CRAIG Newstead is the new holder of Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Cyril Hicks Singles Shield after beating John Lane in the final.

Finals night got underway on the downstairs alley of the Victoria Arms with a high-quality opening round, as all eight finalists took to the alley with a place in the top four at stake.

Craig Newstead set the tone early with an outstanding 58, the highest score of the round, immediately marking himself out as the man to beat. John Lane (55), along with Jason Powell and Sam Vile (both 53), also produced strong efforts to secure progression.

There were some notable casualties, however, with John Pike (51) and Theo Ling (49) both narrowly missing out despite solid scores. Darren Sparks (40) and five-time champion, Rob Higgs (45), were unable to keep pace.

With the field reduced to four, the pressure intensified in the second round. Once again, Craig Newstead delivered when it mattered, topping the group with 51 to comfortably book his place in the final. John Lane joined him with a composed 48, continuing his pursuit of a fifth title. Jason Powell (45) and Sam Vile (44), who had both impressed throughout this competition, couldn’t quite replicate their earlier form and were eliminated at this stage.

The final match saw Craig Newstead face four-time champion John Lane, a clash between the night’s standout performer and one of the competition’s most successful ever players. In keeping with the pattern of the evening, Newstead rose to the occasion once more, producing a superb 54 to secure the title.

Lane responded with 47 but was unable to match Newstead’s scoring power on the night. It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Newstead, who topped the scoring in all three rounds, a remarkable achievement that capped a dominant Finals Night performance to claim the Cyril Hicks Singles Shield.