Dynamic Dave creates waves (From Dorset Echo)

Dynamic Dave creates waves

9:03am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Sport By Echo Reporter

DAVE Smith made a huge name for himself at the EIBA Warner Leisure Hotels Champion of Champions competition by beating two England internationals en-route to the final.

The two-time Moonfleet singles champion went into the three-day event at the Lakeside Coastal Village on Hayling Island an unknown quantity but came out the other side as the talk of the tournament.

With the top 16 in the country all taking part, Smith began convincingly with a 21-14 victory over Wayne Snook from North Wilts to set up a quarter-final clash against world number six Simon Skelton.

The England star and past national Champion of Champions title holder was expected to breeze through but Smith soon set tongues wagging by racing into an incredible 18-4 lead.

Skelton then rallied by picking up four counts of two but his opponent held his nerve to close out the game 21-12.

It was a huge shock but the drama was not over yet as Smith went on to face Hartlepool’s Vinnie O’Neill, another England squad player, in the semi-finals.

All seemed lost for the Dorset bowler at 19-11 down but his dogged determination provided a glimmer of hope as he pulled back to 19-16.

A single from O’Neill then took him to within one shot of the final but Smith continued to draw with metronomic consistency to eventually level at 20 apiece.

The underdog’s family could barely watch but with the crowd now firmly behind him, he kept it together once more to pull off the win of his life on the final leg to set up a clash against world number four Mark Royal in the main event.

The two-time Welsh Masters champion and 2000 Champion of Champions winner entered the final high on confidence having already dispatched England team-mates Jamie Chestney and Nick Brett.

And unfortunately for Smith, that form continued as Royal came up with his full arsenal of shots to take the title 21-6.

Despite falling at the last hurdle though, Smith could not hide his delight afterwards. He said: “It has been a fantastic experience and, although disappointed at losing, playing against Mark Royal in the final was a real pleasure. He is some player and you learn a lot being in that company.”

Smith, who has won Moonfleet’s club singles title twice in the past four years, received his runners-up trophy from EIBA president Lyndsay Warner.