Anstice B, previously without a win to their name in Division 2, finally set the record straight as the season reached the half way mark, with a 3-2 success away at Pot Black A to move off the foot of the table.

The Madeley side will enter the new Millenium two points ahead of Bayley C whose 5-0 defeat at leaders Hadley A leaves the Wellington side two points adrift of Anstice at the bottom of the second division table.

Things didn't look too good for Anstice however as Tom Firmstone gave Pot Black the early lead with a 50-14 success over D Shaw.

Undaunted, former League Secretary George Hammond set about levelling the scores with a 20 break on his way to victory over Mike Thompson before a spirited performance from Simon Smallwood secured the next 44-28 against Alan Morris to put the visitors 2-1 ahead.

But the home side weren't finished yet as Toby Welsh wasted no time in levelling matters once more as he made the frame scores two apiece against W Watson to set up the decider which saw Danny Weaver come out on top as he triumphed 54-36 against Tony Hall to secure his side's first win this campaign to leapfrog them over Bayley C who take over at the foot of the table.

The Wellington side were second best throughout against a Hadley side keen to return to division 1 after being relegated last term.

Andy O'Brien set the title favourites on their way by taking the opening frame against youngster Craig Johnson before Steve Hoof doubled their advantage as he took the next 66-21 against Darren Rhoades.

N Watkins put the home side further ahead before Ali Jones and Dave France wrapped up Hadley's eleventh win in as many outings to keep them nine points clear of second placed Wellington Billiard Hall E who move up to second place after claiming maximum points from their home game with Coddon C.

Warren Barber took the opening frame against Sef Tusel with a 20 break as the Billiard Hall set about securing their sixth win of the campaign.

Alan Turner, who used to play the guitar in a local group, showed he was very much in tune with proceedings as he strung together a run of good pots to get the better of Mick Stokes before a plucky performance from Chris Morris saw him get the better of his namesake Keith to make it 3-0.

Nigel Stallard followed suit with a 77-39 defeat of Chris Ferriday leaving Ray Evans to complete the whitewash with a 52-17 success over Vic Graham in the last.

Little Dawley A drop from second to third after falling to their third defeat of the season, 3-2 at Newport British Legion A.

Colin Farge took the first frame with a nail-biting 53-40 win over Richie Heighway only for Jesse Lowe to continue his fine run of form by defeating home captain Paul Jones to pull the frames score all level.

The home side then took control as Ivor Hellyar made it 2-1 before Simon Thornley's 59-36 win over visiting captain Rick Cousins ensured Newport of their seventh win on ten games.

However a 59-34 success for Ade Henry over John Mellings made certain of Little Dawley reaching the half way stage of the season in third spot, four points ahead of their opponents but with the Newport side having played one game fewer.

Shifnal B lie fifth - a further point behind Newport, following a 3-2 win at home to Coddon B.

Rich Whitehead's 53-30 defeat of Phil Szklarzewicz put the home side in the driving seat only for Mark Wall to level things up with a black ball win over Emlyn Watts.

John Jones put Shifnal back in front only for Steve Downs to hit back once more as he took the next frame by 49 points to 16 over home captain Danny Bedworth.

Steve Nolan then secured his side's seventh win in ten with a 55-13 victory over Nick Pearce in the decider.

Shifnal E weren't quite as fortunate as they lost by the odd frame in five as they entertained a Maddocks C side looking for their fourth win of the campaign.

A rare defeat for Rob Wright saw Graham Hoof give the visitors the lead before the home side moved ahead thanks to wins from Chris Petford and Jeff Sparkes who beat J Hill on the final black.

Mark Finucane forced the decider by taking the next over Ivor Peplow before Billy Rushton returned to the team to claim the decider with a superb performance against Dave Barden.

DIVISION 1

Match of the day in division 1 was undoubtably the encounter between second placed Wellington Billiard Hall A and leaders Hills Lane A.

The Madeley side started the day three points clear of the former champions but soon found themselves behind as an excellent display from Morton Hughes gave him the first frame against visiting captain Ian Duffy by 64 points to 49.

The visitors rallied however to take the next two frames as Jamie Fallows got the better of Steve Minshall 65-39 before Shaun Harris defeated Graham Darrall 68-49 to give Hills Lane the lead at 2-1.

And it looked as though they would go further in front as Paul Harper was left requiring the last two balls to tie the next frame against Keith Price.

However Keith's attempt at a safety shot ended in disaster when his white trailed in-off into a corner pocket leaving Paul the opportunity to snatch the frame by potting pink and black for a 65-59 victory to level the score at two frames apiece.

However Richard Wade made no mistake in the last as a 47 break made certain of the deciding frame against Spencer Rowley to extend the reigning champion's lead at the top to four points ahead of both the Billiard Hall and Shifnal A who dropped two valuable points from their home tie with Minessota Fats.

Things seemed to be going to plan as the Memorial Club shot into a 3-0 lead only to be pegged back by Simon and Kelvin McLeod.

John Fallows put the home side in front against John Shepherd before Linsay Knox made it 2-0 against Paul Humphries.

The game of the night came next as Andy Easthope took on Carl Walker. Andy took the honours with a 40 break but only after Carl had contributed a run of 30 before finally losing out by 80 points to 39.

However a 36 break from Simon Mcleod reduced the deficit againast Darren Pountney before Kelvin Mcleod took the last on the final black against Simon Biddulph to leave Shifnal with just three points as the endeavor to close the gap on the leaders.

Hills Lane B followed last week's 5-0 win over Shifnal F with an excellent 4-1 success this week as they entertained Bayley A. And they came from behind too as veteran Dennis Fletcher made his first appearance of the season for the Bayley and came up trumps with a 73-50 defeat of Steve Powell.

