Mongrels, Stickmen claim Karratha eight ball titles

The Mongrels’ stellar finals form continues, after they defeated the Warriors in a highly competitive final to take out this year’s Karratha Districts Eight Ball Association’s A-grade winter competition premiership.

The A-grade match on Wednesday was one of the highest standard matches for several years and went down to the wire. Mongrels started the match in fine form, taking the first round 3-2.

The Warriors fought back in the second and had the last game of the round in their grasp to level at 5-all, but an in-off cost them the game and sent Mongrels into the last round with a 6-4 lead.

In the last round Warriors won the first two games and at 6-all appeared to have the momentum, having just toppled two of the Mongrels’ better players in levelling the ledger.

Mongrels then took the next game to be on the hill with two games remaining, but had to wait to the last game for a result.

In a tense finish it was the Mongrels who were presented with the first good opportunity, which they took to win an epic match and an unprecedented fourth successive winter flag with a 8-7 result.

The win also gives the Mongrels eight winter competition premierships, equalling the Taverners’ envious record.

The B-grade final on the same night was also stacked with talent, as the Stickmen had recruited strongly in the second half of the season and were well enough equipped to make an assault on the A-grade but just fell short of fourth position.

Going into the match as favourites, the Stickmen line-up outplayed the Punishers, taking the first two rounds 3-2 for a 6-4 lead and then closed out the match early in the last round to win 8-4.

The win marked the Stickmen’s first premiership in the association.