Cue a party for birthday boy Allan

DALE Allan (off 14) could not have chosen a better way to celebrate his 23rd birthday than by winning the latest Whitley Bay Snooker Centre handicapped one-day pro-am.

The Whitley Bay cueman claimed a deciding-frame victory over the only minus player in the 18-strong field, Gateshead’s Brandon Hall (off-14).

Allan’s reward for recording 3-1 wins over both Whitley Davey Mole (off level), Gateshead’s Brian Hall (off 21) and Whitley’s Gerry McNally (off 14) 3-0 was a place in the final against young Hall.

Hall had started with a 3-0 whitewash of Gateshead’s Andrew Turner (off 42).

He continued to make progress with a close-fought 3-2 deciding-frame victory over North Shields Craig Sexton (off 21) and a 3-1 win in the semis over Gateshead’s Malcolm Jones (off 35). Playing well, and with a 28-points-aframe start, Allan (left) got the final off to a cracking start by running away with the opener 75-43.

After losing the next 55-78 to a nice 46 clearance, Allan was back in the driving seat and leading 2-1 after claiming the third 73-49 on the colours.

With only two frames left to play and needing both to claim the match, Hall stole the closely-fought fourth on the final black 68-64 - only to lose the decider to Allen 71 (27)-54.

McNally took the highest break of the day award with an excellent run of 75.

Competing off level terms, local player Carl Jackson beat Wallsend’s John Slocombe 2-0 in the final of the plate.

■ SEATON Terrace B’s 4-2 success against former leaders Stakeford B put them three points clear at the head of the Ashington Chisholm and LWC League.

Blyth Conservative are second with Whitley Bay B another two points behind in third.

■ BOMARSUND still make the running in the snooker section of the Ashington Veterans League by two points from S/Hirst C.

In the billiards the top two places are shared between S/ Hirst C and Veterans A.