at 19-19. He then clinched victory, and the £500 winner’s cheque with a pair at the next end.

“It was a very tough game in the final,” said champion White. “You certainly needed the block because the green had slowed down by at least three yards since earlier games.

“But I’m absolutely thrilled to have won the Merit against opposition from such a class field. It means an awful lot to me.”

A strong, gusty and cold wind made playing conditions extremely tricky and many spectators in the large, hardy, crowd were thankful that it wasn’t them out there yesterday.

But for other Huddersfield bowlers who comprised 12 players in the 32-man card, it was a disappointing day.

And none more so than for Netherton Con’s Paul Sigsworth.

In a repeat of the 2000 Merit final at Cleckheaton Sports, Sigsworth faced defending champion Graeme Wilson at this year’s quarter-final stage.

It was a clash between two of the county’s bowling heavyweights, and it didn’t disappoint.

At 11-5 up Sigsworth threw the block off which allowed Wilson, who was aiming for a fifth Merit title, chance to get back into the corners in which he had, once again, dominated.

But Sigsworth proved more than a match to the test which Wilson had laid down and took two off his lead, before moving into a 16-6 lead.

Could Sigsworth’s name finally be on the cup which has eluded him for so long as he stood game at 20-14?

Wilson mounted a fightback calling on his striking prowess to keep him in contention but it proved too little too late as Sigsworth won through 21-19.

But, in the semi-finals, White was quick to find the form which would take him to the title, when he stormed into a 13-0 lead against his Yorkshire away team colleague.

Sigsworth also used his strong striking game to good effect to reduce the deficit to 17-12 and came within a shout at 19-17 before White got in at the corner for a 21-17 win.

Other notable performances of the day came from Tony Riley (Clayton Victoria) who made the semis with victories against Nathan Webster (21-17), Slaithwaite’s Richard Mozley (21-16) and county home team player Graham Higgins (21-12) before succumbing 21-9 to Nicholson in the last four.

Huddersfield’s first round casualties were Jack Dyson (Brockholes) , Jonathan Sykes (Netherton Con), Richard Brook (Waterloo) and Steven Hirst (Netherton Con), while Ashley Daykin (Netherton Con), Richard Mozley (Slaithwaite), Andrew Heaume (Almondbury Lib), Rob Wiltshire (Almondbury Lib), John Webster (Springwood) and Andy Carter (Cowcliffe Lib), fell at the second round stage.