Hills Lane A look set to continue their reign as Telford Snooker League champions following an emphatic 4-1 triumph over their closest rivals Coddon A last week.

The Donnington side's hopes of preventing Hills Lane from lifting the trophy for a fourth successive season were dashed by a solid all round display from each of the visiting players - and only a superb 35 clearance from Coddon captain Dave Lloyd prevented the margin being even greater.

Former English Amateur Champion Matthew Davies set off with a 38 break to take the opening frame from Darren Weston and there was no stopping Shaun Harris either as he maintained his push for the averages with a fine win over Lee Szklarzewicz.

Hills Lane looked as though they might take the next frame too as Matt Bailey opened up a 42 point lead with just two reds remaining. But Coddon captain Dave Lloyd took a black off the penultimate red before clearing from the last red with a 35 break to pull a frame back for the home side by a single point.

And although Adrian Smith is having a fine season for Coddon, there was nothing he could do prevent Darren Pountney extending Hills Lane's lead to 3-1.

The final frame proved to be a tactical affair with Zenon Lembicz and Ian Duffy vying for an opening - and although the reds were initially all tied up it was the Madeley captain who finally broke away to complete a 4-1 win for the champions elect.

Coddon's defeat will leave them anxiously looking over their shoulders as they battle to retain second spot ahead of Anstice A who are now just three points behind after beating Maddocks A 4-1.

Darren Wincott's 20 break wasn't enough to prevent Adam Moore from giving Anstice the lead by the narrowest of margins as he took the opening frame by 48 points to 47.

A 36 break secured the next frame too for the Madeley side as Nick Oakley got the better of Ian Skelton and although Phil Davis pulled a frame back for Maddocks with a run of 35 against Neil Price the remaining two frames went Anstice's way.

Keith Price was in irresistible form to deny Maddocks captain Dave France with runs of 30 and 33 and although Leigh France put up a brave fight in the last there was nothing he could do to prevent Phil Reynolds running out a 57-27 winner to seal a 4-1 win for the home side.

Broseley A are also in the hunt for that coveted runners-up position and they recorded their ninth win of the season at home to Shifnal A.

Paul Humphries led the way with a 70-42 success over John Fallows and the home side then doubled their lead when Mick Brezwyn got the better of Lynsay Knox to make it 2-0.

Things continued to go their way in the next as well with Richie Hulme running out a 64-15 winner over Andy Easthope only for the visitors to put the brakes on Broseley's aspirations by claiming both of the remaining two frames.

Roy Martin, sporting Dennis Taylor look-a-like glasses, had Carl Walker clearly in his sights as he took frame four on the black and with Simon Biddulph wrapping up the final frame too with a 64-35 win over John Shepherd, Shifnal were able to return home with two valuable points in the bag.

Minnesota Fats came from a frame down to consolidate their position in mid-table with an excellent 4-1 win over Wellington Billiard Hall A.

Nigel Fletcher took the opening frame for the visitors with a close 63-54 win over Paul Devey only for the home side to win all four of the remaining frames.

Steve Collins defeated Ian Eldridge to level matters before John Wright's 67-37 success over Graham Darrell put the home side ahead.

Paul Smith's win over Alan Turner extended their lead still further leaving Keith West to put the icing on the cake with a 49-12 final frame victory over Andrew Kendrick.

Things are hotting up nicely at the bottom of the table with all four relegation candidates coming face to face in last weeks' fixtures.

Little Dawley A stay four places off bottom spot despite falling to a 3-2 reverse at home to Bayley A.

Steve Nicholls gave the Bayley the lead with a solid display against Richie Heighway to take the frame by 50 points to 30.

Bob Mason's new image saw him without a moustache for the first time in 30 years - so it was no surprise when his frame with Jesse Lowe proved something of a close shave as Bob missed the last red by a whisker to allow Jesse to draw his side level by winning the frame 66-30.

There were no happy returns for home captain Rick Cousins on the eve of his 50th birthday as he rolled up behind a free ball only to be called for a foul. At the time Rick was ideally placed to retrieve the one snooker he required - but his oversight handed the third frame to Arthur Burrows as the Bayley went back in front for the second time.

A brilliant display of potting and safety play soon drew Little Dawley level though as Ade Henry took the next frame in less than 15 minutes with a quick-fire 77-1 win over Steve Fletcher. The Bayley captain could only watch as Ade produced one of the best frames of snooker anyone had ever played against him to set up a deciding frame between Graham Wiley and Chris Morgan-Adams.

And it was the Bayley man who came out on top to secure his side's fifth win of the season to leave them third from bottom - just a point behind Little Dawley.

