HUDDERSFIELD’S showpiece snooker event – the final of the Open Championship – will have a familiar look to it again this year.
For, arguably the two most consistent top players in town, Robert Read and Robert Armitage, will again line-up against each other at Newsome WMC, on Friday, May 9.
It will be the third final showdown between Read, from Lindley WMC, and Armitage, from Marsh Lib (they have met before in the semis) and at the moment the record stands at one apiece.
Armitage beat Read 4-3 in the 2002-03 final at Moldgreen Liberal Club, but Read turned the tables on him the following year, winning 4-2 at Newsome WMC.
It could be Armitage’s third visit to the finals, as he and partner Tony Clegg reached the final of the Leonard Oldham Pairs having seen off Syngenta duo Chris Keegan and Darren Bottomley.
They will now meet Naeem and Pat Joyce, which is some consolation for Naeem, having lost out to Read in this week’s second semi-final of the Open Snooker Championship.
Playing some of the best snooker of his career, Naeem took a 2-1 lead over his Lindley teammate Read, but the reigning Open champion hit back to level with an 86 break in the fourth frame, and then after edging 3-2 ahead, raced into the final with a superb clearance of 94 in the last frame.
At least Naeem had the satisfaction in knocking out Read and Andy Boothroyd, who were the reigning Oldham Pairs champions, having fought back from 2-0 down, to set up a final with Armitage and Clegg.
Armitage is also through to the sem-finals of the Open Billiards Championship, as is his snooker partner Clegg, and they could well find each other as snooker partners, but billiards opponents.
The League championship and the John Needham Plate play-off semi-finals are being staged tonight.
Hillhouse & Birkby A meet Premier champions Lindley WMC A at Lindley Lib, while Slaithwaite C&B A take on Paddock C&BC B at Golcar Conin the Championship. Both matches start at 7.30pm.
In the Needham plate, Broad Oak BC D face Marsden Con at Meltham Lib, while Milnsbridge Soc A take on Broad Oak BC A at Crosland Moor Con. Again both matches are at 7.30pm.
The Junior Snooker Championship semis and final are at Top Spot on Sunday (11.00), while on Monday, Frank Griffin (Moldgreen Lib, owes 20) meets Roy Sutton (Golcar RBL, owes 19) in the final of the Veterans Snooker Handicap at Syngenta (1.30).
Netherton Conservative won the Billiards League play-off, defeating Springwood BC 2-1.
Alan Bottomley beat Tony Clegg, before Rob Armitage levelled the match with a victory over Matthew Peaker.
However, David Peaker turned out to be the hero, when he knocked in breaks of 82 and 47 to defeat Peter Mortimer and seal the title for Netherton.
Huddersfield’s No1 billiards team claimed a 5-2 win over Harrogate, where there were wins for Tony Clegg and Brian Cousen.
