There seems to be a three way battle for supremacy in Division 1 of the Telford Snooker League (Sponsored by The Golden Purse Jewelers) after Anstice A bounced back to top spot on the back of a 5-0 whitewash against Hadley A.

They now share first place with last year's runners up Wellington Billiard Hall A and lie one point ahead of reigning champions Hills Lane A.

The two Price brothers were in unstoppable form as they recorded breaks of 34 and 31 respectively as first Keith put the Madeley side ahead by taking the first frame from Andy O'Brien and then Neil followed by claiming the second against Steve Hoof.

Mick Cahill won a close third 59-50 against Mark Watkins before Nick Oakley continued the trend with a 64-29 defeat of Ali Jones.

And with Phil Reynolds taking the last frame too for Anstice against visiting captain David France the Madeley side completed their fifth win of the season with some style.

They are joined in top spot however by Wellington Billiard Hall A who recorded an excellent 4-1 win over Coddon A, themselves only six points off the lead in fourth place.

A 57 break was soon followed with a run of 31 as Paul Harper took the opening frame from Ian Ferriday. Morton Hughes made it 2-0 with a 56-27 success over Donnington captain Dave Lloyd before Adrian Smith rescued a point for the visitors notching a 32 break on the way to a 64-24 win over Graham Darrall.

It was all the visitors could muster however as further wins for Phil Whitby and Spencer Rowley completed a good win for the Wellington side as they attempt to regain the League title they last won three years ago.

Champions for the last two seasons Hills Lane A maintained their challenge as they returned home from Bayley A with a 3-2 win which could easily have been even better but for an outrageous fluke by home captain Steve Fletcher in the final frame.

Steve fluked the final blue off three cushions and then cannoning off the black before eventually taking the frame on the black against an unfortunate Ian Duffy who really deserved victory after an excellent run of 39 had all but sealed the frame.

Nonetheless the reigning champions will have been pleased to claim three of the other four frames after new captain Darren Pountney had given them the lead against Bob Mason only for Steve Nicholls to level by taking the next against Jamie Fallows.

The next two frames went Hills Lane's way though when Matt Bailey beat Chris Morgan-Adams and then Shaun Harris came from behind to defeat Arthur Burrows with two superb breaks of 53 and 31.

Another side celebrating a 3-2 win were Broseley who entertained Shifnal F and came out in front by the odd frame in five.

Veteran Wally Harper gave Shifnal the perfect start as he took the first frame against Paul Humphries on the black only for John Shepherd to draw the home side level in yet another black ball game 61-56 against Ivor Peplow.

Mick Brezwyn then put Broseley ahead with an emphatic display against Brian Painter which included a 29 break and the match was then made safe when Richie Hulme overcame some stubborn resistance from Nev Whitehead, who at one point forced the two snookers he required on the yellow, to finally secure frame four by 67 points to 32.

A player rapidly becoming an excellent anchor man is Shifnal's "rock" Dave Peplow - and he didn't disappoint his many fans as he rescued another frame for the visitors with a pink ball win over Colin Walker to leave the final score 3-2 to the home side.

Newly promoted Little Dawley A have now hit the dizzy heights of fifth in the table after overcoming near neighbours Dawley in a closely fought contest by three frames to two.

Ade Henry's 23 break wasn't enough to prevent Chris Woods giving the visitors the lead on the black though, and it wasn't until Richie Heighway had beaten Mark Jones and Jesse Lowe had come out on top against Barry Roden that captain Rick Cousins could sit back and relax a bit.

Rick Bailey soon levelled matters once more against Tom Bell only for Graham Wiley to steal the show with a superb 56-30 deciding frame win over Pete Nolan to leave last season's Division 2 runners up with 17 points from seven games.

DIVISION 2

Wellington Billiard Hall C's stay at the top of Division 2 may only be short-lived as the result of rivals Little Dawley B is not yet in from last week's match, leaving the Wellington side's lead of two points under threat.

Nonetheless last year's third division champions will be well pleased with their 3-2 win over Coddon C especially as they came from two frames down before winning the match with a superb 22 clearance from Dave Cartledge to take the decider 60-22 from Chris Ferriday.

Frazer Mackinnon gave the home side the lead in a nailbiting opener in which Steve Minshall miscounted on the colours enabling Frazer to clinch the frame by just a single point.

Ray Whitehead then made it 2-0 against Wayne Weeks before John Rawlins put in yet another brilliant performance to pull a frame back with victory over Steve Lumley.

