Good Evans! Reanne triumphs in a thriller

The duo served up some high quality snooker that included three century breaks, as they battled for the league's Individual Championship at Wednesfield Conservative Club.

Reigning women's world champion Evans (Sedgley Ex-Service) eventually came out on top with a superb 102 clearance in the ninth and deciding frame to lift the title for a second time.

A bumper crowd witnessed the clash with league match secretary Lee Thomson amazed at the standard.

He said: "It was a brilliant final, one of the best in the league's history and certainly the best I have ever seen.

"There were three century breaks and I can't recall a final with that many.

"Reanne is a very good player but I have never seen her play that well. She was absolutely tremendous.

"But she had to be to beat Darryn. He is a former professional and was in the top 50 or 60 in the world at one stage.

"He is going to Q School this summer in an attempt to win a tour card and get back on the professional circuit.

"With Reanne having recently won the women's world title and a player of Darren's pedigree, it was an attractive final and the place was packed.

"It was one of the biggest turnouts we have had for a final."

Evans was first to settle in the match, taking the first frame with some fine tactical play and solid potting.

The contest started to warm up when Walker levelled the match at 1-1 with two 33 breaks .

The final then exploding into life as Evans knocked in a superb 106 to take a 2-1 lead.

Walker levelled by winning the last frame before the interval. Evans came flying out of the blocks after the to regain the lead with a fluent 70.

But Walker responded brilliantly with a quick-fire 104 to level proceedings again. The 43-year-old followed that up with a 44 in frame seven to edge 4-3 up.

Walker knocked in a 44 break in the next to go 4-3 up in pursuit of his first SWMBSA Individual Championship.

But Evans had other ideas and hit back like a true world champion, winning a tactical eighth frame to level the match at 4-4 and set up a decider.

Walker got off to a solid enough start building up a lead of 23, but he unable to convert several chances.

It was Evans who clinched her second individual title with a brilliant 102 clearance, playing left and right-handed during the break and capping it off with a one-handed black.

The final put the seal on a season that has seen the league further enhance its reputation as the best in the country – with a record 34 century breaks during the campaign.

Thomson said: "The season has been a real success. In league matches and the various competitions we run, there have been 34 century breaks.

"That's a new league record. The previous best was last year when there were 25.

"The standard just keeps getting better and better. This league is the best in the country.

"Staffordshire and the West Midlands is a huge catchment area and, thankfully, the game is still thriving around here.

"There is a competition around the leagues in the country for the most century breaks and we win it every year.

"A lot of leagues only have a couple of divisions but we have six divisions of 16 teams and a waiting list of sides wanting to join.

"We had to turn some sides away last year but we are hoping to extend the league to seven divisions next season.

"The only slight negative is the lack of youngsters playing the game.

"We have a number of good young players but it would be nice to see some more playing the game and coming through."

Two other individual winners were also crowned.

Shifnal team-mates Mick Brezwyn and Paul Lloyd contested the Individual Plate final at Wolverhampton Electric Club.

It was Lloyd who came out on top, with breaks of 54 and 39 firing him to the title.

The Individual Handicap final at Woodfield Social saw Rob Wharne (Stafford Institute) take on John Fallows (Shifnal).

Fallows, receiving 21 start per frame, won the opener but Wharne rallied, aided by some fine potting to take the next two.

When Fallows fired in a superb break of 56, it looked like a decider would be required.

But Wharne claimed the two snookers he needed before clinching victory and the title on the final black.

In the Inter Town final, Landywood powered to a 5-1 victory against holders Brandhall at Golden Cue Snooker Club.

Steve Barton shocked main tour pro and Crucible qualifier Mitchell Mann to take the the opening frame before promising youngster Jack Harris made it 2-0.

Robbie James (Landywood) and Bal Sembi (Brandhall) shared the next two frames, before Mick Faulkner (41) and Alex Ake (46) both won for Landywood to cap a fine display.