But the visitor's joy was to end there as Lee Harris soon levelled the scores with a fine display of potting against Bob Mason.

A brilliant long pot on the pink, followed by a similar shot on the black gave home captain Kev Davis a 54-45 win over Steve Nicholls before Richy Jones played superbly to open up a 34 point lead against Steve Fletcher.

The visiting captain fought back to level the scores only to play a rash double on the re-spotted black leaving Richy the opportunity to sink the black in the middle pocket for a well deserved 63-56 win to put his side 3-1 ahead. And with Paul Eyke in unstoppable form in the last, Chris Morgan-Adams was unable to turn the tide leaving the Madeley side with four well earned points.

Shifnal F's recent indifferent run continued as they visited Anstice A and returned home with just a single point.

Nev Whitehead did give them the lead however as he defeated Nick Oakley 47-36. After trailing throughout the frame Nev finally came good on the colours when, after potting brown and blue, the old "cocked hat" shot on the pink secured the frame for his side.

Madeley captain Phil Reynolds then levelled matters as he defeated veteran Fred Harper. Fred led by eight points as it came to the colours only for that in-off jinx to strike again leaving Phil to pick off the colours before sealing victory on the blue.

Shifnal captain Brian Painter then produced one of his best performances of the season when he took on the experienced Mick Downing. Within minutes of a 25 break, his lead was extended to 35 points. However his eagerness to close out the frame was his downfall as after potting the last red with a yellow he continued to take the green without noticing that the yellow had to be re-spotted.

This gave Mick the fillip he needed to pick off the colours before snatching victory with an excellent fine cut on the final black for a 66 points to 60 victory.

Neil Price then got the better of an out of form Dave Peplow to make it 3-1 before Mick Cahill sealed an excellent win for the Madeley side when he turned a 34 point lead on the final red into a 64-30 win to complete an excellent 4-1 win.

DIVISION 3

An eleven point gap has now opened up between leaders Wellington Billiard Hall C and Pot Black D who are the new occupants of second spot in the table following a whopping 5-0 triumph away at Bayley D who began the week in second place themselves.

The Billiard Hall's 4-1 win at Little Dawley C maintained their push for the Division 3 title and must leave them as clear favourites having lost just once in the first half of the season.

Dave Cartledge gave them the early lead with a 68-30 success over B Wincott and although John Rawlins made it 2-0 against D Wilson the home side were given some hope as D Wincott narrowly beat Mick Birch 55-47 to pull a frame back for the Little Dawley side.

Two of the league's brightest youngsters then took centre stage as Matthew Locklin reached the half way stage of the season with his hundred percent record intact after a 68-23 defeat of Byron Mitchell to put the visitors 3-1 up, leaving dad Martin to round off a 4-1 win for the Wellington boys with a 60-30 success over home captain Rob Withington.

Bayley D drop two places to fourth following a disasterous result at home to Pot Black D who swap places by moving up to second in the table after claiming all five points.

The home side, without lucky mascot Aubrey Massey, were soon under pressure as Mick Pearson took the opener against Dave Williams. The Bayley then looked to have levelled only for captain Steve Lane to get into the Christmas spirit a couple of weeks too early as he went in-off the pink to give his opponent Rob Palin the snooker he required enabling the Oakengates man to wrap up the frame on the black by 41 points to 38.

Mick Egan then got the better of Brian Aberdeen before the usually unflappable Bill France fell to defeat against Harry Jones as the visitors went four frames up.

Not even a valiant effort from Dave Dudley could prevent the whitewash as Neil Pearson took the final frame by 58 points to 42 to complete a miserable night for the Bayley all round.

In fact, with three of the Bayley teams only managing to collect one point between them, Dennis Tyrer - a regular in the Bayley snooker room, could be seen offering out business cards for a local optician - thankfully at least one of the Wellington club's teams are not in need of new glasses just yet as Bayley B continued their fight for honours with a 3-2 win at home to Billiard Hall D.

Steve Scenters gave them the perfect start with a 62-49 win over Paul Gubats and Dicky Beddall soon followed suit to make it 2-0.

Two former first division players then came face to face as Andy Kendricks replied for the visitors with a good 62-39 defeat of Fred Spragg only for Dave Western to restore the two frame advantage with a close 46-38 victory over Alan Francis.

Kevin Ryan was unable to keep the momentum going however as R Francis claimed the last frame of the evening for the visitors to leave the final score 3-2 to the Bayley who stay in third spot - a point behind Pot Black D.

There was no cue swapping this week as the Billiard Hall's F side entertained Hadley B - although the home team, having employed the tactic of swapping their cues so profitably in recent weeks may revert back to their old ways after the visitors left with a very creditable 4-1 win under their belts.

Hadley asked for a short delay to the proceedings to allow their first player to turn up - and when he did arrive Doug Morrey put in a classy performance to take the first frame by 64 points to 27 against home captain Steven Weatherall.

Steve Johnson then made it 2-0 with a 63-41 win over Chris Fletcher before Chris Durham stopped the rot as he re-found the home form which had recently deserted him, to get back on track with a 56-15 victory over Frazer MacKinnon.

Joe Fielding then replied for Hadley to make it 3-1 before Ray Whitehead took the last frame 54-29 against Chris Bates.

Newport British Legion B may still be bottom of the league - but they will be hoping for better things from now on after recording their first win of the season when they travelled to Little Dawley E.

And the visitors shot into an early two frame lead thanks to M Gidda who got the better of C Jones and A Munn who took the next on the black against C Smith.

Graham Copson then pulled a frame back for the home side by taking the next from Kevin Gardner only for Mike Doverskog to secure victory for his side with a good win over John Rowlinson.

However, the visitors were unable to take away any more points as Paul Perks took the last frame of the evening 41-29 against A Gidda to leave Newport with three well earned points.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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