STOURBRIDGE lifted the Worcester Inter-League Cup for the sixth time in eight years by defeating Kidderminster 642-481 over the ten frames played home and away.

In the first leg at Brandhall Labour Club, 14-year-old Taylor Fish gave visiting Kidderminster a boost by beating Geoff Williams 104-36, with a 48 break, but breaks of 32 and 49 enabled Chris Southall to take his frame by 84 points to redress the balance.

Kidderminster’s John Betton won by 36 points but Dave Green’s 72 break in a 115-3 win eased Stourbridge 92 points ahead. In the last frame, Andy Smith looked likely to level the scores, but a missed pink when 55 points up enabled Bal Sembi to clear with 35 and establish a 72 point lead for Stourbridge.

At the start of the second leg at Pockets Snooker Club, Kidderminster, Stourbridge’s lead looked vulnerable as Taylor Fish began well, but Dave Green fought back with a 32 break, although his opponent cleared the last three balls to win by 12. On the adjacent table, however, Geoff Williams had a number of significant scoring visits, and cleared with 32 to the blue to put Stourbridge 130 ahead. Rob Howen and Chris Southall then won two closely-contested frames to extend the lead to an unassailable 165, before Andy Smith cleared to pink with 36 to complete the action.

Typical of the competition generally, the match was played with great sportsmanship, Kidderminster deserving great credit for winning half of the ten frames in the final after defeating Redditch in their semi-final. Stourbridge A, who had beaten their own B team in their semi-final, were worthy winners, however, and were presented with the Dean Powell Cup by the secretary of the Worcestershire Area Snooker Association, John Smith.

First leg: Stourbridge A 329 ( C.Southall 32, 49, D.Green 72) Kidderminster 237 (T.Fish 48, J.Betton, A.Smith 42)

Second leg: Kidderminster 224 (T.Fish, A.Smith 36) Stourbridge A 313 (G.Williams 32, C.Southall, R.Howen).