English Team Final 2008-09

Manchester defeated West Midlanders 5-3 to win the English Team Championship, World Snooker Academy, English Institute of Sport, Sheffield.

Jurys Inn sponsored the EASB Finals weekend and also provided accommodation for players and officials.

Considering the ability of the six players involved in the final it was a surprise to see that the highest break in the whole match just 39.

Frame scores Manchester first :
(44-58), (58-11), (71-40), (28-54), (70-77), (65-36), (60-44), (52-6) : 5-3

Rob James beat Craig Steadman on the pink with a break of 28 to win the 1st frame.

A break of 39 the highest saw Chris Norbury defeat Daniel Ward, Lee Payne opened with a 39 but lost to Manchester’s Michael Wild on the blue, Wards 31 break to the brown saw off Steadman for 2-2.

Norbury led Payne 51-0 but lost the frame on the black 70-77 as West Midlands regained the lead.

Steadman on the Main Tour from PIOS at last won a frame he trailed Payne 0-39 but five misses gave him a chance to win on the pink too lead 4-3.

Norbury’s 21 break decided the match winning the 8th frame easily against James who made the highest break in the qualifiers a 122.

Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker

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