Bourne cue ace Alfonso Palumbo bagged a memorable double at another exciting finals weekend in The Spalding and District Snooker and Billiards League.
The Pyramid star defeated Long Sutton talent Stuart Atkin 4-2 to win the coveted Snooker Scratch title for the first time at Springfields Events Centre on Saturday night.
Not content with winning the top individual prize on offer, Palumbo – nicknamed “Fonz” – then teamed up with Pyramid F colleagues Jason Green and Spencer Dawkins to claim the Norey Cup title in the final match of the weekend.
The 4-2 victory over Deepings side Boundary ensured that the Bourne boys lifted the Roy Norey trophy for the fourth year on the spin – which is a new record.
Overall, 12 finals were contested between Friday and Sunday as South Holland’s top cue aces gathered for the annual showpiece event.
First up was the Billiards Shield on Friday night, with Pyramid B taking on Donington in a three-frame, 200 points up showdown.
It proved to be quite a one-sided final, with the Bourne side taking all three frames to win 600-479.
Breaks of 33 and 20 respectively from Martin O’Connor and Maurice Phillipson helped them on their way, while Darrell Read wrapped up the win in the final frame.
Jim Thompson did hit back with a 31 break for Donington, but Pyramid held firm.
Saturday’s play kicked off with the Billiards Handicap, with Long Sutton’s Adam Barwell (O50) making full use of his advantage to see off Consti star Mick Johnson (O170) 200-102.
Johnson had breaks of 64 and 34, but Barwell bagged a host of knocks in the 20s to ease home by 98 points.
Then came the Snooker Senior Masters, in what was a close contest. Donington’s Jim Thompson (O7) eventually emerged victorious 2-1 against Consti’s Bryan Turnell (R7) to win the competition for the second time in three years.
Matching that feat were Sutton duo Sean Swinburn and Susan Lefley (O21) in the Snooker Mixed Pairs, as they dispatched Dawn and Steve Godfrey (O7) 117-82 to regain the trophy they last won in 2014.
The Snooker KO Cup final between Long Sutton A and Consti H followed, with Sutton prevailing 3-2.
Wins for Wayne Dent (O35), Derek Beba (O14) and Swinburn (O30) ensured that the trophy went back to Sutton for the first time since way back in 1978.
Palumbo’s scratch heroics followed to complete Saturday’s action.
There was an all-Sutton affair to get Sunday’s play up and running as Mick Cooper and Adam Barwell went head-to-head in the Billiards Scratch.
In what was a cracking contest, Cooper raced to a 353-187 victory with breaks of 45 and 29 – making him the first person other than Rob Childs or Hugh Pinner to lift the trophy since 2007.
There was another landmark win in the Ladies’ Snooker final as Services potter Tanya Peel (R7) beat Whittlesey’s Kay Skutela 2-0 (55-49, 71-64) in a tight tussle to win the trophy for the fifth time (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2015).
Also making history were Bourne SC duo Mark Gray and Mike Byrne (O84) in the Snooker Handicap Pairs.
They beat Darren and Mark Woodberry (O84) 169-82 to become the first duo to win the title for three years on the spin. Gray, who lit up the weekend with a dazzling 92 break, finished that one off with a typical 39 clearance.
The Woodberry pairing – representing the Tulips club – did give a very good account of themselves, with Darren making an impressive 42 break.
There was a first-time winner in the Snooker Handicap final as Gosberton’s Adam Twigg (scr) saw off Victor Rouse (scr) 2-1 (19-56, 62-24, 48-23).
The relatively new Snooker Scratch Pairs final followed, with Carl Parnell and Dent beating Swinburn and Mat Smith 2-1 in an all-Sutton showdown.
The traditional Norey Cup finale followed, with Palumbo, Green and Dawkins too strong for Boundary’s Mick Walker, Paul Spittlehouse and Richard Wilson.
The league’s match secretary Susan Lefley said: “Once again it was a great weekend which was well attended, along with some great snooker and billiards on offer. On behalf of the committee, I’d like to thank everyone who helped us.”
The victorious players will receive their trophies at the league’s annual dinner and trophy presentation evening, which is also at Springfields, on Friday, May 27.
- Click on the ‘order a photo’ tab on our website to buy any of the photos taken on finals night, or call Lisa on 01775 660561.
All winners were pictured in this week’s Spalding and South Holland Voice.
