Broseley are the new Telford Snooker League (sponsored by Golden Purse Jewelers) Team Knockout winners. In the final at Wellington's Sir John Bayley Club they built on their 55 point handicap start to beat Division 1 runners-up Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Simon McLeod won a see-saw of a first frame against Phil Whitby to increase Broseley's lead by a further eight points when he took the last four balls to win by 54 points to 46.

With no tip on his own cue, Nigel Fletcher then had to borrow team-mate Graham Darrell's cue as he took on Broseley's Richie Hulme. A 52-41 victory for the Wellington man meant that Broseley's overall lead was now 52 points when Graham Darrell reclaimed his cue in time to take on Broseley youngster Carl Walker.

However Carl was in inspired form as he notched up a 26 break on the way to taking the frame by 86 points to 34 - and when Paul Humphries took the next frame too for Broseley with a 55-45 defeat of Morton Hughes the former Audco team looked to have etched their name on the trophy.

Individual champion Paul Harper had other ideas though as he took on Broseley captain John Shepherd. An early break of 56 kept Paul in with a chance as he tried valiantly to recover the 114 point deficit, but it wasn't to be his night as John eventually sank the last couple of reds with a pink to send the trophy across the river Severn for the first time.

The final of the two unresolved divisional individual competitions also took place last week with Bayley player Steve Fletcher taking the first division title and Little Dawley's Ian Eldridge claiming the second division crown.

Steve came out on top, but only just, against a determined Phil Davis who led all the way in the opening frame only to be pipped on the final black.

An early 32 break from Steve put him in the driving seat in frame two only for the Maddocks man to battle back with a run of 25. However Steve potted the last two reds with colours to seal his first win in the competition.

Ian Eldridge added another trophy to his ever growing list of titles when he added the second division individual title to the John Bethell Trophy he won last year.

However he had to come from behind after taking a nip and tuck opening frame on the black against Anstice's Nigel Wallcroft.

Nigel then opened up a 30 point lead in the final frame as he fought to draw the match level but Ian had other ideas as he took the last four reds all with blacks to lead by two points on the colours. He then turned those two points into a winning lead as he secured the frame and match by two frames to nil.

CONSOLATION CUP

Dawley Social staged a remarkable comeback to win the Consolation Cup at the Sir John Bayley Club.

In the final they overcame some stern resistance from second division Coddon B who received a slight handicap start of 45 points in the match which was decided on aggregate scores.

That 45 points was increased after the first frame as Andy Jones produced some excellent potting, including a 27 break, to defeat Chris Woods by 67 points to 42.

Coddon took the next frame too, as Phil Szklarzewicz beat Mark Jones by the slender margin of just one point after Mark unluckily went in off the final black.

Things continued to go the Donnington side's way in the next as Nick Pearce got the better of Barry Roden by 10 points to leave Coddon some 81 points in front overall with just two games left to play.

However a brilliant display from Dawley captain Rick Bailey saw that deficit reduced to just three points.

Mark Wall had kept Rick at bay early on and the difference of 63-25 with just two reds on still looked promising for Coddon until Rick stepped up to clear the table with a superb 40 break to bring his side back into contention.

The final frame, as expected, proved to be a tense affair with Dawley's Sean Nolan taking on Steve Downes. Steve showed a lot of promise early on as he chipped away at the reds to lead by some 11 points with just two reds remaining.

However an attempted clip into the middle pocket failed to drop and Sean took full advantage to slot home the last two reds with colours.

Sean then continued with his break as he notched first the yellow followed by all of the remaining colours up to the pink to finish the match in style with a winning 32 break to give Dawley the Cup.

The Hills Lane pairing of Ian Duffy and Shaun Harris were also in celebratory mood last week when they overcame the holders, Spencer Rowley and Paul Harper, by three frames to one, to lift the Oakengates Carpets Doubles Trophy.

The holders took an early lead in the first frame as Paul knocked in a 27 break only for Ian to retaliate with a run of 45 to put the Hills Lane pair into a 25 point lead with only the six colours remaining. Ian and Shaun went on to take that opening frame but their lead was short-lived as in the next frame Paul rattled in a superb run of 96.

Paul looked all set to eclipse the 116 break he achieved in the semi final but ran out of position slightly and had to use the rest as he attempted to roll the brown into a corner pocket. Although close, the brown wobbled in the jaws of the pocket but didn't drop leaving Paul just one shot short of another century.

With the frame scores back all square again the next frame was all important in the best of five frames final and it went the way of the Hills Lane pairing on the blue after Shaun had chipped in with a 37 break.

Ian and Shaun now needed just one more frame to lift the title, and they didn't have to wait long as they secured the next frame on the pink to put their names on yet another trophy.

The League celebrates it's twenty-fifth year tomorrow night when it holds its annual Presentation Evening at the Winners Enclosure at the Horse and Jockey in Donnington (Friday at 7.30pm). Tickets cost just £2 and include a buffet and entertainment. Tickets are available from League Secretary Alan Turner at Wellington Billiard Hall or they can be purchased on the door.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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