FURTHERGATE pair George Holden and Andy Lancaster clinched the doubles title in the Lancashire Telegraph CIU Games League - and deny Alfonso Bellusci the chance of a clean sweep' of honours.

Having already helped Hollins Lib Club to the A Division title, Bellusci went on to win the singles crown only to slip up with brother Elmo in the doubles showdown at St Paul's WMC The doubles final, the best of five frames , was of the highest standard - something you would expect from four players who helped their respective teams take the top two places in the league.

The Bellusci brothers drew first blood to win the first frame before a wonderfully constructed break of 68 from Holden saw the Furthergate pair draw level then go ahead for the first time.

But Alfonso made sure the match went to a deciding frame thanks to a knock of 66 to tie the match at 2-2. In the final frame, Holden and Lancaster always had the upperhand and held a commanding 53 lead until Holden produced a match winning snooker that forced the Bellusci to concede.

"It was a wonderful final that went one way and then the next," said league secretary Frank Jex Senior. "All four players played there part in the final and the breaks by George and Alfonso were superb. And that snooker at the end was the doing of the Hollins Lib boys." But Alfonso bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on a possible treble to beat Frank Jex Junior 3-1 in the singles final.

The Darwen potter was always in command, winning the first frame then the second with a knock of 62.

A break of 48 from Jex gave him the third frame but Alfonso wrapped up the title in the very next frame.

"The best player on the day won," said Jex Senior. "Our Frank played well enough on the day and won his frame with a tidy break but there was no denying Alfonso. He hardly put a foot wrong and deserved his title."

It was a fitting end to the season for Bellusci who helped Hollins Lib Dem to the league title with Furthergate in second place - a reverse of last year's standings.

In the B Division, Queen's Park A' finished as champions with Free Gardeners as runners-up.

l The League's awards night will take place at Audley WMC on Friday, July 11.