ACCRINGTON'S Colin Morton retained his crown when defeating Liverpool's 19-year-old snooker star Jason Barton 5-2 in the final of the North West Individual Snooker Championships at Blackpool last night, collecting the winner's cheque of £400.
Morton came up against a formidable opponent in Barton, who has won three England caps, two at under 21 level and one in the world amateur championships. It was Barton, from Huyton, who took the opening frame 75-36 producing a break of 37, to lead 1-0.
However, defending champion Morton cruised into a 4-1 lead, the Lancashire hot-pot taking the next four frames, producing breaks of 41 in frame two and 60 in frame four, before Barton took frame six, 77-0, with a magnificent 77 break, to reduce the deficit at 4-2.
Morton, from the Accrington Poplar Working Mens Club, clinched the title in frame seven, 66-19, with a winning break of 53, to retain his crown.
Morton also collected £50 for the highest break of 136 in this year's championship.
Frame scores (Morton first): frame 1: 36-75, (Barton 37brk); frame 2: 75-8 (Morton 41brk); frame 3: 73-44; frame 4: 81-0 (Morton 60brk); frame 5: 61-31; frame 6: 0-77 (Barton 77brk); frame 7: 66-19 (Morton 53brk).
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