ANDY BATTYE is the new Holme Valley snooker champion.

The Meltham Conservative Club player defeated New Mill’s Steve Whiteley 4-0 in the final at Springwood BC to claim his first Holme Valley title.

Although Battye won in straight frames, the contest was close.

In the opening frame he needed a snooker with just pink and black on the table which he duly got to win it, and then potted up from the brown to black to win the second. He then won the third on a doubled black and also the final frame on black.

The only other time Battye has appeared in the final (10 years ago) he lost 4-1.

Battye also claimed a frame in the Yorkshire League match against Wakefield, when he took the second frame in his game against John Spooner – again on black.

Trevor Roper also chalked up a frame win over Mark Ramsbottom, helped by a 33 break, but the Wakefield man hit back with a 47 to win the next and level the match.

But Jason McMahon was just pipped in both frames by Richard Binns as the home side gained a 4-2 victory over the Huddersfield side.

Roper had beaten Mark Ball 2-0 in Huddersfield’s earlier match, which they also lost 4-2, this time against Leeds No2.

In the Huddersfield Open Snooker Championship, Robert Armitage booked his place in the final by defeating Mick Stocks 4-2 at Golcar Conservative Club.

He will now face either holder Robert Read or Naeem in the final. They play the second semi on Sunday at Marsh Lib.

Elsewhere the final of the Snooker Handicap will be between Conrad Norcliffe (owes 14) from Syngenta and Chris Bullock (2) from Crosland Moor Con.

The John Needham Plate play-offs are being staged tomorrow and the quarter-final draw is:

Marsden Con v Almondbury Con A, Broad Oak BC A v Broad Oak BC B, St Pats CC A v Milnsbridge Soc A, Lower Hopton WMC A v Broad BC D.

The semi-finals will take place next Thursday at neutral venues.

The League Championship semi-final play-offs are also due to be played next Thursday, and they are:

Hillhouse & Birkby BC A v Lindley WMC A, and Slaithwaite C & BC A v Paddock C & BC B.

Neutral venues for both matches have yet to be arranged.