Matthew Davies pocketed the perfect Christmas present for his Hills Lane team mates when he compiled the first century break of the season as the reigning Telford Snooker League Champions booked their place in the second round of the cup competition.

The Team Knockout is sponsored this year by Paul’s Window Cleaner’s – but it was Matthew who cleaned up with a superb 102 clearance which included what one on-looker described as the best shot he had ever seen!

With only an eighth of the white accessible, Matt somehow managed to pot a red with the half-but using left hand side to maintain position on the pink. And as the black was tied up for most of the frame, the former English Amateur Champion had to concentrate on the pink and the baulk colours to clear the table.

Any hopes Hill’s Lane’s opponents, Shifnal A had of upsetting the form book were well and truly dashed even before Matt’s 105-5 win over the unfortunate John Fallows – as their 40 point handicap had been wiped out even before a ball was hit.

With only four of their players available on the night, Shifnal were forced to concede the fifth frame by 72 points to nil. And although Lynsay Knox won the next on the black against Shaun Harris and Roy Martin also took the third frame from Matt Bailey by ten points the damage was already done.

Tim Hicks’ 22 point victory over Andy Easthope proved academic as the former cup holders moved swiftly into the next round where they could draw Bayley D who produced the shock of the round with a fabulous win away to first division high-flyers Anstice A.

The Wellington side arrived in Madeley with 150 points start and they soon built on that lead courtesy of Dave William’s 26 points win over Mick Cahill.

Bill France then held Nick Oakley to just a 10 point deficit before Dave Dudley potted superbly to defeat Phil Reynolds by some 20 points.

Now the Anstice boys may have been forgiven for giving up the ghost at this stage – but nothing could have been further from the truth as Neil Price stepped up to play Darren Rhoades with the Anstice a total of 184 points behind with just two frames remaining.

A few minutes later and that lead was halved as Neil knocked in a quick-fire break of 89 to keep his side in the contest.

It was then all up to Neil’s brother Keith – and he almost completed the Houdini act only for Bayley captain Steve Lane to hold his nerve to sink the final pink in an exciting finale.

Bayley A are also safely into the hat for round two after coming from behind to deny third division side Wellington Billiard Hall F.

The visitors arrived at the Bayley all dressed up in waiste coats and bow ties ready for the festive season. And they started smartly too as, already 80 points to the good, they increased their lead by a further 22 points when Richard Tranter got the better of Arthur Burrows in the opening frame.

Chris Durham then opened up a 33 point lead with some brilliant potting only for Dennis Fletcher to retrieve several snooker to force the game to be decided on the black.

Chris’s attempted trick shot on the black – when he accidentally missed it in an effort to clip it thin into the middle pocket, looked to have handed the frame to his opponent only for the white to somehow hit the black off three cushions – but his reprieve was only temporary as Dennis sank the black to pull six points back for the Bayley.

Chris Fletcher – playing in the opposing team to his dad and brother, soon shocked Steve Nicholls by racing into an early 20 point lead. However the Bayley player regrouped an eventually took the frame with the aide of a 24 break of his own.

The boot was on the other foot in the next as Steve Weatherall used some handy tablecraft to recoup a 40 point deficit against home captain Steve Fletcher. However, Steve finally potted the final black for a 24 point winning margin to leave Chris Morgan-Adams trailing by 33 points as he took on Steve Williams.

And try as he might, the Billiard Hall man found himself 3 points adrift on the colours before Chris eventually cleared to the blue to secure a rare win for the Bayley.

Another first division side safely through were Coddon A after negotiating a tricky home tie with Wellington Billiard Hall X who received 100 points handicap start.

Darren Weston set about reducing the deficit with a 62-46 win over A Khan – but the visitors hit back with M Shadab taking the next frame from Zenon Lembicz by 78 points to 68 after a re-rack.

Adrian Smith’s 30 break put Coddon in control and with Dave Lloyd receiving a 72-0 walkover in the next, A Ali’s final frame 52-42 success over Ian Ferriday meant that Coddon moved into round two of the competition they last won three years ago.

Shifnal F’s Nev Whitehead returned to his old stamping ground when his second division side conceded 45 points start to Maddocks B of the third.

And the home side exploded into life when veteran Les Hicks had to contend with a re-rack before compiling a lovely break of 37 on the way to defeating old adversary Wally Harper. Chris Painter repaired some of the damage by taking the next for Shifnal with a 54-31 win over Doug Morrey and the visitors continued to shine as both Spencer Rowley and Nev Whitehead won their frames against John Archer and Steve Pritchard respectively.

However it wasn’t to be their night as Geoff Tudor came from behind to defeat Dave Peplow 64-52 to see Maddocks through by 293 points to 258 overall.

Maddocks C weren’t so fortunate though as they were unable to recoup the 80 points start they had to give to Little Dawley G.

