Three-ball wizards crowned county champions

Azor, John Mullane and Paul Adams “couldn’t stop smiling” after playing superbly to shock the glittering stars of the eight counties involved at the Atack Snooker Centre, Nuneaton.

In the final against Devon, Mullane defeated Dave Walker, Azor lost to billiards legend Bill Andress and Adams overcame David Coombes.

Adams, who plays for Churchills, Eastleigh, said: “We were so focused in the final we barely looked at each other to see how each was progressing.

“We were so determined. We just had to win it.”

Earlier, Azor played the game of the day to see off Steve Crossland as Hampshire edged Yorkshire 2-1.

And his Chandlers Ford Central Club teammate John Mullane constructed a 114 break in a 3-0 semi-final victory over Cambridgeshire.

Adams said: “We knew we had a good chance of making the final as we were all cueing well. (But) the depth in quality of the players throughout the other sides was awesome.

“We then headed back down the M40 with Terry calling and texting everyone who needed to know.

“We couldn’t stop smiling, even when we got held up for an hour in traffic.”

Dave Burgess, Brian Watson and Alf Micallef last won the trophy for Hampshire in 1980.