There were no surprises in the quarter finals of the A & D Team Knockout as the top four teams in Division 1 all made it safely through to the semi's despite encountering some tough opposition along the way.

League Leaders Hills Lane A negotiated a tricky away tie at Maddocks D whilst Shifnal A, currently second in the table, accounted for Little Dawley B.

And the Little Dawley Club's A side fared no better as they fell at Wellington Billiard Hall A who are also joined in the semi's by cup holders Coddon A who defeated the previous year's winners Hills Lane B.

Hills Lane A emerged from a potentially difficult trip to Oakengates with flying colours as they came away from Maddocks A with a comfortable 354 points to 220 aggregate victory.

The reigning League Champions conceded 25 points handicap at the start of play, but they soon moved ahead thanks to an excellent 70-32 win for Ian Duffy against Adrian Barraclough.

Matt Bailey put them further ahead with a 68-44 success over Leigh France and the Madeley side continued to pile on the pressure as Richard Wade took the next frame too against Phil Davis.

Further wins from Keith Price over Dave France and Shaun Harris, who beat Ian Skelton, put the seal on a professional display from the current first division leaders as they continue their quest for a League and Cup double.

Wellington Billiard Hall A were also up against strong opposition as they entertained a Little Dawley A side currently pushing for promotion from division 2.

Morton Hughes set about reducing the visitors 70 point start with a stirling performance which earned him a 67-34 first frame win over Richie Heighway.

Paul Harper then put the home side firmly in the driving seat as he won the battle of the two captains to come out on top against Rick Cousins.

Ade Henry did give the visitors hope with a brilliant 47-42 success against Phil Whitby, but any hopes his side had of a comeback were soon thwarted as Spencer Rowley took the next frame for the Wellington side and although Jesse Lowe played brilliantly to defeat Graham Darrall by 75 points to 48 he was unable to prevent his side slipping to defeat by a total of 61 points overall.

Shifnal A continued their fine season with a classy display away at Little Dawley B to book their place in the last four.

Despite giving away some 24 points in snookers, Lindsay Knox put in a steady performance to take the opening frame by 22 points as the visitors began clawing back the home side's 120 point handicap.

John Fallows then played possibly his best game of the season to pull back another 48 points to leave the division 1 side just 50 points behind.

Darren Pountney then made short work of putting his side in front overall as he soon retrieved the 50 point deficit with one visit as he coolly knocked in a 50 break against in form youngster Lee Elcock.

But the third division side were not finished yet, as another of their young guns Byron Mitchell kept his side in touch with a fine performance to take the next frame from Andy Easthope by two points to reduce the overall deficit to 22 points with just one frame to go.

However, anchor man Simon Biddulph rolled back the years to his former County Champion days to make no mistake in the last as Shifnal eased through to the semi-finals where they could meet the holders Coddon A who disposed of Hills Lane B in the last eight.

This one was always going to be a close one to call with the Hills Lane side having won the trophy themselves just two seasons ago but it was Ian Ferriday who sealed the home side's fate with a neatly taken 60 break as the Donnington side took their place in the last four.

CONSOLATION CUP

There may have been no shocks in the main cup competition, but there certainly was in the Consolation Cup as holders Billiard Hall E fell to a 48 point aggregate defeat at home to third division Pot Black D.

Mick Pearson's task as he took on Warren Barber in the opening frame was to try to protect the Oakengates side's 90 point handicap - and that he did with a fighting 48-46 win to extend his side's advantage to 92 points overall.

Chris Morris responded for the home side as he took the next by some 17 points against Mick Egan and the match seemed to be swinging the Billiard Hall's way as Mick Hughes got the better of Rob Palin by 43 points and then Nigel Stallard beat Kirk Stephenson to put the home side into the lead going into the last.

However Neil Pearson put in a heroes performance as he pulled back a 15 point deficit by taking the final frame 77-14 to see his side safely through to the last four and to leave the Billiard Hall to concentrate on their push for promotion from Division 2.

Runaway Division 2 leaders Hadley A had double cause for celebration as they strolled past Coddon C to book their place in the last four - however it was Ali Jones who had most to cheer as his wife Julie gave birth to their baby daughter Elizabeth the following day.

There was slight panic though just before Ali's game when he received a phone call to say that the baby might be on the way. Still suffering from shock Ali promptly missed the pack completely when he broke off before hurriedly taking the fourth frame by 70 points to all but secure his side's place in the semi-finals.

Hadley, runners-up in the main cup competition last time around, turned a 30 point deficit at start of play into a ten point lead after the first game as Andy O'Brien got the better of Sef Tusel by some 40 points.

Steve Hoof then piled on the pressure to take the next by 90 points and the home side were left with a mountain to climb after Dave France's win in the next.

Ali Jones then put the icing on the cake to leave John Squire with an unassailable 200 point lead going into the last.

So confident were his team-mates that they left John behind to see the match out on his own and they must now be confident of success both in the league and now in the cup as well.

Last years runners-up in the Consolation Cup, Anstice A, once again find themselves in the last four after a comfortable away win against fellow first division opponents Minesota Fats.

Neil Price led the way with an early 37 break and although Paul Lloyd fought back well with a run of 20 it was the Madeley man who secured the opening frame by 41 points to give the visitors the lead.

With both teams receiving the same handicap, Nick Oakley's 49 point victory over home captain John Shepherd put Anstice 90 points ahead overall and further wins from Mick Cahill and John Darrock increased their advantage to 121 points with just one game remaining.

Phil Reynold's 33 break against Simon McLeod set the seal on a fine performance all round to leave the Madeley club just one step away from the final once more.

Indeed they are joined in the semi's by near neighbours Dawley Social who recovered well from losing the first frame to defeat Shifnal E of the second division.

Rob Wright added to the visitor's 45 point handicap as he took the opening frame for Shifnal by some 12 points but it was all down hill for his side from then on as the Dawley side reeled off the next four frames in quick succession.

Pete Nolan pulled them to within two points overall with a fine display in the next before Barry Roden put the home side in front for the first time with a 57-35 win over Dave Barden.

A brave performance from Arron Sparkes then saw him narrowly lose out 67-60 to Mark Jones to leave his dad Jeff with a fighting chance as he started the final frame 22 points adrift against Dawley captain Rick Bailey.

However the Dawley man drew on all his past experience as a 24 break opened up too wide a gap for the Shifnal player to bridge as Rick took the frame to book his side's place in the semi-finals.

STEVE FLETCHER 

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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