Le Gallez crowned for third year in a row

The strong favourite lived up to her billing with an early 22 in the opener for a comfortable first-frame success, but she did not have it all her own way with the next two coming down to the latter colours.

With the pink hanging over the centre pocket, it was a race to get the blue in the second frame, but when Welsh potted it inadvertently, Le Gallez was out of reach.

It was similar story in the third with Le Gallez again forcing the pace through some fine potting, but Welsh was still in striking distance on the pink.

A double to the green bag sealed her fate, though, as Le Gallez now looks to the Norman Wale final against Scott Bradford tomorrow night at the Ex-Service Club.

Martyn Desperques’ 15th consecutive Island Billiards title came as no surprise given his dominance locally, and it means he now sits just four titles behind the great Norman Wale.

It was a double blow for Steve Le Poidevin – who earlier in the week lost the handicap final – but in reaching 298 points to Desperques’ 500 saw him get closer than anyone since Adam Shorto in 2013.

A top break of 46 and a series of 20s and 30s propelled Desperques to the huge Burnley Shield that is very much his permanent piece of silverware for the immediate future.

In the billiards handicap final, Le Poidevin succumbed 200-180 to Mark Jeffreys, who is the first person to win the title three years in a row.

It proved not to be the most flowing encounter at the Sporting Club, but a close finished beckoned after Le Poidevin’s 23 saw him breathe down Jeffreys neck at 167-160.

The defending champion increased his lead again, though, and at the fourth attempt on 198, Jeffreys nailed a cannon to again lift the Dave Mahy Trophy.

The pairs handicap knockout is the one competition yet to reach the final stage, but Desperques’ 69 clearance saw him and Darren Hughes reach the quarter-finals at the expense of Le Poidevin and Graham Peel.