The longest unbeaten run in the Telford Snooker League (sponsored by The Golden Purse Jewelers) finally came to an end last week when Paul Harper was beaten by Anstice A's Phil Reynolds as the Madeley side continued their excellent start to the season with a 3-2 win over last season's runners up Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Paul last lost a league game on the opening night of the 1998/99 season. He then remained undefeated for the rest of that season and the whole of last year before Phil finally broke the Billiard Hall captain's fine run.

Things seemed to be going to plan for the reigning individual champion as a lucky fluke on the opening red set up a 31 break to give Paul the early advantage. Phil never gave up though and fought his way back superbly to eventually clear the colours to the blue to secure victory for the home side after the first four frames had been shared.

The Madeley side started the day in top spot and certainly intended staying there as they opened up a 2-0 lead with wins from Keith Price and Nick Oakley.

Keith set them on their way with a close black ball win over Morton Hughes before Nick defeated Billiard Hall newcomer Nick Farrar to put the Anstice well and truly in the driving seat.

However the visitors weren't going to lie down that easily and Phil Whitby pulled a frame back by beating Neil Price before Spencer Rowley levelled matters to set up the dramatic finale where Phil Reynolds took centre stage, rolling in the final blue for a superb win over Paul Harper.

That win keeps Anstice in top spot, level with Coddon A who also have 13 points from four games after a 3-2 win at home to Shifnal F.

However they had to come from behind after a fine performance from veteran Wally Harper gave the visitors the early lead. Wally potted some good balls early on to lead Lee Sxzklarzewicz by 28 points with just the colours remaining before finally securing victory with a scoreline of 63-23.

Ian Ferriday then equalized for Coddon when he beat substitute Ivor Peplow who was standing in for his brother Dave who was sunning himself in Cyprus. A run of 35 proved decisive as the Donnington side drew level and they then went in front as Ade Smith accounted for Chris Painter in the next.

A superb fightback by Shifnal captain Brian Painter saw him do a Houdini Act to pip Terry Brenthall on the final black before his Coddon counterpart Dave Lloyd turned the tables on Nev Whitehead as breaks of 26 and 23 helped him to retrieve an early 20 point deficit to give Coddon the match by three frames to two.

Maddocks A's Jeckle and Hyde season continued as they followed two previous away defeats - and a 5-0 home success, with a superb performance against reigning League Champions Hills Lane A.

The Oakengates side kept their unbeaten home record intact with a brilliant 3-2 win over the Madeley side although they had to come from behind after Matt Bailey put Hills Lane ahead with a 68-48 success over Phil Davis.

Leigh France soon levelled though as he got the better of Shaun Harris 66-27 and the home side went in front when Ian Skelton took the next frame too from Darren Pountney.

Visiting captain Ian Duffy wasted no time in drawing his side level once more as a 45 break accounted for Adrian Barraclough in the next to set up the decider.

The final frame went the way of Maddocks captain Dave France who showed that his time spent watching the professionals at the Grand Prix had not been wasted as a break of 38 secured the frame and match against Tim Hicks to leave the Oakengates side well placed in the table with 11 points, just two behind the leaders.

Shifnal A's bright start to the season has dimmed somewhat over the last couple of weeks as they fell to their second consecutive defeat as they entertained Bayley A.

However with some of their regular players unavailable due to work commitments the Shifnal side were perhaps not too surprised to fall 4-1 to a Bayley side thankful for four valuable points to move them off bottom spot.

Steve Nicholls gave the visitors the lead before reserve Robin Clarke, replacing the holidaying pensioner Bob Mason, got the better of newcomer Dave Plane to make it 2-0 to the Wellington side.

Andy Easthope did pull a frame back for Shifnal with a 58-20 defeat of Arthur Burrows but it was all his side could muster as further wins from Steve Fletcher and Chris Morgan-Adams completed the Bayley's best win of the season so far.

Hadley A won the battle of the two newly promoted sides as they travelled to Little Dawley A and came away with a narrow 3-2 win.

And narrow it was too with the first frame being decided on a re-spotted black with Andy O'Brien finally clinching victory over Richie Heighway by 60 points to 53 to give Hadley the lead.

Steve Hoof then doubled their advantage with another close victory against Jesse Lowe, 56-47 before the visitors went even further ahead thanks to Ali Jones' third frame win over Graham Wiley.

Captain courageous Rick Cousins was in no mood to see his side fall even further behind though and he stopped the rot with a black ball win over his opposite number David France leaving Ade Henry to pull yet another frame back as he took the last frame of the evening by 52 points to 42 against Mark Watkins.

DIVISION 2

The youngsters of Little Dawley B seem intent on racing through the divisions and straight into Division 1 after a 5-0 win away at fancied Coddon C sees them head the second division table with 14 points, one point more than their closest rivals Minnesota fats B and Wellington Billiard Hall C.

The Little Dawley side, promoted from Division 3 last term, have lost only one of their opening four matches - and they seem to be getting better as the season progresses after a brilliant display against a Coddon side who themselves started the day at the top of the table.

Byron Mitchell set the ball rolling by taking the opening frame against Steve Lumley and their lead was soon doubled as Brendan Wincott got the better of John Whitehouse to make it 2-0.

Darren Wincott then joined in the action to take the next from Frazer MacKinnon before a 22 clearance from Lee Elcock secured the fourth frame too against Sef Tusel.

Ian Eldridge then completed the whitewash with a fine 69-31 success over Ray Whitehead to move his side to the top of the table, one point ahead of Minnesota Fats B who recorded a 4-1 win at home to Anstice B.

Nigel Wallcroft gave the visitors the lead though with an excellent win over J Wright only for the home side to respond magnificently by taking all four of the remaining frames.

