There were a few close shaves in Division 1 of the Telford Snooker League last week as the top three teams all scraped through by the odd frame to leave the position at the top of the table unchanged with Hills Lane A still favourites to retain their title.

The reigning champions looked to be in control as they raced into a 2-0 lead against Minesota Fats but the home side battled back to draw level at two frames all before visiting captain Ian Duffy saved the day with a deciding frame win over Chris Walker.

Shaun Harris continued his push for the most wins trophy to record his fourteenth win in fifteen games against John Shepherd to put the Madeley side in front and things continued to look good for the visitors as Keith Price produced a fine display to account for his fellow inter-town team-mate Paul Lloyd in the next.

Mick Brezwyn gave the Oakengates side hope though with an 84-33 success over Matt Bailey and the visitors were then rocked as Simon McLeod took the next from Richard Wade with a 33 break to put the league leaders in danger of succumbing to what would have been only their third defeat of the season.

However Madeley captain Ian Duffy made sure of his side's thirteenth win with a 68-21 defeat of Chris Walker to keep last year's winners five points clear of second placed Shifnal A who also won 3-2 against another Madeley side, Anstice A.

Matt Davies got back to winning ways in some style with a superb 79 break to take the first frame against Mick Cahill, but the visitors soon replied as John Darrock showed off his potting skills to level the frames score with an excellent win over Andy Easthope.

Darren Pountney then overcame an early onslaught from Mick Downing to put the home side back in front before Lyndsay Knox's win over Nick Oakley secured his side's thirteenth win of the campaign.

However, any chance the Memorial men had of closing the five point gap between themselves and Hills Lane were soon dashed as Phil Reynolds got the better of Simon Biddulph to leave the home side victorious by the odd frame in five.

Wellington Billiard Hall A, who won the League title two seasons ago and were runners-up last season, also failed to make up any ground on the top two as they too returned home from their trip to Maddocks A with just three points out of a maximum five.

Things had started so brightly for the Wellington side as Morton Hughes opened the scoring with a 30 break to take the first frame against Phil Davies. That was soon followed by another fine display from Phil Whitby who got the better of last season's winner of the John Bethell Trophy, Leigh France, to put the visitors into a commanding 2-0 lead.

However the Oakengates side soon retaliated as Ian Skelton rattled in a 40 break to deny Spencer Rowley before Adrian Barraclough took on Paul Harper.

Despite a brave fight, it was the Billiard Hall captain who came out on top by 56 points to 30 to maintain his remarkable record of having won all fifteen of his league games so far.

But with home captain Dave France securing the last frame 70-29 over Graham Darrall the Wellington side were left to return home with a well earned three points which keeps them eight points off the lead and three behind Shifnal but with a game in hand on each of the two sides above them in the table.

Struggling Shifnal F without a match last week due to the withdrawal of Maddocks B at the start of the season, took the opportunity for a spot of practice - and it soon paid dividends as they entertained fourth placed Coddon A and came up trumps with a surprise 3-2 victory.

Veteran Wally Harper led the way with a 70-49 success over Lee Szklarzewicz. Not many players make a 35 break and lose but that was the case here as Wally drew on all his experience to eventually clinch victory on the blue to put the home side in front for the first time.

Substitute Chris Painter then made a rare appearance for Shifnal when he took on Adrian Smith and although he potted some good balls he finally went down 63-34 after the Donnington player, with a nine point lead on the green, made what was in his own words, a "classy double" before clearing the colours to make it all square at one apiece.

Coddon captain Dave Lloyd then opened up a 29 point lead on the last red only to go in-off giving Fred Harper an opportunity to clear the colours and although he took the yellow through to the blue he missed the pink, leaving Dave to take the frame 45-28 for a 2-1 lead.

League President Nev Whitehead then took centre stage as he raced into a 59 point lead with the aide of a 30 break. However, despite still trailing by 40 points on the colours his opponent Darren Weston never gave up and fought back brilliantly to secure two snookers before eventually losing out as Nev forced the decider by taking the frame 76-36.

With the match nicely balanced at two frames all, who better to give Shifnal some pep than that man Dave Peplow. Shifnal's "Mr Reliable" once again did the trick as he took a nine point lead on the colours. Things then turned a little tricky however as Ian Ferriday secured an excellent snooker on the yellow which yielded two free balls, but Dave wasn't slow to take his opportunity when it asrose as he took a deep breath before clearing yellow to pink to take the frame 71-51 for a long overdue 3-2 win for the home side.

There was a double cause for celebration for Bayley A as they travelled to take on Dawley Social in what was to be a keenly contested relegation battle.

Not only did the Wellington side secure their first win for many weeks, but they were also in party mood to celebrate Bayley favourite Bob Mason's impending 65th Birthday .

Bob, who also retired last Friday from his job as a bus driver for the handicapped in Coalport, was presented with a carriage clock by his team-mates to mark the occasion and was congratulated by all of the Dawley side who joined in with the celebrations - although their hospitality didn't extend to allowing Bob a celebration victory as Chris Woods snatched the first frame on the pink to put the home side in front.

