Neil Wood completed a second hat-trick when he won the York Conservative clubs' Tayrol Scruton Cup snooker competition for the sixth time in seven years by defeating his Heworth club colleague Clive Whyte 3-1 in the final at Heworth.

In the first frame Wood kept leaving reds over pockets while trying to play safe and Whyte took advantage to go 37-4 in front with 16 and 21 breaks.

Wood replied with a 16 break which ended when he smashed into the pack to develop reds. He added a further 15 points to trail 47-35 with just the colours remaining.

Wood took the yellow but failed on a straightforward green with the frame at his mercy. Whyte sank the green but let Wood in again by rattling the brown. Wood potted brown and blue but lost position and tried to play safe. Whyte sank the pink with a fine cut to win the first frame 54-46.

Wood went 46-14 ahead in the second frame and then was left an easy red in the 'D' when Whyte had an unlucky in-off.

He built a 23 break and failed on the brown when a 55 clearance was available, but won the frame 65-14 to level the match.

He took the third frame 75-39 with breaks of 31, 14 and 29 to lead 2-1. Whyte had needed snookers with the colours left but he cleared them (27 break) for potting practice.

Breaks of 50 and 19 put Wood 50-6 ahead in the fourth frame. Whyte added a red and black and Wood did the same to lead 58-14, with Whyte needing snookers.

He fluked the last red and then potted pink but conceded with Wood sinking the yellow to be 60-22 in front.

Bob Ventress was the match referee. The trophy and mementoes were presented by the competition's sponsor, Keith Taylor of Tayrol.

Updated: 10:35 Friday, April 08, 2005