The comeback continued as Mick Birch took the next frame too for the Billiard Hall leaving opening bat come anchorman Dave Cartledge to do the rest.

Minnessota Fats B are close on the Billiard Hall's heals following their 3-2 win over Shifnal E which leaves them in third spot, two points off the lead but having played the same games.

S Collins gave them the perfect start against Aaron Sparkes before Paul Smith doubled their advantage with a 61-43 success against Rob Wright.

Jeff Sparkes replied swiftly for the home team to take the next against J Wright and the tide looked to have turned when Chris Petford levelled the match by taking the next frame from K West.

However P Devey's 71-38 final frame defeat of Fred Harper completed the visitor's fifth win of the season as they returned home with three valuable points safely in the bag.

Anstice B came close to notching what would have been their second win when they lost out by the odd frame away to Coddon B.

Nigel Wallcroft gave the visitors the early lead as he took the first frame by 70 points to 57 against Andy Jones. But Mark Wall hit back to take the next 31-23 over John Darrock before Steve Downes got the better of Danny Weaver to put the Donnington side in front for the first time.

Pete McCleary's 49-39 defeat of Jason Yates set up the decider and although George Hammond fought bravely he couldn't prevent Phil Szklarzewicz running out the winner 66-45 for a 3-2 win to the Coddon side.

DIVISION 3

New boys Wellington Billiard Hall X leapfrog over Maddocks D to head the division 3 table after returning home from the Oakengates club with a 4-1 win over their closest rivals.

In a game which could have huge consequences come the end of the season, the Wellington lads started brightest as M Khan put them ahead with a 54-31 win over Harry Higgins.

M Shadab then got the better of Roy Lowe before Colin Smith pulled a frame back for Maddocks with an excellent 62-45 win over D Khan.

A Ali's 32 break soon restored the visitor's two frame advantage as he took a high scoring fourth frame 77-58 from Roy dams before M Surfraz ended the evening in style 58-27 against Steve Pritchard.

That win leaves the Billiard Hall one point ahead of Maddocks D who cling onto second spot, just a point ahead of Pot Black D who scored a superb 4-1 win away at Bayley B.

Mick Pearson's 76-42 win over Fred Spragg was followed by Mick Egan who narrowly scraped home on the final black against Kevin Ryan to make it 2-0.

Things got even worse for the home side as Harry Jones put Pot Black further ahead with victory over Robin Sturmey and then Kirk Stephenson got the better of Bayley captain Bob Tracy for a 4-0 lead.

Only Dicky Beddall's final frame win over Neil Pearson saved the home side's blushes as Pot Black returned to Oakengates happy with four well earned points.

Wellington Billiard Hall F made it six wins on the trot for them after they continued their fine start to the season with a 3-2 home win over Little Dawley C.

It could have been so much better too had Rob Cook not lost out on the final black against Craig Newey as the visitors took the lead.

Richard Tranter soon levelled matters though with a fine 71-45 defeat of Steve Farrington and there were then mixed fortunes for the Billiard Hall's two Fletchers as first Andy put the home side in front 60-53 against Russ France and then Chris fell 55-13 against the in form Mark King to leave the frames score all level after four frames.

Former captain Steve Weatherall did his side proud though as he held his nerve to take the deciding frame against Craig Walton to leave the Billiard Hall well placed in fourth spot, just two points behind the leaders.

Little Dawley G have the same points as WBH F but have won one less match following their 3-2 reverse at the hands of Bayley D.

Brian Aberdeen sent them on their way with an opening frame victory over P Frost only for R Lenevell to level by taking the next against Bill France.

Dave William's black ball win over G Clement proved to be the turning point as the Bayley recovered from losing the next as Graham Copson accounted for Mark Beddall 67-51, to clinch victory with captain courageous Steve Lane's 65-53 win over J Rowlinson.

Newport British Legion B celebrated only their second win of the season when they overcame Maddocks B by three frames to two.

Colin Farge opened the scoring with a 47-36 win over G Arnold and the home side went further in front thanks to AS Davis whose 53-30 defeat of A Loveitt put Newport firmly in control.

John Archer responded magnificently though to retrieve one frame for Maddocks against A Munn only to see John Yapp restore Newport's two frame lead with a 45-33 win over G Tudor.

However with Tony O'Neil securing the last for the visitors Newport had to settle for a 3-2 win which sadly keeps them at the foot of the table.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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