Hills Lane A have started the new Millenium just as they ended the last - at the top of Division 1 of the Telford Snooker League. However they have some serious competition as they continue the defence of the title they won last year with both second placed Shifnal A and former champions Wellington Billiard Hall A both hot on their heals with just four points separating the top three teams.

And it was the Billiard Hall who really put the cat amongst the pigeons when they began their New Year fixtures with a 3-2 win away at Hills Lane A before recording a 4-1 win at home to Dawley Social in last week's fixtures.

That defeat may have weakened Hills Lane's grip on the League Title slightly, but they bounced back strongly last week to take all five points on offer against their B side, and although Shifnal A claimed four points at home in another derby match with Shifnal F, the Madeley side still have a three point lead over the chasing pack.

Nonetheless they will have been disappointed to see a 2-0 lead slip as they opened their New Year fixtures at home to the Billiard Hall.

Captain Ian Duffy, whose wife Clare gave birth to their second child, Chloe Victoria just before Christmas, started the new year in stunning form as he gave his side the early lead against Steve Minshall and when Jamie Fallows followed suit, coming from 30 points behind against Morton Hughes to eventually take the frame 61-48, the home side looked all set to record their tenth win in eleven outings.

The visitors had other ideas however and Spencer Rowley began the fight back with an excellent 77-32 defeat of Keith Price before the next two frames kicked off at the same time with Richard Wade taking on Graham Darrall and Shaun Harris playing Paul Harper.

First to finish was the clash between two players who were previously undefeated in a league game this season as Paul Harper won a closely fought battle by taking the last two reds and colours up to the brown for a 71-36 victory to put himself in pole position for the most wins trophy.

It was then left to Graham Darrall to clinch the Billiard Hall's ninth win of the campaign as he completed a 64-44 win over Richard Wade to secure a winning start to the new year for the Wellington side.

However normal service was resumed the following week as Hills Lane took on their resurgent B side and came away with all five points safely in the bag.

The B team had recently seen an upturn in their fortunes having won their last four matches to move away from the relegation zone but they could do nothing to stem the tide as the A team got back to winning ways in some style.

Home captain Ian Duffy took the honours against his opposite number Kev Davis to put his side in front and they never looked back after a 45 break from Keith Price secured the next frame against Steve Powell for a 2-0 lead.

Matt Bailey and Shaun Harris then doubled that score before Richard Wade completed the whitewash with an excellent win against Richie Jones to reinforce his side's title ambitions.

Paul Harper was once again in irresistible form as breaks of 41 and 54 gave the Billiard Hall the lead at home to Dawley Social last week.

Morton Hughes soon made it 2-0 against Dave Hampton before Mark Jones hit back for the visitors with a 70-26 success against Steve Minshall.

Rick Bailey was unable to follow suit as Phil Whitby made it 3-1 to the home side before Spencer Rowley wrapped things up with a 61-48 defeat of Barry Roden to leave the final score 4-1 in favour of the Wellington side who lie third - one point and one place below Shifnal A who also won 4-1 at home to Shifnal F.

Despite a valiant effort, F team captain Brian Painter was unable to recover a 21 point deficit on the colours leaving Lindsay Knox to give the A side the opening frame. Matt Davies then followed with a 36 break against Wally Harper before Darren Pountney ensured his side of victory as he got the better of Fred Harper in a game where all the reds were clustered on one side of the table. Although only 16 behind on the last red, a foul on the pink brushed away any hopes Fred had of starting a comeback for his side and Darren was able to secure the frame for a 3-0 lead to the A team.

Shifnal Stalwart Dave Peplow was not to be denied however as he pulled a frame back against home captain Andy Easthope in the next.

With the game all square on the colours, Dave gave away two free balls to give Andy the advantage. Undeterred though, the Shifnal Magician gradually fought his way back to eventually take the frame on the black 64-53 to give Nev Whitehead some hope going into the last against his nephew Simon Biddulph.

After a game full of tactical exchanges it was Uncle Nev who saw his effort on the final pink jaw in the pocket giving his younger opponent the opportunity to take pink and black for a 43-31 scoreline.

The breaks were flying in at Donnington where Coddon A took on Anstice A and came out winners by three frames to two.

All three of the home side's winners had forty plus breaks although things didn't start all that brightly for the Donnington side as Mick Cahill put the visitors ahead with a 65-24 win over Ian Ferriday.

Lee Szklarzewicz soon redressed the balance with a 46 break on the way to victory over Nick Oakley only for Neil Price to put the visitors back in front with a 69-48 defeat of Adrian Smith in the next.

Back came Coddon though as Dave Lloyd blasted in a 45 break to take the next 75-51 against Phil Reynolds before Darren Weston finished off the match in style with breaks of 35 and 44 against an unlucky John Darrock.

