As the Telford Snooker League enters it's 25th and Silver Jubilee Year, it is perhaps fitting that it's new sponsor should also have a something in common with precious metals as the League is to be sponsored for the first time this season by Golden Purse Jewelers of Market Street in Wellington.

It should not be forgotten that the League was originally started by Doug Tipping and in that first ever season of 1975-6 two teams which figured prominently when it came to handing out the silverware were Bayley A and Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Whilst the Bayley's fortunes have wained somewhat - highlighted by a 5-0 reverse at the hands of Maddocks A last week, the Billiard Hall are still going strong having finished as runners-up to Hills Lane A for the past two seasons.

Two of their original players, Graham Darrell and Morton Hughes still turn out for the Wellington club and both appear to be in good form as they helped their team to a comfortable 4-1 home win over Hadley A to add to last weeks 3-2 win away at Broseley.

Morton set the ball rolling with a 64-24 defeat of Andy O'Brien before Phil Whitby doubled their advantage by taking the next from Steve Hoof.

Graham Darrell then got the better of Mark Watkins to further strengthen the home side's position before Ali Jones replied for Hadley with an excellent victory over Spencer Rowley.

The home side had left their best to last however as Paul Harper, playing his first game of the season, rattled in a break of 69 on the way to a final frame win over visiting captain David France to finish off a fine 4-1 win for the Wellington side.

The match of the day in division 1 was undoubtably the encounter between reigning champions Hills Lane A and Team Knockout winners Shifnal A.

Having finished last season in third spot, the Memorial Club are clearly aiming even higher this year as they won a tight match by the odd frame to inflict an early defeat on the champions for the past two seasons.

Former County Champion Simon Biddulph put the home side ahead with an excellent 58-30 success over Richard Wade before a keenly contested second frame saw both Andy Easthope and Matt Bailey record breaks over 30 before the Hills Lane man finally clinched the frame by 65 points to 53 to draw his side level.

Linsay Knox then won a close encounter of the third frame kind as a 32 break of his own helped secure a 58-50 win over Shaun Harris before John Fallows made certain of victory for the home side with a 60-32 defeat of former Shifnal man Darren Pountney.

Ian Duffy once again played a captain's role as he saved another point for the Madeley side with a close 58-45 win over Roy Martin. However it is the home side who are now sitting pretty at the top of the table with seven points from their two matches played so far after also winning last week by four frames to one against their F team.

Maddocks A are only a point behind both Shifnal and the Billiard Hall in third spot after they bounced back from a disappointing opening day defeat at Little Dawley A to record a thumping 5-0 win over Bayley A in their first home game of the campaign.

Phil Davis set them on their way with a fine pink ball win over Steve Fletcher and the home side continued to pile on the pressure as Leigh France took on Bob Mason and opened up a commanding lead with the aid of a 27 break. Although the Bayley player continued to fight back, his closing run of 27 came just too late and he had to be content with his earlier performance on the bowling green when he had reached the final of a senior citizen's doubles competition.

Veteran Dennis Fletcher, himself a pioneer in the League's early days, was unable to turn the tide as Ian Skelton rattled in a 30 break to make it 3-0 and although Steve Nicholls looks to have run into some good form of late, highlighted by an excellent run of 44 in last week's game against Coddon, there was nothing he could do against a determined Adrian Barraclough as the home side moved further ahead.

Maddocks captain Dave France then sealed a fine performance with a 66-29 final frame win over Arthur Burrows to complete the whitewash and leave the Bayley thankful for three vital points gained in their opening fixture against Coddon A.

The Donnington side made amends however with a comfortable 4-1 win over newly promoted Little Dawley A this week to leave themselves well placed in the table with six points from two games played.

Although things didn't look to be going their way at the start as a brilliant display from Richie Heighway saw him take the opening frame 65-20 from Lee Szklarzewicz.

Ian Ferriday soon hit back to put the home side level against Graham Wiley before a 31 break from Adrian Smith made it 2-1 as he took the next against Ray Clements.

Home captain Dave Lloyd then got the better of Jesse Lowe before Darren Weston put the icing on the cake by taking the final frame of the evening 75-35 from visiting captain Rick Cousins.

Having lost their opening day fixture with Hadley A 4-1, Dawley A will have been well pleased to get their first win under their belts after they played host to Shifnal F and came out on top by the odd frame in five.

The visitors were the first to show however as Wally Harper took the opening frame on the blue before Sean Nolan levelled with some excellent potting against Nev Whitehead. The Dawley man rattled in two breaks of 24 to open up an early lead, and although Neville did have a chance to come back on the colours it was Sean who eventually took the frame by 83 points to 40.