Steve Clements won the first frame for Little Dawley by just three points against Jim Hill. Ray and Dave Leneveu then followed suit as they defeated Joe Oliver and Graham Hoof respectively to put the visitors some 123 points in front overall.

And there was nothing the other two Maddocks players could do to stop the rot as the visitors took the last two frames as well courtesy of Paul Perks’ 68-41 win over Dave Thomas and a superb 68-58 win for Graham Copson against Billy Rushton.

Another third division side to triumph over second tier opposition were Bayley C who overcame Anstice B by 52 points overall.

The Wellington side have yet to fire on all cylinders during the first half of the season in Division 3, so a visit from Division 2 opposition in the first round of the "Paul the Window Cleaner" Cup, was not what they really needed, despite a 60 point advantage in the handicap.

An Anstice B side which had experience written all over it, looked worthy favourites on the card. Nigel Wallcroft immediately set about reducing the deficit against young Craig Johnson, and made his experience count to claw back 39 of the 60 handicap for Anstice in the first frame.

John Darrock then stepped up, but try as he might he could not shake off the efforts of Bayley’s Les Frances, who did exceptionally well to tie the frame at 51-51.

George Hammond then took on Pete "Woody" Woodcock. However, George's experience alone could not stop Woody taking centre stage on the night with an astonishing potting display, to give him a 35 point frame lead going into the colours. However George fought back to surrender only a 15 point deficit to the Bayley 'star', and leave the match deficit at 36.

Skipper Stewart Wimbush answered the Madeley call, as he managed to reduce the match deficit from 36 to just 13 points against Ian Johnson, to take the match into a nail biting finale.

But Bayley are always in with a shout when Jim Lewis takes up the cause, and he cleverly saw off talented Anstice anchorman Danny Weaver by a frame score of 59-20, to round off a superb team effort from the Wellington side, and secure a place in the second round of the Cup.

With the team playing so well on the night, none playing Skipper Craig Whitehead will find it difficult to justify his inclusion on the first team sheet of 2002 !

The Little Dawley C road show continued last week as the third division leaders comfortably saw off second division strugglers Pot Black D. The Oakengates side have been recent semi-finalists in the competition but will have to wait another year after a superb display from the division three Champions elect.

Byron Mitchell led the way with a 66-25 success over Mick Pearson which more than recouped the 20 point handicap his side were conceding.

Lee Drinkwater took the next frame too for Little Dawley before an excellent display from Pot Black’s Rob Palin saw him defeat the highly rated Lee Elcock by a single point 51-50.

However with Mike King and captain Steve Farrington taking the two remaining frames, the home side booked their place in the second round – leaving Pot Black to contemplate a good cup run in the Consolation Cup for first round losers.

Newport British Legion will also be hoping for a good run in the Consolation up as their 80 point start proved to be not quite enough to prevent local rivals Audco progressing to the next round.

Things looked good for the Legion early doors though as Manjit Gidda took the opening frame 39-31 against Paul Smith.

Mark Matthews replied for Audco with a 62-47 win over Keith Gardner before Ray and Neil Hendy put the home side well and truly in the driving seat.

Andy Heathcote was then able to round things off for Audco with a final frame victory over Mike Doverskog.

Third division Wellington Billiard Hall B suffered a similar fate from their visit to Dawley A. The first division side, runners-up in the consolation Cup last year, eventually ran out the winners by a 44 point margin after Gaz Bradshaw played superbly to set them on their way with a fine opening frame victory over Paul Gubats.

Chris Woods followed up with a 34 break in the next and, not to be outdone, Mark Jones weighed in with runs of 27 and 20 to turn the match Dawley’s way.

Barry Roden’s 60-50 win over Ian Atkinson added to the visitor’s woes and although Kevin Whitehead took the final frame with an excellent 49-48 win over Rick Bailey it wasn’t enough to deprive Dawley of overall victory.

Maddocks A won the only other all first division encounter when they retrieved a 15 point deficit to defeat Little Dawley A by 319 points to 273.

Phil Davis was in rampant form to take the opening frame against Graham Wiley as was Ian Skelton who won frame two to put the visitors comfortably in front.

Ade Henry did pull a frame back for the home side by taking the next 52-48 against Dave France and although Rick Cousins and Jesse Lowe followed suit to defeat Leigh France and Ade Barraclough respectively, it was Maddocks who go into the hat for the second round draw.

Second Division high-flyers Wellington Billiard Hall C made light of the 35 points they conceded when they travelled to Pot Black A and came away triumphant by 37 points overall.

A high-scoring opener saw Dave Blagborough come out on top against Neil Robinson by 86 points to 54. John Rawlins’ 47-39 win over Dave Welsh was followed by Alex Turnbull’s 63-50 success over Mike Thompson.

Further wins from Wayne Weeks and Paul Lucas ensured the Wellington side stayed on course for a possible league and cup double.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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