DIVISION 2

Hadley A look destined to return to Division 1 at the first time of asking after they kept their unbeaten record intact with a 3-2 win over third placed Little Dawley A to remain nine points ahead of their closest rivals Wellington Billiard Hall E, who stay second despite falling 3-2 at Maddocks C.

Hadley didn't have things all their own way however as they had to twice come from behind to snatch a hard fought victory over a Little Dawley side keen to progress to the top flight.

Richie Heighway put in his usual strong performance to give the visitors the lead with a fine 68-47 success over John Squire. Andy O'Brien then levelled matters with a close 65-53 success over Little Dawley captain Rick Cousins only for Jesse Lowe to power his way to victory against M Watkins as the visitors went back in front at two frames to one.

Steve Hoof restored parity once more, 50-23 against Ray Clements to leave Dave France to maintain his side's unbeaten record with an excellent 71-34 defeat of Ade Henry in the last to complete Hadley's thirteenth win in as many games.

Wellington Billiard Hall E's topsy turvy season continued as they fell to their sixth defeat of the season away at Maddocks C but still manage to stay in second spot two points ahead of Little Dawley A who lie third.

Warren Barber set the perfect example for his team-mates with a 30 break on the way to taking the first frame against Graham Hoof and it looked as though the visitors might go two up as the next frame proved to be a close tussle between Craig Rowley and Mick Hughes. But it was the Maddocks man who held his nerve to come out on top by potting the final black to eventually secure a 60-56 win to draw his side level.

Mark Finucane then weighed in with a 21 break to beat Alan Turner by 77 points to 21 before Ray Evans drew the frame scores level once more with a 56-28 success over Billy Rushton.

Nigel Stallard was then unable to repeat his heroics of the previous week against Coddon when he required five snookers before eventually winning on the black.

Perhaps it was just as well as on that occasion his team-mate Alan Turner had promised to take his clothes off and run around the Donningtom club if he won the frame - so everyone was no doubt relieved that this time Joe Oliver's 22 break prevented any comeback by Nigel and secured the frame by 61 points to 28.

Newport British Legion A lie fourth following a 3-2 success at Anstice B and must surely be in with a chance of promotion to division 1 as they are just four points off second spot with nine wins from 13 games.

However they didn't have things all their own way as the home side shot into an early two frame lead and nearly made it 3-0 as they only lost the third on a re-spotted black.

Danny Weaver put the Anstice in front with an excellent 60-25 win over Colin Farge and things then looked bleak for Newport as Adam Moore, in his first appearance of the season, made it two-nil for the home side with a 77-35 success over Ivor Hellyar.

The phrase "Bad to Worse" sprang to mind in the next frame as Newport captain Paul Jones saw his tip fly off the end of his cue after only a few shots of his game against Steve Smallwood. However he soon settled down with a borrowed cue and held his nerve to force the game to a re-spotted black.

This proved to be the turning point as Paul was able to clinch the frame 43-36 to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and set up a remarkable comeback.

Matt Bothwell then took another close frame for Newport, 55-41 against George Hammond before Simon Thornley completed the fight back with a 61-35 final frame win over Pete McCleary to leave the home side disappointed with the small reward of just two points from what was an excellent performance.

Coddon B move into fifth spot on the back of a 4-1 win at lowly Bayley C who had Darren Rhoades to thank for preventing the whitewash with a 21 break on the way to a 57-31 final frame win over Nick Pearce.

Bob Dando gave the Donnington side the lead with a fine 78-30 success over Jim Lewis. Mark Wall and Terry Garmston followed suit before Steve Downs made it 4-0 against Chris Haycox.

That victory leaves the Donnington side handily placed just two points behind Newport British Legion with every team in the division having played the same number of games.

Derby Day at Shifnal continued with the club's E side playing host to the B team - and the E string emerging victorious by a narrow margin of three frames to two.

Richie Whitehead put the B side in front against Ken Holwell only for Rob Wright to reply with a 61-21 success over John Jones.

A black ball finish separated Ivor Peplow and Emlyn Watts in the next frame as Ivor came out ahead by just two points to put the "home" side in front at 2-1 and this lead was then increased further when Arron Sparkes beat B team captain Danny Bedworth to ensure the E team of their seventh win of the campaign.

Steve Nolan's final frame win over Jeff Sparkes left the final score 3-2 to the E side who now lie just one point and one place below their opponents in the table.

Pot Black A moved away from the relegation danger zone with an emphatic 5-0 win over Coddon C who as a result lie second from bottom just two points ahead of Bayley C.