Dawley then took the lead as Mark Jones' 28 break put him 30 points ahead with just the one red remaining before clinching the frame 60-24 against Chris Painter and then a tense finish saw Pete Nolan make it 3-1 to the home side after Shifnal captain Brian Painter saw his final effort on the black wobble in the jaws.

Shifnal's secret weapon Dave Peplow is rapidly becoming less of a secret after yet another fine display saw him pull another frame back for the visitors with a black ball win over Barry Roden to leave the final score 3-2 to the home side.

DIVISION 2

Coddon C are the early pace-setters in Division 2 after they added a 3-2 win over Bayley C to their 4-1 success against Minesota Fats B last time out.

The Donnington side soon found themselves two frames up after good work from Ray Whitehead saw him take the opening frame with a 23 break against his namesake Craig Whitehead and then Fraser MacKinnon weighed in with a 21 break to take the next frame too from Chris Haycox.

The Bayley side are nothing but resilient however and they fought back strongly to level the match at two frames apiece thanks to father and son Ian and Craig Johnston who accounted for Keith Morris and Vic Graham respectively.

However it was the visitors who had the last laugh as Sef Tusel took the decider against the ever-popular Pete Woodcock who at least had the consolation of knowing that the tip on his cue is now well and truly stuck to it after it fell off during his game the previous week.

Shifnal E are one of four teams on six points - one behind Coddon C, following ta second consecutive 3-2 win at home to Anstice B.

However they had to come from 2-0 down to record their second win in as many weeks after first N Wallcroft had given the visitors the lead and then George Hammond had doubled their advantage with an excellent victory over promising youngster Aaron Sparkes.

Aaron's dad Jeff began the comeback though with a nail-biting black ball win over John Darrock before the home side levelled with another close victory as Chris Petford got the better of S Smallwood by 50 points to 42.

Ace referee Rob Wright then took on Anstice's Pete McCleary in the deciding frame and the Shifnal man came up trumps as he took the frame by 61 points to 26 to complete a superb comeback by the home side.

Another team to record back to back 3-2 wins are Wellington Billiard Hall E who, after narrowly missing out on promotion to Division 1 in each of the last two seasons will be hoping they can make it third time lucky this time around.

However the first two frames both went the way of the visitors as both players missed chances to win the opening frame before Darren Wincott eventually got the better of newcomer Manajid Shabir to put the visitors ahead.

Lee Elcock then made it 2-0 as he coolly slotted home the thinnest of pots on the final black before the home side finally set themselves back on track by taking all three of the remaining frames.

Chris Morris began the comeback with an excellent win over another promising young player Byron Mitchell before Nigel Stallard levelled the score at two frames all with a 62-40 success over Brendan Wincott.

That left Alan Turner, winner of the League's individual title in it's first ever year, to seal victory with a fine performance in the decider against John Bethell Trophy winner Ian Eldridge.

Alan's journey into space began with him taking a 24 point lead but the Little Dawley youngster stuck to his guns and battled his way back into contention only for Alan to double the final black into a corner pocket at great speed for a 73-36 victory.

Another Billiard Hall side on the way up are the club's C team who recovered from an opening day defeat at Little Dawley B to respond magnificently with a 4-1 home win over Shifnal D.

A close opening frame could have gone either way until new recruit Steve Minshall, a member of the A team last season, took the frame 57-28 against Mick Guest for a 1-0 lead to the Wellington side.

Matt Hester then stormed into a 21 point lead as he tried to redress the balance against home captain John Rawlins. However a glorious 25 break - which included a much heralded "Rawlins Special", brought the Billiard Hall captain back into contention and enabled him to eventually capture the frame on the pink for a 2-0 lead.

Young Matty Locklin then hit back to form with some excellent long pots to put the match beyond Shifnal's grasp before a superb 27 clearance gave Mick Birch the fourth frame too as he got the better of Arthur Aston to put the home side four up. Only some wonderful potting from Steve Morse saved a point for the visitors with a 54-25 final frame win over Dave Cartledge.

Another team bang in form were Minesota Fats B who recorded their first win of the campaign with a 4-1 win at home to Coddon B.

Paul Smith's 31 break secured the first frame against Mark Wall before Andy Jones hit back to take the second for Coddon 49-29 from S Collins.

