WHIZZ kid Justin Astley landed the Darwen Hotels Snooker League individual and pairs double.

But he had to struggle in the singles against Punch team-mate Ian Harle who took him to 2-2 before a miss on a tricky blue let the 16-year-old in for victory.

Astley came from behind to win the first at Uncle Jack's; Harle won the second easily. Astley again came from behind to go 2-1 up and again Harle levelled it. It was an excellent contest and although Ian was disappointed not to have won his first title, he was pleased with his game.

Earlier, Astley and Dave Houghton had teamed up to beat Andy Maudsley and Harold Heys (Cemetery) 2-0 in the pairs final. They came from well behind to snatch the opener and then the youngster wrapped it up with a 57 break in the second frame.

The league's knockout ends tonight with play-off places still to be decided. Uncle Jack's will qualify but they are still smarting from a defeat on the Anchor. Captain Paul Charnock hammered Shaun Hilliard to clinch a 4-3 win. Top Con B are favourites to land their third knockout title in succession, but Prince of Wales could be dark

horses.

Tonight's games: Cemetery A v Top Con B, Top Con C v Anchor, Uncle Jack's v Cemetery B, Borough v Punch, Alexandra B v Prince. The play-offs start next Tuesday.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.