TONY CLEGG re-claimed the Huddersfield Open Billiards crown for the ninth time when he defeated Brockholes BC’s Matthew Peaker in one of the closest finals for many years.
The Springwood man, who is now just one win away from joining joint record holders Jack Mellor and Tommy Donlan, who each won it 10 times, survived a mid-session fightback by Peaker.
It brought the match level at 399 apiece, before Clegg went on to win the final 500-473.
Both players struggled early on finding the cushions unreceptive, and scoring was at a premium.
After 30 minutes, Clegg led 110-62, but then a top break of 74 helped him establish a 233-139 advantage just ahead of the halfway interval.
But after the break it was Peaker’s turn to find his touch, a break of 73 helping him draw level at 399, and it was suddenly ‘game on’.
Clegg again got his nose in front, however, and he managed to hold off his young opponent to land his ninth Open Billiards League title – and his second of the week, having partnered Rob Armitage (last year’s Billiards champion) to victory in the Leonard Oldham Snooker Pairs final earlier in the week.
The Billiards and Snooker fortnight concludes tonight at Newsome WMC, when the Open Snooker final brings the curtain down with Robert Read tackling Simon Stockwell.
Read is chasing his 11th Huddersfield Championship, while Stockwell will be appearing in his first final.
The match starts at 7.30pm and should provide plenty of entertainment.