However it was to be his side's only success as K Blackham put Minesota back in front with a 22 break against Steve Downes and K West and J Wright followed suit, the latter with a 20 break, to complete a fine 4-1 win for the Cannongate Club.

Maddocks C also claimed their first win when they travelled to Pot Black A and came away with three very well earned points.

They had to come from behind though as Toby Welsh put the home side in front with a 65-32 success over D Thomas. G Hoof soon levelled matters as he took the next against Chris Hall and the visitors then went in front thanks to C Rowley who got the better of Tom Firmstone.

Billy Rushton then narrowly scraped home in the next to give the Maddocks side an unassailable 3-1 lead as he took the frame on the final black to beat Dave Welsh by just two points 53-51 before Paul Crooks saved another point for Pot Black with a 24 break on the way to victory over Joe Oliver.

DIVISION 3

Three teams currently share top spot in Division 3 as Maddocks D, Pot Black D and W.B.H. X all have seven points from their opening two games.

Maddocks returned from Hills Lane B with three very welcome points safely in the bag after recovering from two frames down to take the match 3-2.

Steve Weaver and Kev Davis got the better of Harry Higgins and Roy Lowe respectively as the home side threatened to take control but the visitors rallied superbly to turn the match on it's head by winning all three remaining frames.

Steve Pritchard pulled one game back with a 61-44 win over M Butler before Roy Adams drew his side level by taking the next 49-26 from M Davis. That left Colin Smith to complete the comeback by taking the decider 58-35 to leave the Oakengates side amongst the early leaders in this division.

Pot Black D had Neil Pearson to thank for a last gasp win over Newport British Legion B. The home side had battled back from 2-0 down to force the decider only for Neil to steal the show with a 71-39 success over Colin Farge to secure the Oakengats side's second win in as many games.

Kirk Stephenson had earlier given the visitors the lead against John Yapp and things looked bleak for the home side when Mick Egan made it 2-0 with a 56-35 defeat of Alan Munn. However Alan Davies pulled one back for Newport by beating Harry Jones 44-20 before Keith Gardner levelled the match with a black ball finish against Rob Palin.

Newcomers Wellington Billiard Hall X are also amongst the early frontrunners after a 4-1 win away at Little Dawley C.

A Mahmood set them on their way with a 50-38 opening frame win over C Newey before a fine display from M Shadab saw him home against Mark King by 58 points to 42. D Khan then took an even closer game for the Billiard Hall when he beat R France by just three points before A Ali got the better of S Farrigton to make it 4-0.

And the Little Dawley side will have been relieved that they were certain of at least one point as the visitors were unable to field a last man leaving the final score 4-1 to the Billiard Hall.

Another Billiard Hall side in form were W.B.H. F who made the short trip to the Bayley Club to take on Bayley D and came away happy with their first win.

Mark Beddall was certainly a happy little camper after his first frame victory over Rob Cook put the home side in front but his joy was short-lived as Chris Durham levelled the scores against the usually unflappable Ice Man Bill France.

Dave Williams then put the Bayley back in front with an excellent 62-47 success over Richard Tranter only for Chris Fletcher to restore parity once more with a 69-33 win over Darren Rhoades.

Hone captain Steve Lane, himself a victim of his team's rotational policy, could only sit and watch as Steve Weatherall snatched victory for the visitors on the reserve table. An unlucky Brian Aberdeen lost out by just a single point as the Billiard Hall captain took the final frame 56-55 to complete an excellent 3-2 win for the Billiard Hall.

The other Billard Hall side in this division, W.B.H. B, didn't fare quite as well however as they were beaten 4-1 away at Little Dawley B.

However they did take the lead through Alan Francis who took the first frame by 37 points to 35 on the final black. P Frost soon made it all square again by taking the next for Little Dawley against Ian Atkinson before Graham Copson put the home side in front with victory over AJ Maiden.

R Lenevell then increased the lead still further before a run of 22 by G Clement completed a fine 57-44 success over Andrew Kendrick to leave the home side happy with their first win of the new season.

Bayley B were also celebrating their first win after a fine display at Maddocks B saw them return home 4-1 winners.

Fred Spragg opened the scoring with a 48-35 win over Graham Arnold before Les Hicks replied for the home side with a 57-40 defeat of Kevin Ryan. Robin Sturmey took a close third frame for the Bayley 48-40 against John Archer before visiting captain Bob Tracy got the better of Geoff Tudor to make it 3-1.

And with Dicky Beddall taking the last 48-33 from Tony O'Neil the visitors were left with four points to add to the two they gained last week against Bayley D.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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