Minnesota ‘A’ secure Robb memorial success

As they had done in both the quarter and semi-final matches, the Cullybackey Road team held their nerve to edge out 147 Jokers in a final frame decider to become the first side from Ballymena to win the trophy.

Rodney McFall took the opening frame against Joe Bingham but the Antrim man pinched the second on the black to level the match score.

Matthew McFall put the ‘A’ team ahead again only for the experienced Mervyn Campbell to level again for the team formerly known as Fountain.

Declan McClean enjoying his return to the green baize after a couple of years absence had Minnesota on the verge of victory after taking both frames against Ian Templeton.

Jason Smyth, a former Individual winner, proved too strong for an out of form Daniel Thompson and a 2-0 win sent the match to a deciding frame.

In a random draw Matthew McFall was paired against Jason Smyth.

With his proud father and mother both watching nervously, young Matthew played a perfect frame never allowing his opponent to come close to pegging back Matthew’s 15 point start.

Matthew played a solid frame and ran out a comfortable winner to seal the trophy for Minnesota.

Davy Swann and Willie Dobbin claimed the Doubles trophy with a win over Peter Martin and Adrian Toner from the Triangle club.

Both pairs shared the opening two frames before Davy and Willie nudged ahead by taking the third.

Back came Peter and Adrian to level matters before the Ballymena pair claimed victory in a deciding frame of a match where the teams by their own admission failed to play the way they normally could play.