Bayley E also claimed their fifth success of the campaign as they entertained Dawley Social and ran out winners by three frames to two.

Martin Watkins's 27 break secured frame one for the home side against Gaz Bradshaw and the Bayley then doubled their advantage when Andy O'Brien got the better of Barry Roden 75-27.

Mark Jones replied for the visitors with a 36 break to deny Ali Jones and although Rick Bailey drew Dawley level by taking the next 58-43 from John Squire, home captain Dave France ensured his side of victory with a 38 break against Chris Woods in the last.

However, despite the win, the Bayley still find themselves occupying bottom spot - two points behind their opponents and four behind Little Dawley.

DIVISION 2

Shifnal F took a step closer to returning to Division 1 snooker next season when they helped themselves to a 4-1 win over visitors Coddon C to move two points clear at the top of the table.

Spencer Rowley put the home side 1-0 up with yet another solid display to deny Sef Tusel.

Fraser Mackinnon replied for the visitors with a fine win over Wally Harper - a 31 break helped him to a 60 point lead on the last red which proved too much for the former individual champion to pull back and the match was all square again at one frame each.

Chris Painter then put Shifnal back in front after just squeezing out Don Bayliss on the final black 54-47 before Nev Whitehead secured the third point in a close encounter with young Matt Bothwell.

Matt was unlucky not to produce ideal position on the final pink and he eventually left it over the baulk pocket for Nev to clinch the frame 48-39 for a 3-1 lead to the Islanders.

This gave anchor man Dave Peplow just the boost he needed for their fourth point and he duly obliged by defeating Ray Whitehead 74-20 to leave Shifnal two points ahead of Coddon B who won 3-2 at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Wellington Billiard Hall C.

They fell behind early on though as John Rawlins took the first frame on the black against Mark Wall. However the next three frames all went Coddon's way with Andy Jones beginning the fight-back by taking the second frame from Wayne Weeks.

Steve Downs put Coddon ahead with a high-scoring 70-59 win over Dave Blagborough and they increased their lead to 3-1 when Nick Pearce accounted for Laki Badhan in the next.

However, the Billiard Hall side stay on the fringe of the promotion race thanks to Alex Turnbull's black ball win over Phil Szklarzewicz which left the final score 3-2 to the Donnington side - who as a result lie sandwiched between Shifnal F in top spot and Shifnal E who are third after having a bye in last week's fixtures.

Fourth placed Wellington Billiard Hall E were indebted to Nigel Stallard as they overcame Pot Black D with a last gasp black ball win in the deciding frame.

Nigel cleared the last three balls to deny Mick Egan and ensure his side of their fourteenth win in seventeen games after the first four frames had been shared.

Neil Pearson's 39-28 defeat of Paul Wilkes put the home side in front only for Chris Morris to draw the Billiard Hall level by taking frame two against Rob Palin.

Kirk Stephenson's 47-32 win over Ray Evans restored Pot Black's lead only for John Powell to force the decider with a 48-26 success over Mick Pearson.

Joe Oliver set Maddocks C on the road to a 4-1 win as he opened the scoring against Audco A with a 66-26 win over Pete Smith.

Dave Thomas followed suit by taking the next on the black from Ray Hendy and although Neil Hendy fought hard in the next frame too, it wasn't to be his side's night as David Hooson took the frame by 59 points to 35 to put the home side into a commanding 3-0 lead.

Mark Mathews did manage to salvage a little bit of hope for Pot Black by taking frame four 63-30 against Billy Rushton, but it was all his team could muster as Graham Hoof sealed a 4-1 win for Maddocks with a 57-36 final frame victory over Chris Austin.

At the foot of the table, second from bottom Anstice B entertained the team immediately above them and will be ruing a missed opportunity after letting a 2-0 lead slip against Pot Black A.

Both teams started the day level on 31 points - but the Oakengates side have won more matches and so were ahead on "goal difference" only. However after claiming the last three frames Pot Black now have a point advantage over Anstice as they enter the last part of the season.

Nigel Wallcroft is in devastating form this year for Anstice - and he continued to shine with a 25 clearance on the way to victory over Neil Robinson.

Danny Weaver doubled the home side's advantage before Tom Firmstone replied for Pot Black with a 64-25 success over George Hammond.

Dave Welsh drew the visitors level with a fine 51-34 win over Billy Watson and the comeback was completed when Toby Welsh won the fifth and decisive frame 69-38 to give Pot Black their fifth win of the campaign

Shifnal D remain four points adrift of Anstice at the foot of the table after they too fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Wellington Billiard Hall X.

Terry Askew gave them the perfect start though with a 47-34 win over A Khan. The next two frames were then shared as Abi Khan won frame two for the Billiard Hall over Steve Morse and then Geoff French defeated A Ali to restore Shifnal's lead.

