GALLEYWOOD Eagle capped their Ridley League season with a treble-winning Cup Final show that left even the losers proud to have taken part. Last week s 5-2 win over Rayne Cock had just about everything you could ask: three 180s, a stack of 100-plus starts

GALLEYWOOD Eagle capped their Ridley League season with a treble-winning Cup Final show that left even the losers proud to have taken part.

Last week's 5-2 win over Rayne Cock had just about everything you could ask: three 180s, a stack of 100-plus starts and finishes, and a terrific atmosphere that typified the rivalry between the kings of the league's North and South divisions.

Losing captain Steve Prow, whose 10th maximum of the season wasn't enough to stave off victory by Harry Smith in the game that put the Eagle on the verge of victory, summed up: "That was terrific. They have a great team there, one to be proud of."

The Cock made the perfect start with Phil Barrett's straight-legs win over Alan Morton, but Matt Doe and Peter Cable swung the balance, and Eagle skipper Steve Tinsley's decision to send on Smith for the fourth game threw Prow a challenge he could hardly refuse.

It made for a fantastic battle, Smith finding some of his old form to win in three legs with the help of a maximum and a 131 finish.

Noel Cummins all but matched that with a 124 shot out to keep the Cock's hopes flickering, but Alex Tinsley ended the next game, firing a 180 of his own to beat Alan Dewar and leave Alan Church to apply the final blow.

It ended 5-2, but victorious skipper Tinsley admitted: "There were never three points between the sides. That was one tremendous evening."

And now they have to do it all again in the inter-section play-offs at Dunmow's Flitch Snooker Club next Tuesday! July 10)