Nigel Fletcher became the Telford Snooker League Individual Champion for the third time last night when he defeated Hills Lane's Keith Price by four frames to three in a closely fought final at played at Maddocks Sports & Social Club.

Indeed, Nigel has now lifted the Chris Ward Trophy in the Eighties, Nineties and now in the first decade of the new century - but he didn't have things all his own way as Keith took the opening frame by 73 points to 39 to gain the upper hand in the best of seven frames encounter.

The second frame proved crucial as Nigel who potted pink and black to draw level at one frame apiece and the Wellington Billiard Hall player took the lead when he cleared up with a 30 break in the next to go 2-1 in front.

A well taken yellow to pink clearance saw Keith draw level again as he took the next 74-47 only for Nigel to go one up with two to play by claiming the fifth frame 64-18.

Keith rallied once more as a 28 break gave him the early initiative in frame six and he looked to have done enough to seal the frame when he led by 26 points with just the colours remaining.

However his heart must have been in his mouth as Nigel looked all set to clear the colours only to inexplicably snooker himself behind the black with just blue, pink and black remaining.

And although he successfully negotiated the snooker, Nigel left his opponent a simple pot to take the match into a deciding frame.

But the Billiard Hall player made no mistake in the seventh and decisive frame as he kicked off with a run of 32 and maintained his lead throughout to take the frame 59-18 to put the seal on a hard fought victory.

STEVE FLETCHER

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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