There was no shortage of fireworks last Wednesday as Bayley D became the first team this season to come out on top against Maddocks D in Division 3 of the Telford Snooker League (Sponsored by The Golden Purse Jewellers).

The guys from Maddocks started the day top of the pile in the third division but they seemed to lose the plot early on as home captain Steve Lane set the standard with an opening frame victory over Roy Lowe.

Steve topped a magnificent display when the catherine wheel of fortune sent the final black into the middle pocket off two cushions to give Bayley the lead and the home side continued their explosive start as Darren Rhoades rocketed into an early lead before finally clinching the second frame 64-27 against Alan Bould.

Mark Beddall was also in sparkling form as he charged ahead in the next before completing an excellent 52-32 victory over Colin Smith but although the Bayley were now three frames up their challenge soon fizzled out as Maddocks rallied superbly to take the last two frames.

The visitors were let off the hook in the next however as Brian Aberdeen was unable to continue the trend allowing Steve Pritchard to pull a frame back with a 67-22 scoreline before Bill France lit the blue touch paper and then sadly retired leaving Roy Lowe to rescue another frame for Maddocks who stay top, one point ahead of Wellington Billiard Hall X who also lost their unbeaten tag when they played the Billiard Hall's F team.

The F team have themselves only lost once this season and now lie in fourth spot after coming from behind to take the match by three frames to two.

D Khan gave the "home" side the lead against Rob Cook only for Richard Tranter to level matters with a 48-21 defeat of M Shadab.

A Ali put the league newcomers ahead once more 53-33 against Chris Durham as the X men looked to be heading for their third consecutive victory.

Chris Fletcher had other ideas however as he drew the F team level again leaving Steve Weatherall to produce a captain's performance when it was most needed with a 55-29 win over M Surfraz in the last to keep his side in touch with the leaders with 18 points from 6 matches played.

Little Dawley G have one point more however after a 3-2 win over Bayley B keeps them well placed in third spot.

An excellent opening frame victory for P Frost against Robin Sturmey put the home side in front before the Bayley replied through Kevin Ryan who got the better of G Clement.

Graham Copson took the next for Little Dawley and then R Lenevell added to their tally with a 45-34 win over visiting captain Bob Tracey as the home side took control.

However a last ditch win for Dave Western over Paul Perks saved another point for the Bayley Boys to leave them with two points to take home to Wellington.

Another Little Dawley side in fine fettle were the club's C side who took four of the maximum five points on offer as they entertained Newport British Legion B.

A few season's ago Mike King hit the headlines when he made a fantastic century break in the Telford League and he seems to have lost none of that style as he notched a run of 53 against Colin Farge to give the home side the lead.

B France followed with victory over Manjit Gidda before Keith Gardner hit back for Newport with a close 46-37 success over C Newey.

Steve Farrington soon restored Little Dawley's two frame advantage as he took the next from Alan Davies before P Spencer rounded off an excellent win with a 59-30 defeat of Mike Doverskog to secure Little Dawley's second win of the new season.

At the same time as Little Dawley C were gaining their second win, Pot Black D were falling to only their second defeat of the campaign at home to Wellington Billiard Hall B.

Ken Francis gave the visitors the lead with a narrow 58-49 win over Mick Pearson but Mick Egan soon levelled matters with an excellent victory over Andy Kendrick.

Kirk Stevenson put the Oakengates side in front again though before brilliant performances from R Francis and Ian Atkinson saw them take the last two frames against Rob Palin and Neil Pearson respectively to complete a second win of the season for the Wellington boys.

DIVISION 2

Little Dawley B continue to lead the way in Division 2 after taking all five points on offer away at Anstice B.

However their lead at the top is still only a single point after their close rivals Wellington Billiard Hall C also took maximum points from their clash with Shifnal E.

Byron Michell's 62-45 victory over Nigel Wallcroft put Little Dawley in pole position and further wins from brothers Brendan and Dale Wincott, the latter with a 26 break, put them three frames to the good.

Lee Elcock's narrow 52-38 defeat of John Darrock put them further in the driving seat before a 39 break from Ian Eldridge wrapped things up nicely for the Division leaders.

Runaway winners of Division 3 last term, Wellington Billiard Hall C, continue to impress in their first season in Division 2 as they recorded their fourth win in six outings with a 5-0 defeat of fancied Shifnal E.

Anchorman turned opening bat Dave Cartledge gave them the early lead and they never looked back as John Rawlins got the better of Aaron Sparkes and then Wayne Weeks defeated Rob Wright for a 3-0 lead.

