WEST Devon A took the title for the first time having been 'bridesmaids' for the past two seasons in the Tavistock snooker league.

They needed five points off their last game against West Devon B to ensure challengers Conservative A would not to catch them.

West Devon A took four frames and had a nervous wait to find out that Con A only took four frames in their game and not the five that would have drawn them level.

After a easy start with Hurford taking a frame off May, WD A were stunned into silence when the B team's Bath took a close frame off Hawke to make it level. Order was restored for the A team with a fine win for Rob Heathman over Smith. The final two frames went comfortably the way of WD A with Rich and Colin Heathman winning their frames. Now 4-1 up, all WD could do now was wait to see if Con A had dropped a frame against bottom team Con C.

If they took five frames off bottom of the table Conservative C then Con A would be joint champions with West Devon A.

Lacey overcame Craze and Cook beat Jago to put the A team two up and then three with Carruthers beating Hoare. Four up for the A team looked inevitable when Watters potted the pink to win only to have the misfortune to see the white ball also disappear down the bottom end of the table. C team's Neale took full advantage to take the pink and black to sneak the frame. Evans duly completed the proceedings with a controlled win over Bassett to make it 4-1 to Con A.

With news filtering back that West Devon also had a four, it was a case of too little too late and settling for 'runners up' this year by one point having won the league the previous two seasons.

The one frame for the C team however was just enough to lift them over West Devon C and off the bottom of the league for the first time. With their last game being against West Devon C this looks likely to be a lively affair.

A superb season for West Devon A, who all will agree played the most consistent snooker all season and thoroughly deserved their rewards.