There had been panic in the Bayley ranks earlier on as Steve Fletcher mislaid his snooker glasses only to find they had been left behind at the Bayley Club - thankfully team-mate Steve Nicholls was on hand to retrieve the situation, but in doing so left his own glasses behind in Wellington.

Fortunately Fletch had at least remembered his cue, and he was able to make it one each with victory over Mark Jones before Steve Nicholls, who hasn't made his mind up whether to play with or without his glasses yet, was forced to play unaided as he made it 2-1 with victory over Pete Nolan in the next.

Chris Morgan-Adams then made certain of victory as a 37 break secured frame four against Barry Roden to put the Bayley 3-1 up only for Rick Bailey to produce a typically solid display to take the final frame from Arthur Burrows to leave the Bayley and "The Pensioner" Bob Mason happy to return home with a 3-2 win under their belts.

The Wellington side now lie level on points with Dawley at the foot of the table, but have a game in hand over both Dawley and Shifnal F, who have one point more.

DIVISION 2

Last season's Division 3 champions Newport British Legion A came oh so close to inflicting what would have been a first league defeat for runaway leaders Hadley A as the table toppers returned home with a slender 3-2 win thanks to John Squire's pink ball win over Simon Thornley in the decider.

A superb win for Colin Farge secured the first frame for Newport by 56 points to 35 against Andy O'Brien as the home side got the start they wanted.

However, Hadley aren't sitting at the top of the tree for nothing, and they replied in typical fashion through Steve Hoof's 64-47 black ball win over John Mellings and captain Dave France's defeat of Ivor Hellyar.

Matt Bothwell soon made amends to level the frame score at two apiece as he got the better of Ali Jones 41-30 only for John Squire to secure Hadley's sixteenth win in as many games with a 47-36 final frame success over Simon Thornley.

Despite winning, Hadley's lead at the top has now been cut to ten points after Little Dawley A consolidated their position in second place with an excellent 4-1 home win over Anstice B.

And they were no doubt encouraged by a brilliant display of potting from Richie Heighway who followed an early break of 22 with a 31 clearance to take the first from Stuart Wimbush.

Jesse Lowe could do nothing to stop George Hammond in the next though as the formaer League secretary wrapped up the second frame 62-33 to draw the Madeley side level.

However it was all downhill for the Anstice from then on as the home side reeled off the next three frames for a comfortable 4-1 win.

Ade Henry was next to show as a 35 break completed a 63-23 win over Adam Moore before Ray Clements and Rick Cousins completed the scoring to leave the Little Dawley boys two points clear of third placed Wellington Billiard Hall E who beat Pot Black A in a close match by three frames to two.

And close it was too, with the home side losing two of the first three on the black before snatching the fourth on the final ball.

Tom Firmstone put the visitors in front with a 52-48 win over Competitions Secretary Nigel Stallard only for Warren Barber to level with victory over Toby Welsh in the next.

The black ball blues hit the Wellington side once more as Mike Thompson made it 2-1 to Pot Black with a narrow 59-52 success over Alan Turner before Chris Morris made it all square once more, again on the black, against Dave Welsh.

That meant it was left to Mick Hughes to secure his side's twelfth win by beating Paul Crooks in another close finish, 49-37 to put the seal on a 3-2 win which keeps the Billiard Hall two points off second spot and two ahead of Coddon B who jump to fourth on the back of a superb 5-0 win at home to Shifnal E.

The Donnington side, relegated from the first division last term, now look set to mount a strong challenge to return to the top flight as they are now only four points off second spot after a resounding win over the Shifnal side who started the day just four points behind the Coddon at start of play.

Mark Wall's first frame success over Ken Holwell gave the home side the perfect start and they never looked in danger as Steve Downs and Bob Dando took the next two frames against Chris Petford and Ivor Peplow respectively for a 3-0 lead.

Top referee Rob Wright was unable to do any better as Terry Garmston took the next frame too before Phil Szklarzewicz rounded things off with a close 54-41 win over Dave Barden to complete a super win for the Donnington lads.

Shifnal B fared somewhat better than their E side as they too played a Coddon side, however this time they had home advantage on their side as they ran out 4-1 winners at home to the Donnington club's C team to keep their own promotion hopes alive.

John Jones set the scene as he took the opening frame 58-15 from Keith Morris, but Steve Lumley hit back to level the scores with a tense black ball finish against Rich Whitehead.

However the home side made no mistake in the final three frames as firstly Emlyn Watts accounted for Mick Stokes and then captain Danny Bedworth beat Sef Tusel.

S Nolan then wrapped things up neatly with a 34 break against Chris Ferriday to leave Shifnal B in fifth place on 46 points, five points adrift of second placed Little Dawley B.

