UNITED Services B defeated their own A team to secure a place in the Chester Challenge Trophy final after an exciting semi-final clash at St Werburgh's.

Gerry Byewater opened the scoring for the A team with a win over George Brady by 16 points, but Alan Lea levelled the scores, defeating Paul Ellis by 19 points.

Kevin Maxwell put the B team ahead with an emphatic 53-point win over Reg Whatmore but Alan Platt brought Services A level by defeating Andy Rose by 40 points.

Scott Wilkie, the B team captain, lost to Mark Roberts by 12 which meant it was left to Jason Taylor to win to keep the B team in the competition.

They had a lead of four going into the frame and Jason managed to beat Roy Baker to level the score at 3-3, meaning the winners of the tie would be the side with the best aggregate score.

Services B went through 351-345 - a difference of one point per man!

The Chester and District League would like to thank St Werburgh's for hosting the tie and Tom Donnelly and Chris Dixon for refereeing.

In the other semi-final, Conservative A defeated Division Two outfit St Theresa's A.

In a surprise start, Keith Owens (Theresa's) defeated Dave Smith by 17 points. Steve Williams levelled at 1-1, getting the better of Anthony Garland 76-47.

Eddie Jenkins put Cons in the lead with a 79-50 win over Shawn Mc-Cullough but back came St Theresa's with Ray Cheers showing the form he is capable of with a crushing 76-27 win over Andy Short.

With the score level at 2-2 and St Theresa's ahead by 10 points on aggregate, in came the winner of so many important matches for Cons, Neal Jones.

He played Alan Cheers and although Alan put up brave resistance, Neal ran out the winner by 41 points to put Cons ahead 3-2 and by 31 on aggregate.

Try as he might, Micky Thomas could not contain Andy Duckers so Theresa's challenge was over for another year. The League thanked Geoff Anderson and Graham Bostock for refereeing and the United Services Club for hosting the match.

The final will be held at Broughton Wings Social Club on Friday, April 7.

nIn Division Two, United Services C defeated Liberal 6-0.

There was an electrical failure on the lights on one table and the match was played on the other table.

Coincidentally, the same thing happened at City Transport for their match against Christleton but they switched venues to Christleton.

Gordon Dugdale took the table first for Transport and scored breaks of 31 and 46 break in his 90.

Mike Done levelled for Christleton and Mark Cook put Christleton ahead with a win over Colin Morris.

Damien Futcher beat Christleton captain Mike Craig to put Transport level and Wayne Davies put them in front with a win over Dave Done.

John Mooney salvaged a draw for Christleton by beating Nigel Middlehurst to make it 3-3.

Broughton Wings B fought out a draw with high flying County Officers.