Mick Birch then made it four frames without reply before Steve Minshall finished off in style with a 29 break to complete an good evenings work from the Wellington side who's promotion prospects continue to look good even at this early stage of the season.

Although the Wellington side lie second with 21 points, one behind Little Dawley, the absence of a result this week from Minnesota Fats' game means that with 17 points from just five games the Cannongate Club are also well placed to challenge for the promotion places.

So too are Wellington Billiard Hall E despite falling to their third defeat of the season when they entertained Coddon B.

Andy Jones gave the visitors just the start they were looking for and Steve Downes soon doubled their advantage as the home side were slow off the starting blocks.

Alan Turner began a mini comeback with a 55-26 win over Jason Yates and things looked to be improving for the Billiard Hall when Ray Evans took the next frame too to pull them level at two frames all.

However Phil Szklarzewich was in no mood to see his side lose out as he skillfully negotiated a difficult snooker before clinching the deciding frame by 51 points to 22 against Nigel Stallard.

Bayley C's season seems to be improving by the minute as they climbed to fifth from bottom thanks to their second win of the season at home to Maddocks C.

Craig Whitehead's opening frame victory over Graham Hoof put the Bayley in front and they soon raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to the efforts of Mike Healey and Craig Johnson.

However captain Ian Johnson was unable to maintain the momentum as J Hill retrieved the next for Maddocks and although Chris Haycox knocked in a 20 break against Billy Rushton he was unable to stop the popular foundryman clinching victory on the final black to leave the final scoreline 3-2 in the Bayley's favour.

DIVISION 1

It's the same old story in Division 1 as Wellington Billiard Hall A and Hills Lane A once again dominate the top two spots after recording 4-1 and 5-0 victories respectively last week.

The Billiard Hall head the table by a single point after a resounding 4-1 win over near neighbours Bayley A.

Nigel Fletcher set the scene perfectly with a 46 break on the way to victory in the opening frame against substitute Dennis Fletcher.

Bob Mason produced the performance of the season so far for the Bayley in the next as he battled his way to a 50-33 success over Morton Hughes to level matters and although Steve Nicholls did his best to follow Bob in the next he was unable to prevent Phil Whitby putting the home side 2-1 up.

Spencer Rowley then made it 3-1 as he took the next 47-28 against Steve Fletcher and although Chris Morgan-Adams began the next by potting them off the lampshades it was Paul Harper who rounded things off nicely with a 31 break to complete a 4-1 win for last year's runners-up.

Hills Lane A are hot on their heals though after claiming maximum points from their home tie with newly promoted Hadley A.

Shaun Harris opened the scoring against Andy O'Brien before Jamie Fallows got the better of Mark Watkins by 45 points to 36 as the home side moved further ahead.

Matt Bailey and home captain Darren Pountney made it 4-0 before Ian Duffy put the icing on the cake with a 61-31 win over John Squire.

Lee Szklarzewicz gave Coddon A the lead as they entertained Broseley. Lee's opening frame win over Carl Walker paved the way to Donnington's fourth win as Ian Ferriday then got the better of John Shepherd to put the home side two frames in front.

Richie Hulme replied for Broseley with a 78-41 defeat of Darren Weston before Paul Humphries restored parity by taking then next from Terry Brenthall to make it all square at two frames apiece.

However Dave Lloyd's 33 break settled the decider Coddon's way as a 68-38 victory for the Donnington captain completed a 3-2 win for his side.

Wally Harper's experience saw him safely through against an in form Ade Henry to give Shifnal F the lead at newly promoted Little Dawley A.

An early 22 break saw the former individual champion take the lead only for Ade to reply with runs of 16 and 18 to trail by 10 points on the colours, but it wasn't enough to deny Wally victory as Shifnal took the lead.

Some excellent potting from Richie Heighway soon levelled matters though as he got the better of Ivor Peplow and then Graham Wiley put Little Dawley in front with his first win in this division as he turned a 22 point lead on the brown into a 56-33 victory after his opponent Brian Painter went in off the blue.

Nev Whitehead then overcame some dogged resistance from Ray Clements to make it all square again at two frames all before two much respected veterans of the game, Dave "The Rock" Peplow and Jesse Lowe came face to face in the decider.

However it was Dave who stole the show with as he turned a 22 point lead on the yellow into a final scoreline of 67-32 to take the frame and match for the Shifnal side.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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