There were mixed emotions for Wellington Billiard Hall X last week when they lost for only the fourth time this season, but still managed to clinch the Telford Snooker League (sponsored by Golden Purse Jewelers) Division 3 Title at their first attempt.

The two points they gained from their home game with Hills Lane B leaves the Wellington side six points ahead of second placed Pot Black D whose 5-0 win over Little Dawley C ensured them of the runners up spot.

A Morris gave Hills Lane the lead as he took the opening frame against W Gathercole 81-38 and the Madeley side continued their bright start when Steve Powell took the next frame too 55-43 against his namesake John Powell.

Lee Harris then almost made it three out of three only for M Shadab to come back with a 26 clearance to the pink to pull a frame back for the league leaders.

It was then left to A Ali to secure the third division crown for the X men with a 29 break on the way to victory over M Davies, but with Steve Weaver claiming the deciding frame against M Ayaz it was the Madeley side who left victorious on the night by a scoreline of three frames to two.

Pot Black D will also be playing second division snooker next season after a 5-0 win over Little Dawley C ensured them of the runners up spot.

Mick Pearson's opening frame victory over Mike King was followed by Mick Egan's 48-29 success against Craig Newey.

Rob Palin won a close third frame by just ten points against Steve Farrington before further wins from Kirk Stephenson and Neil Pearson completed the whitewash and opened up a gap of six points over third placed Wellington Billiard Hall F.

The Wellington side's chances of promotion disappeared after they lost out 3-2 away at Little Dawley G.

Captain Chris Durham lost out in the opening frame before the same fate befell Rob Cook. Chris Fletcher pulled one frame back for the visitors before Graham Copson got the better of Richard Tranter to restore the home side's two frame lead.

However Steven Weatherall's final frame victory reduced the final deficit to just one frame but it wasn't enough to restore the Billiard Hall's chances of claiming promotion this season.

Wellington Billiard Hall B fared a little better then their F team as they entertained Maddocks B and won four of the five points on offer.

The visitors did take the lead though as John Archer got the better of G Hughes by 56 points to 46 to put Maddocks in front.

However it was all down hill from then on as Andy Kendrick soon levelled matters by beating Graham Tudor and then Alan Francis put the home side in front with a 53-39 win over Tony O'Neill.

Ian Atkinson then made it 3-1 before Ray Francis completed the scoring with a black ball victory over Les Hicks in the last frame of the evening.

Darren Rhoades gave Bayley D the lead as they went on to defeat Newport British Legion B by three frames to two.

Dave Williams then doubled the home side's advantage with an excellent 53-39 win over Colin Farge before super sub Mark Beddall, who has recently shot to fame on Radio Shropshire's "It's Your Round" quiz program, made it 3-0 against Alan Davies.

The home side seemed to be cruising down a one way street as they looked to continue their excellent start, but they obviously missed Brian Aberdeen, on holiday in Spain, as captain Steve Lane failed to continue the momentum when Keith Gardner took the fourth frame 50-31 for Newport.

And not even the ice cool temperament of Bill France could prevent the visitors claiming the last frame as well as Mike Doverskog slotted home the final black to pull another frame back for Newport.

DIVISION 1

Hills Lane A now need just two points from their final game against bottom of the table Shifnal F next week to retain the First Division title for yet another season.

The Madeley side came out on top last week against Dawley A by five frames to nil, and although their closest rivals Billiard Hall A also took all five points against Little Dawley A, the title seems destined once again for Hills Lane.

Breaks of 28 and 26 saw Darren Pountney safely through to victory against Sean Nolan and Matt Bailey then doubled the lead by taking frame two from Mark Jones.

Shaun Harris' win over Rick Bailey made it three before breaks of 43 and 24 helped Tim Hicks to victory against Barry Roden. And with Ian Duffy taking the last frame too against Chris Woods, the Madeley side continue to lead the way by four points ahead of Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Our congratulations go to Phil Whitby who got married last Saturday, and he won his last match before his wedding in some style to give the Billiard Hall just the start they wanted.

Paul Harper followed suit to make it 2-0 with victory over Richie Heighway allowing Morton Hughes to increase their lead by beating Rick Cousins 60-30 in the next.

Jesse Lowe then played some excellent snooker as Little Dawley looked to pull a frame back, however Darryl Grainger got the one snooker he required on the brown before clearing the colours to force a re-spotted black.

Only a brilliant final pot on the last black secured the frame for the Billiard Hall player and denied Jesse the chance to retrieve something for his side, who left pointless after Graham Darrell took the last frame as well 77-42 against Graham Wiley to complete the whitewash.

Anstice A move up to third following a 3-2 win away at Shifnal F.

Neil Price led the way with a 71-30 win over Wally Harper and although Chris Painter levelled things up by overcoming Mick Cahill 58-33 the home side went back in front thanks to Keith Price's win over Nev Whitehead.

Keith, who currently heads the most wins in division 1 along with Ian Duffy, had led by 29 points on the colours and never let that lead slip as he finally took the frame 56-18 to register his eighteenth win on 21 games.

A tight frame then saw Brian Painter level matters at two frames all by defeating Phil Reynolds 61-50.

