Terry takes the top cue man’s trophy

Terry McBride is the new snooker champion of Pembrokeshire after the Balfour Club cue man beat Paul Chalkie White (Power Station) in an absorbing clash at Eddie's Snooker Bar in Haverfordwest.

 

Both players are known as good long-range potters and break builders but it was their safety play that was very much in evidence as they vied for the Frank Richards Cup, the Blue Riband event of the Eddie's-sponsored Pembrokeshire Snooker League.

 

 

As a result, the frames were fiercely-fought and the vital third frame, with the score tied at 1-1, took over 50 minutes before McBride went in front for the second time and soon added the fourth frame to give him a unassailable 3-1 lead.

 

McBride was clearly doubly delighted by his first win in the singles, firstly because he had lost to Martin Amies in last year's final, and also because he had lost all of his three previous meetings with White and hardly scored a point!

 

 

The opening frame started well for McBride as his first visit to the table earned him 12 points but White responded with 19 before missing the pink - and McBride countered with some steady potting as the pressure built. White then conceded six points for a foul on the pink and McBride cleaned up to win the frame 64-21 in 36 minutes.  

 

The second frame saw White take early control with cameos of 21, 10 and 13 before a good safety shot gave him the chance to wrap things up with a break of 22. McBride battled to a break of 23 but missed the final red so that White ran out frame winner by 73-41 in 35 minutes.

 

 

The importance of the third frame was evident as both players missed chances but McBride looked the more settled as he scored 23 and 14, and White failed to build from promising starts. He missed with a black off its spot and McBride finished up winning 65-10 in 52 minutes.

 

It was a similar story in the fourth frame as White compiled a nice break of 26 that included five reds, three blues and a pink but then missed a straight green to let McBride back in. This error was severely punished as McBride compiled the final's top score of 43 that put him 27 ahead with White needing snookers, but unable to get them so the frame score was 64-37 to McBride in a time of 33 minutes.

 

 

The players were congratulated on their performances by Ian Ashworth, the vice-chairman of the Eddie’s-sponsored Pembrokeshire Snooker League, who joined long-serving hon secretary Malcolm King as the match referees. The trophy was presented to a delighted McBride by main sponsor Mark Edwards, as was the runners-up award to Paul White, before those in attendance enjoyed a splendid buffet put on by Angela and Mark Edwards.

PHOTOS:

Paul White, Ian Ashworth and Terry McBride before the start of play

Terry McBride receives the Frank Richards trophy from Mark Edwards

Disappointed runner-up Paul White and Mark Edwards