S Collins levelled before K West got the better of Bill Watson 59-47 to put the Cannongate team ahead for the first time.

And ahead they stayed as a 30 break from P Devey secured the next frame too against George Hammond before a close 57-45 win for S Osborne over Stewart Wimbush completed a fine performance from the home side.

Wellington Billiard Hall C remain in third spot with 13 points despite falling to their second defeat of the campaign at home to Maddocks C.

C Rowley gave the visitors the lead when he potted the final black to beat Steve Minshall 42-30 before home captain John Rawlins redressed the balance with some steady potting to beat D Thomas 56-29.

Mick Birch then took an early lead in the next and then never looked back as he gave the home side the lead only for Maddocks to take the last two frames for a famous victory.

Joe Oliver was in awesome form as he despatched Wayne Weeks to level the scores at two frames all before Billy Rushton came from 18 points down to defeat Dave Cartledge with a borrowed cue after accidentally knocking the tip off his own cue on the light shade.

Shifnal E lie just a point behind the Billiard Hall after they too fell to a 3-2 defeat at home as they entertained Coddon B.

Andy Jones and Mark Wall gave the visitors a 2-0 cushion before Jeff Sparkes pulled one back for the home side with a 58-19 defeat of Nick Pearce.

Chris Petford then made it all square again as he defeated Steve Downes in a close game 66-54 only for Phil Szklarzewicz to limp over the winning line with a 56-45 deciding frame win over ace referee Rob Wright.

Billiard Hall E are now level with the Shifnal side following first defeat of the season away to Pot Black A.

The home side raced into an early lead as Paul Crooks got the better of P Easthope and then Tony Welsh saw off the challenge of C Morris.

However former individual champion Alan Turner turned the clock back to take the next against Mike Thompson with two fine pots on both the pink and black before Nigel Stallard levelled matters, also on the black, against Neil Robinson.

Everything now hung on the final game - and it couldn't have been closer as Dave Welsh secured the match for Pot Black with the narrowest of wins, 52-51, against the unlucky Ray Evans.

Bayley C claimed their first win of the campaign when they entertained Shifnal D and came out on top by the odd frame in five.

Mick Guest dented Mike Healey's recent good run with a 76-28 success over the Bayley favourite only for Jim Lewis, runner up in last year's John Bethell Trophy, to draw the home side level.

Chris Haycox then put the Bayley in front for the first time with an excellent win over Matt Hester before Craig Johnson ensured the home side of their first win with a 25 break on the way to victory over M Smith.

However Craig's dad Ian was not so fortunate as he came up against a tough opponent in the shape of S Morse, who took the frame by 59 points to 13 to leave the final score 3-2 to the home side.

DIVISION 3

Wellington Billiard Hall X are taking Division 3 by storm this year as they remain the only team in the whole league with an unbeaten record after an excellent 4-1 win at Bayley D.

The home side did take a shock lead however as their new captain Dave Williams rattled in a 22 break to take the opening frame against A Mahmood.

M Surfraz soon levelled with victory against a not so happy little camper Mark Beddall before M Shadab put the visitors in front by taking the next 65-30 from Brian Aberdeen.

A Ali then made it 3-1 with a close 61-45 win over deposed captain Steve Lane and things then got worse after the Bayley's lucky mascot Aubrey Massey had left as M Alyas took the final frame of the evening against Darren Rhoades to complete a fine 4-1 win for the league newcomers.

Little Dawley G are one of three teams on 12 points, two behind the Billiard Hall, following their 3-2 win over near neighbours Hills Lane B.

G Clements gave the Little Dawley side the lead however before Steve Powell hit back for Hills Lane with a 48-24 win over D Frost.

Graham Copson took the next against Steve Weaver to put the visitors back in front and they extended their lead to 3-1 when Roy Lenevell took the next against home captain Kev Davis.

However a 34 break from Lee Harris helped ease the home side's fears as he took the last frame against Paul Perks to retrieve a second point for the Hills Lane side.

Pot Black D share second place with Little Dawley G after a brilliant performance away at Maddocks B saw them return home with a 4-1 win safely in the bag.

Mick Pearson set them on their way as he took the opening frame against G Arnold.

Kirk Stephenson then made it 2-0 before A Loveitt pulled a frame back for the home side with a 59-36 win over Harry Jones.

However it was to be his side's only success as further wins from Mick Egan and Neil Pearson completed an excellent night's work from the Pot Black boys.

Although Bayley B also have 12 points, they lie in fourth place by virtue of the fact that they have lost two of their four games so far this season.

One of those defeats came last week when they returned home with just two points from their trip to Newport British Legion B.

Things looked good for Newport early on after Colin Farge gave them the lead with a close 51-40 success over Kevin Ryan and then Alan Davies made it 2-0 against Harry Parkes.

Robin Sturmey set the Bayley on the comeback trail as he got the better of Alan Munn 62-51 and then visiting captain Bob Tracy levelled matters by taking the next 54-32 against Keith Gardner.

However Dicky Beddall was unable to continue the trend as a fine 22 break from Mike Doverskog ensured Newport of a 3-2 victory but nonetheless the Wellington side are once again amongst the pacesetters having been well placed last season only to falter at the last.

Wellington Billiard Hall F secured their third win of the campaign as they took on Billiard Hall B in the Tan Bank derby.

Chris Durham set the scene with a 20 break to take the first frame for the home side against Paul Gubats.

Back came the B side though with Andy Kendrick notching a run of 21 on the way to victory over Steve Weatherall only for the F string to go back in front again thanks to Andy Fletcher's win over Alan Francis.

R Francis drew the B team level again by taking the next over Chris Fletcher only for John Tranter, making his first appearance for the F side this term, to steal the show with a 50-37 deciding frame victory over Ian Atkinson.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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