NEIL Wood became the first winner of York Conservative Clubs' Foster's Challenge handicap snooker knockout competition when he recovered from 2-0 down to defeat Brian Coulson on a re-spotted black in the fifth frame at Fulford Conservative Club.

Coulson (Bootham), who was receiving 14 points start per frame, scored the first points in the opening frame before a mistake let in Wood (Heworth), who made a three blacks 24 break to lead 34-23.

Coulson replied with red, black and a 20 break plus a further six points to lead 58-34.

Wood gained four points from a snooker on the last red which left him ideally positioned for a clearance. He sank the red and then black but failed on the yellow.

Both players fouled before Coulson gained yellow and green and after Wood fluked the brown Coulson added an easy blue and Wood conceded when he went in-off the pink with the score 78-54.

Wood quickly cleared the handicap in the second frame helped by two fouls by Coulson plus a red and blue. Coulson came back with six points and a 14 break to lead 35-16 after Wood twice failed on colours after potting good reds.

Coulson increased his lead to 58-23 and after a bout of safety play Wood took the last two reds to score nine but Coulson sank the yellow to lead 60-32 and kept escaping as Wood laid snookers.

Coulson potted green and added the brown by playing across the table when snookered and the brown was over a middle pocket. When Coulson added the blue Wood conceded when 72-32 behind, which put Coulson 2-0 in front.

In the third frame Wood scored 59 including breaks of 16, 17 and 18, before the Bootham player potted a ball. Coulson scored 13 with the last two reds but was 32 behind with only the colours left. Wood took the yellow and Coulson the green and then Wood won the frame 76-30 by clearing the brown, blue and pink.

Coulson was 34-33 up in the fourth frame when he made a mistake and Wood compiled a 32 break including the last two reds and colours up to and including pink to win 64-34 and level the match.

In the fifth frame Coulson went 42-7 ahead aided by a 23 break which ended when he failed on what proved to be a crucial black. Wood clawed his way back with three separate pinks.

The Bootham player sank yellow but fouled when snookered. Coulson then potted green and was ideally positioned on game ball brown near the blue spot but the ball drifted. Wood sank the brown and then cleared blue, pink and black to level the frame at 56.

After several safety shots Wood potted the re-spotted black to win the frame and the match.

The match officials were Lewis Willie and Bob Ventress. The cup and mementoes were presented by Paula Reed, area manager for sponsors John Smith's.

Updated: 11:14 Saturday, April 20, 2002