Dave Welsh gave the Oakengates side the start they wanted with a fine 78-46 win over Sef Tusel and after Neil Robinson had made it 2-0 further wins from Toby Welsh over Steve Lumley and Tony Hall against Keith Morris put the home side firmly in control.

A valiant effort from Chris Ferriday in the last couldn't prevent Paul Crooks taking the last frame also for Pot Black as they recorded their fourth win of the season in emphatic style.

DIVISION 3

A superb 41 break form Billiard Hall C's Dave Cartledge set up yet another win for the Wellington side who have set the third division alight this season and now head the table by a massive twelve points ahead of second placed Bayley B who have 36 points.

Dave's break secured the first frame against Mick Pearson as the leaders entertained a Pot Black D side themselves in with a shout of promotion as they are now one of four teams on 34 points.

John Rawlins was equally impressive as he took the next against Mick Egan before Kirk Stephenson won a nail-biting third frame for the visitors with a black ball finish against Mick Birch to reduced the deficit to 2-1.

Matt Locklin restored the Billiard Hall's two frame advantage however with a 55-10 success over Rob Palin leaving dad Martin to wrap things up nicely by taking the last over Neil Pearson to complete a 4-1 win for the division's leaders.

The battle for promotion to Division 2 is certainly very fierce as there are no fewer than six teams all within four points of second placed Bayley B who maintained their push for honours with a stunning 4-1 win over local rivals Bayley D.

The return of the D team's luck mascot Aubrey Massey seemed to have done the trick as Mark Beddall gave the D side the lead with a superb pink to run out the winner by 63 points to 50 over "home" captain Bob Tracy. Mark's good start was perhaps all the more remarkable in view of his recent problems "starting" his new car - having called the RAC out only for them to find that the reason it wouldn't start was the immobiliser!

But it was all downhill from then on for the D team as Kevin Ryan levelled the match with a black ball win over Brian Aberdeen before new signing Robin Sturmey put the B team in front against Dave Williams.

Dicky Beddall then put in a composed performance to beat Bill France before Dave Weston got the better of Dave Dudley 55-44 to complete an excellent win for the B side who stay second two points ahead of four teams all level on 34 points.

Maddocks D head the list of four teams in joint third spot with 34 points despite falling to only their fifth reverse of the season away at Wellington Billiard Hall B.

The home side shot straight into a 2-0 lead as Kevin Francis got the better of Harry Higgins and then Andy Kendrick followed with a 66-37 success over young Ian Eldridge.

Alan Bould soon replied for the visitors though and when A Lovett beat Alan Francis 55-31 in the next to make it all square the comeback looked likely.

However R Francis had other ideas and coolly held off the challenge of John Archer to secure a much needed 3-2 win for the Wellington side.

Shifnal D's 4-1 win at Little Dawley E also puts them amongst the chasing pack on 34 points along with Little Dawley B who recorded the same scoreline at home to Hadley B.

Mick Guest's 56-39 defeat of J Rowlinson set the Shifnal side on their way and when Matt Hester and M Smith took the next two frames, also for Shifnal, the home side were left hoping for some consolation from the last two games.

Arthur Aston was in no mood to let things slip though as he made it 4-0 against Graham Copson on the final black which left Paul Perks to salvage a point for Little Dawley with a fine 54-30 success over Barry Easthope.

The Little Dawley club's B side fared somewhat better however as they entertained Hadley B and were well pleased to run out 4-1 winners.

Young Darren Wincott set the ball rolling with another super display to defeat Steve Johnson 58-44 before Lee Elcock made it 2-0 by taking the next 57-26 from John Whitehouse.

Frazer MacKinnon pulled a frame back for Hadley in the next, 61-25 against B Wincott only for the home side to take the next two frames for a 4-1 win.

Byron Mitchell continued his fine season with an excellent display of potting to beat Joe Fielding before captain Rob Withington put the icing on the cake with a 43-35 final frame victory over Richie Whitehead.

Bottom of the table Newport British Legion B closed the gap on their closest rivals with their third successive victory to move level on points with Little Dawley E.

The three points gained from their home match with Billiard Hall F give the Newport side a total of 25 points to move them to within touching distance of a mid-table position.

John Yapp was once again on song to give the home side the lead with a 58-33 success over Richard Tranter and although the Wellington side drew level through Andy Fletcher's 63-34 win over Keith Gardner it wasn't to be their night as Chris Durham, using a brand new cue, gave away eight points with his first two shots before losing out 45-27 to Alan Munn as the home side went ahead once more.

Manjit Gidda then came from behind to make it 3-1 with a super pot on the final black to defeat Rob Cook by just two points before visiting captain Steve Weatherall rescued another point by taking the final frame from Alan Davies to leave the Newport side victorious by the odd frame.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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