Queen’s Hall edge out top Drumaness side in decider

Queen’s Hall edge out top Drumaness side in decider

31 October 2012

IN one of the closest finals in years, a packed St Patrick’s Hall in Newtownards was on tenterhooks right down to the wire when Queen’s Hall just edged out Drumaness.

Drumaness number one, Seamus McGivern, was up against Chris Scantlebury and used all his experience to build up a 60 point lead. Scantlebury tried his best to stem the tide, but to no avail.

However, over on the other table, Queen’s Hall captain Alastair McDonald was well on top of his game with Stephen Byrne holding a similar lead.

Back on table one, McGivern began to turn the screw with breaks 32 and 22. Scantlebury just couldn’t get going and eventually went down by 158.

Byrne battled back to hold McDonald to 55.

These two results left Drumaness 118 in front leaving their captain, Gary Rodgers, requiring 83 to win when he played Gordon Stannage.

Stannage knew a fast start was important and a couple of teen breaks put him 40 in front.

Rodgers kept in touch with several smallish breaks and suddenly at the 113 mark, Stannage was 70 in front and for the first time in the match, the Queen’s Hall supporters were beginning to believe that they could do it.

Breaks of 24 and 22 by Stannage left him needing 23 for victory, but Rodgers, who fired breaks of 14 and 12, also needed 23 for victory.

It got really tense after this, but with both requiring four for victory, it was a relieved Stannage who registered six points to secure overall victory.

League treasurer Robert Pollock congratulated Queen’s Hall on winning the trophy and presented the cup to Alastair McDonald.

QUEEN’S HALL 392