Rowlands and Davie win Handicap Pairs

Ryan Rowlands and Tom Davie from Savoy A are the 2016-17 Handicap Pairs winners after a 3-2 victory against James Facey and James Wigmore of Canton Libs B.

The Canton duo started strongly and took advantage of a 21 point handicap to comfortably win the opening frame, before the Savoy duo hit back in the second to level things up.

Both teams knew the importance of the third frame and all four players missed pots to take the frame to the colours, with missed chances on the pink finally allowing the Canton pair to clinch the frame.

It looked as if Facey and Wigmore were set for victory after they started frame four strongly to quickly gain a 30 point lead. However, Rowlands showed why he is defending his Cardiff Open title next week with a superb 59 break that was filled with excellent positional play, and was enough to take the match to a fifth frame.

The deciding frame was outstanding and must be one of the best to grace a Cardiff final lasting almost an hour, and filled with twists and turns that meant it went all the way. Both teams were edgy at the start and a stalemate ensued in the pack resulting in both teams agreeing to a re-rack. The frame was tight throughout with Savoy managing to stay in front. However, with 2 reds left the frame looked like another re-rack could be possible after a red and black became locked in the corner pocket. It was eventually resolved though and then triggered a series of snookers laid by Savoy and featured some outstanding escapes by the Canton pair, meaning the frame went to the colours with Rowlands and Davie leading by 24 points. However, Wigmore made the most of a half-chance to pot the yellow then a very good green followed by the brown. He then sank a tremendous blue into the middle pocket sending the white up and down the table to land on the pink to the yellow pocket, with the black just off the top cushion. The angle was almost dead-straight though meaning Wigmore tried to force the white through but unfortunately managed to follow the pink into the pocket. This left the Savoy duo a snooker up and the handshakes followed shortly after to give Rowlands and Davie the title after a nerve-wracking and exceptionally high quality finish.

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