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FERNANDEZ, GIBBS-NICHOLLS TRIUMPH AT NATIONS CUP

Dave Fernandez and Sophie Gibbs-Nicholls secured their maiden major title wins at the inaugural Nations Cup event in Aberdeen.

For Burton based Londoner Fernandez his ultimate 6-5 success over Jack Pople was some consolation for his World Masters final defeat back in the summer.

“I have been close in a couple of tournaments so it was great to get over the line at last in one of them,” added Fernandez, 30, who practices at Derby’s Corn Exchange.

“I came up against some players and had some tough matches but the final was the hardest. I was 3-0 down to Jack so that was a big scare.

“I was thinking ‘here we go again’ but fortunately I managed to hold myself together and keep the faith. Hopefully, I can go on and win a few more after getting this one out of the way.”

And for Gibbs-Nicholls, it was another trophy to add to her collection having won the British Universities and Colleges Sport 8-Ball title at Great Yarmouth in 2014 and successfully defending it against Sheffield rival, Naomi Clare, at Vauxhall Holiday Park last February.

Psychology student Gibbs-Nicholls from Devon certainly had to keep a clear mind as she progressed to the final against 2014 National Ladies singles runner-up Lorraine Fivey. The duo shared the opening 10 frames before Gibbs-Nicholls kept her cool to clinch the decider.

Having lost in the last 16 of the main event, Giuseppe D’Imperio won the Under 23’s title with victory against Callum Singleton. Oldham prospect Aaron Davies was one of the biggest favourites at the event and duly won the junior crown to go with his World and European titles.

European Seniors winner Keith Brewer, still coming to terms with his World Seniors final defeat, had to settle for second prize again as England team mate, Shane Robinson, secured a 5-2 final win.

HOT SHOT HITCHEN CLAIMS OUTREACH PRIZE

Michael Hitchen became the first ever Outreach Nations Cup champion with a flawless performance. Introduced by the organizers, rather than hosting a customary wheelchair competition, the outreach tournament was well received. Six players entered, including the sole lady player, Kerry McInnes, and Hitchen came out on top after a round robin competition, winning all five games. Gary Gemmell won four of his games.

SCOTTISH SENIORS DENY ENGLAND NATIONS CUP CLEAN SWEEP

England were convincing winners of the 2015 Nations Cup event at the Hallmark Hotel in Aberdeen.

Led again by redoubtable Lee Kendall, England registered an 8-4 final win over hosts Scotland.

And, apart from a mid match scare, the World and European champions were always in control. Trailing 6-1, Mike Clark, Darren Matthew and Phil Craig reduced the Scots’ arrears to 6-4 before Karl Sutton and Jack Pople completed the formalities.

The English squad of: Kendall, Sutton, Pople, Gavin Lomax and Ben Flack also won all six games in the round robin stages with Lomax and Kendall topping the averages courtesy of 16 wins in 18 frames.

In the men’s B final, Northern Ireland led England 2-1 through Lee Topping and Gavin Armstrong. But the favourites roared back to win the next seven frames.

Former world champion John Roe led the averages, dropping just one game in 12, closely followed by Dave Fernandez. The rest of the England squad was: Andy MacDonald, Shane Thompson and Ian Davenport.

Individual champion Aaron Davies won only one of his three frames but England A proved too strong for their B side in the Junior final. Billy Harding and Kieran Lennon completed the line-up in a 5-3 win.

It was an all-England affair at Under 23 level where Giuseppe D’Imperio, Josh Kane and Callum Singleton beat James Bolton, Scott Anderson and Reece Townsend 5-0.

But the Cross of St George wasn’t raised at Senior level where John Falconer, Paul McGowan and Lindsay Ahern defeated Shane Robinson, Harris Ali and Keith Brewer 5-2 in the final.

In the ladies team final, England again met Scotland with the visitors ruling the roost courtesy of an 8-2 success. Karin Burt and Lyndsey McKellar were the Scottish winners against the champions of: Lyndsey Roberts, Sophie Gibbs-Nicholls, Sarah Wait, Lorraine Fivey and Barbara Taylor.