DIVISION 3

With just six matches left to play, the Third Division title looks destined for Wellington Billiard Hall C after another brilliant display earned them maximum points from their derby clash with the Billiard Hall's B team to put them a massive 16 points clear of three teams who share second spot on 44 points.

Dave Cartledge set the ball rolling as he potted his way into a commanding lead and then never looked back, to claim the first frame against Ken Francis 62-36.

The next frame saw both captains come face to face as John Rawlins fought his way to victory over Alan Francis to make it 2-0 before Mick Birch played the best snooker of his life to take the next 59-24 over Ian Atkinson as the champions elect secured their fourteenth win in sixteen attempts.

An unlucky Andrew Kendrick then came up against the shear potting ability of young Matty Locklin before Paul Cartledge, brought in as a late replacement for the unavailable Martin Locklin, played out of his skin to beat his opponent Royston Francis by 60 points to 31 to complete the whitewash.

Despite falling to their second consecutive defeat Bayley B still head the chasing pack on 44 points although they are now joined in second spot by Little Dawley B who won 4-1 at Billiard Hall F.

Hadley B's 5-0 triumph over Newport British Legion B also sees them move up the table into fourth place, also on 44 points but having won only ten of their sixteen matches, two less than the two other teams on the same points.

And with Shifnal D and Pot Black D both just two points further behind, the race for the runners-up spot is hotting up nicely.

Indeed, it was the Pot Black side who came out on top as they entertained second placed Bayley B with Neil Pearson grabbing the decider with a fine 57-34 win over Dicky Beddall.

And it was another Pearson, this time Mick, who had earlier given the home side the lead with a palendromic scoreline of 72-27 only for visiting captain Bob Tracey to reply with a brilliant 45-36 success over Kirk Stephenson.

Steve Scenters then put the Bayley in front as he coolly sidestepped the challenge of Harry Jones but it was there that the Bayley revival ended as Mick Egan and Neil Pearson took the last two frames for a 3-2 win for the Oakengates side.

Little Dawley B, who boast the services of some of the league's brightest prospects, were once again on form as they raced to a comfortable 4-1 win away at Billiard Hall F to draw level with Bayley B in second place.

And it was one of those youngsters, Darren Wincott who set them on their way with an opening frame victory over Andy Fletcher.

The visitors then doubled their advantage as B Wincott edged home on the final black against Chris Durham and it was only the intervention of Rob Cook who prevented all five frames going the way of the visitors as he stepped up to post a 66-28 win over G Whiley.

Lee Elcock then made certain of victory with a 65-34 defeat of Richard Tranter leaving Byron Mitchell to finish off in style with a 70-31 success over Chris Fletcher in the last.

Hadley B did their promotion prospects no harm at all as they thumped Newport British Legion B 5-0 to move up to fourth spot, level on points with both Bayley B and Little Dawley B.

J Hoggins made the perfect start against Alan Davies before former Billiard Hall A team player Doug Morrey got the better of Alan Munn to make it 2-0.

Frazer Mackinnon followed up to make it 3-0 against Keith Gardner and further wins from Joe Fielding and P Lucas, which included a 25 clearance, secured maximum points for the home team.

Shifnal D have now won ten of their sixteen matches, and lie just two points off second place, following an excellent 3-2 away win at fancied Bayley D.

Dave Williams continued his recent good form with a 58-11 win over Mat Hester as the Bayley took the lead but that was soon cancelled out as Mick Guest took the next against home captain Steve Lane.

Goeff French put the visitors in front for the first time with a black ball finish against Mark Beddall only for the home side to level the scores once more.

Indeed there was good news all round for Brian Aberdeen who was re-united with his lost chalk holder. Having lost it before Christmas when his team visited Dawley in the cup, Brian had Barry Roden to thank for spotting the missing clicker. However, Brian was still in the losing habit as this week he had trouble locating his cue.

Having returned from a mid-session interval Brian suddenly noticed that he'd played the first half a dozen shots with team-mate Bill France's cue, however he soon got back to winning ways as having been re-united this time with his own cue, he completed a 55-39 win over the recalled Arthur Aston to draw the frame scores all level at two frames each.

The Ice Man Bill France having reclaimed his cue from Brian was unable to follow in his team-mates footsteps as Barrie Easthope secured the deciding frame 71-32 to leave Shifnal well placed in the scrap for second place.

Maddocks D's young star Ian Eldridge soon put the Oakengates side in front as they entertained Little Dawley E.

Alan Bould then made it 2-0 before John Archer got in on the act with a 66-52 success over C Jones as the home side increased their lead still further.

A Loveitt continued in the same vein to take the next 48-19 over J Rowlinson and only Paul Perk's final frame win over Roy Adams stopped the rot as the home side ran out comfortable winners by four frames to one.

The Telford League's representative side's in the West Midland Inter-Town competition both failed to reach the third round of the competition as they both suffered 6-1 defeats against strong opposition.

As reported last week the B side fell at home to the winners for the last two seasons, Stourbridge A, whilst the A team travelled to Bilston A and lost by the same scoreline.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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