The final action of the South London & Kent Pool Alliance on Thursday saw the culmination of the Singles Knock Out competition at Riley’s.

Four players had battled through earlier in the season to have the right to contest the prize on Finals Night.

The Jolly Fenman’s Tony Halpin began his semi final with a complete clearance from the break, but his bold attacking play was counter attacked by George IV’s Craig Mallinder in the later frames, with Mallinder winning through to the final by 4 frames to 1.

It was a similar story in the other semi final where the balls just wouldn’t run kindly for Mark Eldridge of the Hotshots, and this allowed Adam Coppen also from the George IV, to pick him off with ease, winning 4-0 to make the final an all George IV affair.

With these two players knowing each other’s game inside out, there was never going to be much to separate them.

Coppen took the first two frames, recovering well from a perilous position in the second to make the early running.

Mallinder quickly replied in the third when he really ought not to have got to the table, but Coppen added another to make it 3-1 and at this stage looked the man most likely.

Mallinder’s previous experience in singles finals began to come to the fore and he was soon level at 3-3.

An unlucky foul from Coppen and good finish in the seventh frame from Mallinder meant he needed just one more to be crowned champion again, and he duly obliged in the eighth to retain his crown for the fourth season in a row.

New teams are always welcome to the SLKPA, with teams consisting of 5 of more players and matches played on Thursday evenings.

Team registrations for the Summer 2009 season are being taken now. For more information log onto www.slkpa.com or contact Paul Gafa on 07753 926291.