Bayley C's Craig Whitehead became the fourth player from the Bayley Club to lift the John Bethell Memorial Trophy when he defeated Little Dawley G's Lee Drinkwater by three frames to nil in the final at Maddocks Club last week.

The trophy, which is in memory of John Bethell - a player at the Bayley club for many years - is contested for by players who have never before won a trophy in the Telford League and so Craig was understandably delighted to have claimed his first piece of silverware.

Craig took the opening frame of the best of five final by 60 points to 38 to gain the early momentum but it was the second frame which proved critical as both players had chances on the colours before Craig eventually sank a long pink into a corner pocket to take the frame by 58 points to 50 for a 2-0 lead.

And Craig duly wrapped up a 3-0 win when Lee - a member of Little Dawley C's third division title winning side - conceded the next frame on the brown, to add his name to the likes of local professional Adrian Gunnell and former English Amateur Champion Matthew Davies as former winners of the coveted trophy.

STEVE FLETCHER

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

Return To Top