But it was a lead they were unable to hold onto - as M Shabir and then M Shadab took the last two frames of the evening for a 3-2 win to the X men.

DIVISION 3

If current form is anything to go by, Little Dawley Snooker Club could soon be celebrating having two team promoted to Division 2.

Their C team beat off the challenge of Bayley D last week to maintain their position at the head of the table whilst Little Dawley G move into second place following a 3-2 win over Newport British Legion.

Byron Mitchell gave the C team the start they were hoping for with a fine display of potting to deny Dave Williams. But the Bayley side are themselves still hopefull of a late push for promotion and they fought back to level the scores with Bill France's 61-47 defeat of Andy Millward.

The home side then went ahead as Darren Rhoades got the better of Lee Drinkwater 50-34 but the visitors claimed the last two frames through Steve Farrington and Lee Elcock to notch their twelfth win of the season and maintain a six point gap over the chasing pack.

That pack is now headed by Little Dawley G who came from 2-1 down against bottom of the table Newport British Legion to eventually win 3-2.

Colin Clifford gave Little Dawley the lead but the home side hit back strongly as Alan Munn scored a brilliant 53-35 win over Graham Copson and Manjit Gidda defeated Mike Rhoades 55-16.

And Newport almost produced a shock victory when Dave Edwards came close to pinching the next frame too - only for Ray Leneveu to sink the final black to tie the frame scores at two apiece. And with Dave Leneveu taking the last frame against Keith Gardner the visitors left happy to have won by the odd frame.

That win leaves Little Dawley G level on points with Hills Lane B, Maddocks B and Bayley B - with all four teams having 43 points but with the Little Dawley men having won more matches than the other three teams.

Two of those teams came face-to-face last week when Maddocks B returned home from Hills Lane B with a crucial 3-2 win.

This match swung first one way and then the other as Lee Harris opened the scoring for Hills Lane with a 65-45 victory over Les Hicks.

Steve Pritchard soon levelled for Maddocks though and they took the lead when John Archer won a close tussle with Steve Powell by 45 points to 36.

Kev Davis then drew Hills Lane level once more before Graham Tudor snatched victory for the Oakengates men with a dramatic final black to deny Alan Morris by just two points.

Bayley B did their promotion hopes the world of good with a magnificent 4-1 win over local rivals Wellington Billiard Hall B.

Young Danny Oliver led the way with a 51-22 success over Gareth Hughes and things continued to go the visitor's way when captain Bob Tracy took the next frame against Ken Francis.

Kev Whitehead replied for the Billiard Hall by claiming Frame 3 against Paul Easthope only for Welsh Wizard Paul Jones to leave the spectators spellbound with a 60-37 triumph over Iain Atkinson.

And with Dicky Beddall as reliable as ever, the Bayley boys look well placed to challenge for the runners-up spot - and who knows, even an assault on the title?

Anstice C are only a point further back after recording a 3-2 win over Maddocks D. Frank Williams and Kev Smith put the Madeley side two up early on and although Mike Hulme pulled a frame back for Maddocks with a 46-23 defeat of Steve Ward, the visitors increased their lead again through Jason Mills's 72-42 win over Christine Eldridge.

Only Colin Smith's last gasp black ball win over Steve Camp saved another point for Maddocks as his 57-54 win left the final score 3-2 to the Anstice.

Wellington Billiard Hall F are also in with a shout of going up to Division 2 as they are now level on points with Bayley D following a 3-2 win over Bayley C.

The Bayley were looking to regain some pride after two successive 5-0 defeats, but could not capitalise on the good start made against their hosts.

Away skipper Craig Whitehead was asked to drag the Bayley out of their losing sequence, but was looking an unlikely winner with Chris Durham requiring only the final pink to win the frame. However, it was the visitor who managed to take the opener, to inject some confidence into the Bayley side.

Jim Lewis then potted brilliantly against Rich Tranter, to take the second and give the Bayley a 2-0 advantage, after leaving the home player needing snookers on the final yellow.

Young Craig Johnson took confidence from his team mates' performance and played his best frame for a few months, but could not stop Steve Williams taking the final four colours to earn the Billiard Hall their first point of the night.

Rob Cook then drew the match level by outpointing Mick Healey 42-32, but was surely aided by the fact Mick could not decide whether or not to play wearing his jacket. The final count seemed to suggest he had taken it off and on again 8 times during the frame.

The young Billiard Hall side then wrapped up a fine comeback, and a very tight match with Chris Fletcher beating off the spirited challenge of Ian Johnson 49-38, to give the hosts a 3-2 win.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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