Congratulations to Rhys Carpenter and Jimmy Llewellyn after they beat Dave Richards and Simon Takata 3-1 to win the Cardiff Handicap Pairs at Mackintosh Sports Club.

However, it was the Canton Warriors’ pair who started strongly as Simon Takata dominated proceedings with a display of fluent potting and positional play to win the opening frame with several reds remaining and lay down an early marker.

A brilliant split of the pack off the black early on in the second frame by Carpenter gave him a great chance of a sizeable contribution but he couldn’t take advantage and Takata continued his great form to establish a lead as the frame headed towards the colours. However, Carpenter hit back to edge ahead and when he was left with the blue near the pocket it looked like being 1-1 but an unfortunate in-off in the yellow pocket kept the Warriors in the frame. Some good safety followed and with Carpenter tight on the top cushion it looked like the Canton pair held the advantage, but a tremendous long pot moved Taff’s Well 13 points ahead before an excellent pink sealed the frame and drew them level.

After levelling the match, both Carpenter and Llewellyn began the next frame well as they built a lead on the first few reds, but Richards reduced the deficit with some crucial pots as it went to the colours. Both pairs had half-chances but Carpenter took advantage of a good opportunity to pot the brown and move snookers ahead and despite some good efforts from the Warrior pair, Carpenter potted the blue to draw the concession and leave Taff’s Well one frame from victory.

The momentum of the match had now switched and the Taff’s Well pair showed good matchplay and solid potting to build a lead in the fourth, but Richards and Takata stayed in the frame as it headed towards the last few remaining reds. However, two telling contributions from Llewellyn consolidated their lead and he sank the yellow to move a snooker ahead, before Carpenter finished things off with the green and brown to give the Taff’s Well pair their first title together.