DARRYL Fallows claimed first prize after the inaugural edition of a new tournament in Crewe.

He was a convincing victor in the final of the KPI Recruiting Amateur Championships, holding off the challenge of Phil Malam (7-3) to pocket £1,000.

The Gladstone Club star was one of 16 players, all of them based in the county, to emerge from eight weeks of qualifying rounds ahead of a finals day at Dishers Pool and Snooker Club.

Fallows had been too good for Keith Lockett (6-3) at the semi-finals stage after earlier wins against Tommy Ainsworth-Smith (5-1) and Lee Wood (5-3).

Northwich duo Eric Webber and Dave Patterson both bowed out at the last 16 stage against Mike Kernan and Ainsworth-Smith respectively.

However Webber, captain of England's under 23s team at the World Eightball Pool Federation World Championships in June, recovered to prevail in a plate competition.

He beat fellow Cheshire player Dave Cobey in the final.

“It was an excellent day and a very good competition that we’ll look to put on again,” said organiser Lyndsey Roberts.

Meanwhile the Northwich and District Pool League's annual meeting has been fixed for Sunday, August 18, at Castle Sports and Social Club, from 7pm.

All teams wanting to play in the 2019-2020 season must be represented.