Mifsud brothers clash in third final

It seems that every second year the two Mifsud brothers, Steve and James, are destined to meet in a final.

This year the two met in the final of the Victorian Championship.

The elder brother, Steve, had won the previous two encounters at Yarraville, in 2006, and in the City of Melbourne competition in 2004.

At the opening of this year's encounter it appeared as if history was about to repeat itself as Steve won the first two frames but James had different ideas and fought back to be 4-2 in front at the interval.

Steve seemed determined to catch up but James was in good form and consolidated his lead to 7-3 with a 79 break in the 10th frame.

Steve won the next two but the 13th frame was close. James raced to 71 and Steve had to use all his skill to snooker his brother as the score reached 71-all. The black ball was re-spotted and James pounced on a mistake by Steve to win their third encounter in a final.

The championship was held in familiar territory as the brothers play for the Brunswick Club where their father, Bill, was made a life-member in 2002.