Brain is deadly when he requires the colours to win and this was no exception as he potted brown, blue and pink to take the frame and set up the decider.

Adam Moore however clinched the match for the Madeley side by beating Dave "Rockless" Peplow 58-51 after a 20 break gave him a 10 point lead on the colours - although he was made to fight all the way to the black ball before claiming the frame and a 3-2 win for the Anstice.

Bayley A's chances of getting into Europe have diminished of late and they will now be lucky to make the Inter Toto Cup following anther defeat, this time at the hands of Broseley.

Carl Walker's opening frame win over Steve Nicholls was balanced out by Arthur Burrow's 57-32 win for the Bayley against Graham Lowe.

Nick Brezwyn wasted no time in defeating Chris Morgan-Adams to make it 2-1 to the home side and things got worse for the visitors as Richie Hulme came from behind to defeat Bob Mason 58-35.

However Steve Fletcher's final frame victory over Kelvin MacLeod added some respectability to the score as the home side deservedly ran out the winners by three frames to two.

Although no match card has been received from Coddon A's game with Shifnal A the visitors ran out 4-1 winners after Linsay Knox won a lottery of a first frame against Ian Ferriday and John Fallows got the better of Lee Szklarzewicz.

Dave Lloyd was the home side's only saviour as Simon Biddulph and Andy Easthope secured the points for the visitors.

DIVISION 2

Little Dawley B did their chances of lifting the Division 2 title a power of good when they overcame leaders Minnesota Fats by four frames to one to take over at the top of the table.

And with just one game remaining they must now be favourites to take the title as they now lead the Cannongate club by two points after a sparkling performance in the match of the day in this division.

Byron Mitchell's opening frame victory over Paul Smith was followed by Lee Elcock who knocked in a 22 break on the way to defeating Steve Collins.

Ian Eldridge then made it three on the trot when he overcame J Wright by 50 points to 25 and things continued to go their way when Brendan Wincott defeated Kev West to make it 4-0.

Only Paul Devey's last gasp win over Darren Wincott prevented the whitewash and kept Minnesota in with a shout of taking the title should Little Dawley stumble on the last Wednesday of the season next week.

Wellington Billiard Hall C stay third, some nine points adrift of Minnesota Fats after a 3-2 win over Anstice B.

Dave Carledge took frame one with a 65-56 win over Nigel Wallcroft and John Rawlins doubled that lead before the home side hit back through George Hammond's win over Wayne Weeks.

Matty Locklin restored the visitors two frame lead only for Stewart Wimbush to take the last for the Anstice.

Billiard Hall E lie one place further back following a 4-1 win over Coddon C.

But they had to come from behind after Ray Whitehead had given the visitors the lead with a 59-46 win over Nigel Stallard. Alan Turner, who now leads the race for the most wins, soon levelled though by taking frame two from John Bethell Trophy finalist Fraser Mackinnon.

Mick Hughes and Ray Evans put the home side firmly in control when they took the next two frames off Mark Tusel and Mick Stokes respectively leaving Chris Morris to complete a 4-1 win with a black ball win over Sef Tusel.

Shifnal D are now level on points with Maddocks C as both side's lie jointly in the second from bottom position with just one game left to decide who is relegated to division 3.

The Shifnal side got off to a good start as Steve Morse gave them the lead at home to Pot Black A with a 49-29 defeat of Dave Welsh.

Tom Firmstone responded with a 24 break to take the next for Pot Black against Mick Guest and the visitors went in front when Mike Thompson accounted for Arthur Aston in the next.

M Smith levelled for Shifnal soon afterwards when he took frame four by just three points from Chris Hall only for Toby Walsh to secure victory for the Oakengates side with another black ball finish against Barry Easthope.

Bayley C could have secured 2nd division safety weeks ago if it were not for all the defeats on black ball games this season, and they went down by three more against Shifnal 'E' at home, one of which was against a third re-spotted black in two weeks.

Craig Whitehead got the ball rolling for Bayley by overcoming plucky Ken Holwell 59 points to 9. The second frame pitted the teams youngsters against each other. Craig Johnson and visitor Richard James traded some excellent pots in a tight game, before a seemingly fearless visit to the table by Richard saw him roll in the last two balls for victory, the black dropping in after the merest of hesitation, giving Shifnal the frame, 50-43.

Mick Healey then took on Rob Wright and both players contributed to a fine frame. For the second week running Mick was desperate to get his full cue fee's worth from his game, and took the frame to a re-spotted black. However, it was his opponent again who made the point safe for Shifnal, as Rob sunk the black with an impressive long pot.

Pete 'Woody' Woodcock then took on Fred Harper. There are few players who hit the ball as hard as these two potters, and an entertaining game ensued. The visitor seemed to be in control throughout, until Woody made a move on the colours, only to be denied by a fine pot on the last black by Fred, to leave Shifnal 3 - 1 up.

The victory was nicely wrapped up by anchor man Aaron Sparkes who potted well to beat Bayley skipper Ian Johnson 59 points to 12, to record a final 4-1 scoreline.

It is now mathematically impossible for the Wellington men to stave off relegation to Division 3. The Bayley skipper therefore may take the opportunity to 'blood' some reserve talent in their last match, with an eye on next season.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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