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ENGLISH TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Hall Green Stadium
Birmingham
West Midlanders and Manchester will meet in the English Team final, May 23/24th,
World Snooker Academy, Sheffield after battling through a quality qualifying day at the sponsors venue where over sixty breaks of forty plus were recorded.
Both teams won their groups along with World Champions Durham City and Cleveland.
West Midlanders defeated holders Riley?s Exeter 6-3 in the round robins for whom Michael Gold the former England captain undefeated for 3 years at the Home internationals made a welcome return winning 2-1.
In the knockout stage West Midlanders, Daniel Ward, Lee Payne and Rob James who made the days highest break 122 walloped Brierley Hill 5-0, James 57, Payne 66 and Cleveland also 5-0, James 50 and Ward 79.
Manchester beat Exeter again this time 5-3, Wild 58 and then Durham 5-1 in style England?s current skipper Main Tour bound Craig Steadman 53 and 56, Chris Norbury 75 and Michael Wild 68 and 86.
All results see www.englishsnooker.com (http://www.englishsnooker.com)
Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker