THE Black Dog lifted the Shaun Taylor Memorial Trophy for the seventh time at the Domino's Weymouth Sunday League's annual six-a-side competition at the Marsh.

The St Mary's Street outfit, playing together for the final time before Rob Pavey brings together a totally new side next term, won all eight of their games over the day, including a pulsating 3-1 victory over old foes Café Royal in the final.

Earlier in the morning the two sides met in a group D encounter that ended in a 3-0 win for the Dog with goals from Derek Puckett (2) and Jimmy Hallett.

While the Dog went on to win the group the Café boys were forced to scrap their way to runners-up spot with two wins and two draws in their other four games.

And it looked as though Damian McLucas' charges were heading out of the competition when they trailed the Famous Old Spa, group C winners, 1-0 going into the latter stages of a gripping quarter-final.

Following a goal-less first six-minute period Chris Sweetser-Hawkes saw his drive parried by keeper Dave Smith but Chris Reader was on hand to tap home to give the Spa the advantage.

However, the Café rallied and Chris Legg pounced late on to take the tie into extra-time where they bagged two more to stun the Spa and clinch a semi-final spot.

First Ryan Pratt struck for 2-1 and then Smith took advantage as all six Spa players pushed forward in desperation and his opportune out-of-hands clearance found the net.

Meanwhile, the Cork & Bottle, winners of group B, saw off group A runners-up the Britannia 2-1 after Stuart Burley had shot the Portlanders in front.

Adam Linaker drilled in the equaliser before half-time, and then virtually with the last kick of the game, Adam Laing hit a left-footer that curled inside the far post.

That win paired the Cork with the Café in the last four and the two sides produced another see-sawing contest with the former taking the initiative just 60 seconds in.

Ollie Stanton broke away before slipping in Linaker to fire beyond Smith, and it was not until the second period that the Café levelled through saviour Legg.

He fired high into the net and then late on a long throw by Pratt was headed home at the far post by Adam Billings for the winner.

Elsewhere, group B runners-up the Lugger were making good progress as they swept aside Tuatara 4-1 in the last eight - James Morgan chalked up a hat-trick while sidekick Richie Narramore was also on target.

That victory pitted the Chicker-ellers against the Dog, who had just edged Pavey's Royal Oak outfit.

A sweet strike from Puckett and a cool side-foot finish from Dan McDonald gave the Dog a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead, and when McDonald added his second 90 seconds after the restart the Dog looked to be in total command.

However, stopper Neil Robinson, the Oak's player of the tournament, inspired a late rally and from bold runs out of their own box the group C runners-up hit back twice through Sam Greening and Lee Rockingham but the Dog sneaked home 3-2.

The Lugger had a real go at the Dog in the semis and were unlucky in many ways to bow out 2-1, especially as Morgan missed the target from a penalty just before half-time with the sides locked at one apiece.

Hallett picked up a loose defensive header, jinked inside from the left and despite the keeper's best efforts found the bottom right-hand corner on three minutes. But the Lugger were level in the sixth.

Narramore made a great run down the left before slipping a shot inside Mark Cottingham's right-hand post and then midway through the second period Pete Bochonko drifted in before firing into the top corner for the winner.

In a tense, energy-sapping eight-minutes each-way final the Dog edged in front at the end of the first half when Puckett bagged his ninth goal of the day.

Ninety seconds after the restart Smith then denied the Dog forward a second with a top-drawer save but from the resulting corner Sam Purnell volleyed home to double his side's advantage.

Café player-boss McLucas then reduced the arrears with a towering header before Craig Baber was denied a leveller by Cottingham, who spread himself well to produce a fine block.

That miss proved crucial as a couple of minutes later the Dog went on to wrap up the game with a third.

Purnell robbed Baber and launched a long ball towards Puckett who made no mistake, nonchalantly flicking the ball over Smith.

The Café boys remonstrated with referee Kelvin Day over Purnell's initial challenge but the goal stood and the Dog saw out the final few seconds in comfort.

KNOCKOUT STAGE RESULTS: Quarter-finals: Tuatara Bar 1 Lugger 4, Cork & Bottle 2 Britannia 1, Café Royal 3 Famous Old Spa 1, Black Dog 3 Royal Oak 2.

Semi-finals: Café Royal 2 Cork & Bottle 1, Black Dog 2 Lugger 1.

Final: Black Dog 3 Café Royal 1.

* The league's presentation evening will be held at Weymouth and Portland Snooker Club on Saturday, May 24 (7pm).

Teams are requested to send their pool pairs entries to Dill Butcher on 07737406591.