Double delight

After pipping Woolston Conservative Club A to the snooker Super League title by just one frame, Terry Azor’s ‘lads’ met their great rivals again in the 62nd Burroughes & Watts final.

There was a hushed atmosphere in Shirley Conservative Club as some of Hampshire’s finest cuemen let their cues do the talking.

Lights were turned off above the other five tables as referee Sid Hunt donned his white gloves. A distinctly nervous league chairman Terry Kitcher acted as scorer.

Chandlers Ford beat last year’s double winners 3-1 in what both sides described as a great final.

Wayne Muddiman’s 40 break against Ollie Tydeman, Drew Farminer’s colours clearance against John Mullane, Kevin Vane’s marvellous 35 clearance to snatch victory from Adam Nash and Mark Benzey stepping out of Azor’s “engine room” to clinch the match against Dan Hildyard – a great advert for snooker in Southampton.

Former Town Champion Benzey said: “We all play as a team; we all play as a unit.”

Chandlers Ford’s number one Mullane said: “It’s good for the team to win. That’s all that matters. Wayne got us on the front foot.

“It hasn’t sunk in, really. It’s just nice. Well done to the boys.”

Vane added: “We’ve been pretty good this year, the best team.”

Muddiman said: “I’m well chuffed and I’m chuffed for Terry.”

Ex-pro Danny Zagaroli started a dead fifth frame against Woolston skipper Mike Finn with both attempting to beat Nick Jennings’ highest knockout break this season of 109.

But Finn conceded early.

Zagaroli said: “I’m glad the boys did the business. It was a fantastic win. Kevin Vane had a fantastic clearance that turned it round for us.

“I’m quite glad it wasn’t down to me because I was playing Mike.”

Reserve player Satpal Hans said: “Wayne started off really well. He was a bit nervous in the middle, twitching a bit, but he pulled through in the end.

“The whole season, as a team, we’ve really worked hard. We’ve all played a part.”

Azor said: “It was an absolutely fabulous win. It was a good spectacle. There were quite a few people here and they loved it.”

Chandlers Ford Central A, formerly City Transport A, have now claimed the Burroughes & Watts Shield seven times. Only Warren Social A, formerly Shirley Warren A, with ten, have won more.

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