Hills Lane A stayed on course for a league and cup double when they overcame a tricky away tie at Little Dawley G to move into the last four of the Telford Snooker League Team Knockout.

Having previously disposed of first division opposition on the way to the quarter-finals, the Little Dawley outfit were looking to cause an upset as they entertained the league leaders in what was essentially a local derby.

But the champions elect had other ideas as they set about retrieving the third division side's 180 point start with an impressive opening couple of frames.

First Matt Davies recovered 69 points with a 94-25 win over Darren Leneveu and the deficit was soon down to just 26 points after a brilliant display of potting saw Matt Bailey account for Chris Gifford in frame two.

Tim Hick's 85-31 defeat of Gary Clements put the Hills Lane boys in front and Darren Pountney was in no mood to surrender his side's supremacy as he weighed in with runs of 28 and 42 against Graham Copson to all but secure his side's passage into the semis.

And they duly booked their place in the last four with Shaun Harris taking the last frame of the evening by 79 points to 19 over Roy Leneveu to take the match by an overall margin of 182 points.

They will be joined in the semi-finals by two more first division sides as Maddocks A and Coddon A safely negotiated difficult away games against second division opposition.

Maddocks were conceding 45 point away to Shifnal E - and the home side were soon on the front foot with young Aaron Sparkes coming from behind to take the first frame by 67 points to 39 against under 21 champion Darren Wincott.

Mark Finucane replied for Maddocks by taking the next 77-26 from Fred Harper only for Chris Petford to put up a spirited display in the next - losing out by just a single point to Ian Skelton.

Jeff Sparkes' brilliant 55-53 triumph over visiting captain Dave France left the home side some 23 points in front overall going into the final frame.

However it wasn't to be as Leigh France coolly whittled away at the deficit before completing a 98-42 win over Rob Wright to ease Maddocks through to the last four where they will be joined by Coddon A who came out on top in the derby game with their C side - although no match card is yet in.

The only team outside of division one to get through to the semi-final stage are therefore Bayley D after a superb display at home to Wellington Billiard Hall C.

The home side started play with 65 points start and although Laki Badhan took the opening frame for the Billiard Hall against Dave Williams, the Bayley took the next two frames to maintain their overall advantage.

Darren Rhoades' 50-36 defeat of John Rawlins was followed by Ice Man Bill France's black ball win over Wayne Weeks as the home side took the initiative.

Dave Blagborough gave the visitors hope with a fine 83-45 win over Dave Dudley in frame four to leave Snookerman Steve Lane with a 26 point advantage for Bayley D going into the last.

Alex Turnbull wasn't going to let Steve have things all his own way and forced the game to an exciting finale with the Bayley captain holding his nerve - not for the first time in the competition - to sink the final pink to the relief of his team mates.

CONSOLATION CUP

Shifnal War Memorial Club have two sides safely through to the last four of the Consolation Cup after their A and F teams both won through their quarter-final matches.

Shifnal A managed to retrieve an 80 point handicap deficit as they travelled to play Pot Black A.

John Fallows ended the opening frame in style with a 25 break as he recorded a 50-29 win over Tom Firmstone and Linsay Knox followed John's lead with a high-scoring 71-60 success over Dave Welsh.

Roy Martin took the next frame too for Shifnal with a 62-36 win over Toby Welsh and although Neil Robinson came close for Pot Black in the next - losing out by just five points against Andy Easthope, Simon Biddulph's 76-37 final frame victory over Paul Crooks sealed a fine win for the first division outfit.

Shifnal F's home tie with first division high-fliers Anstice A proved to be an exciting affair with the second division side eventually coming out on top by 77 points overall.

The islanders started with 85 points lead and the first frame saw Wally Harper increase this to 110 when a 28 break helped him defeat Phil Reynolds by 70 points to 45.

But the home side didn't have things all their own way as Nick Oakley pulled 11 points back by overcoming Chris Painter 57-46 in the next and then Nev Whitehead was forced to sit and watch as Neil Price compiled breaks of 32, 21 and a couple of 17's to build a brilliant score of 121-19 giving the visitors a 3 point advantage for Mick Cahill to carry when tackling Spencer Rowley.

However it was the home player who came out best to give team-mate Dave Peplow a 28 lead against Keith Price.

This proved to be enough as 'dependable' Dave played a solid frame and with the high colours becoming cushion-bound, it was made harder for the Anstice skipper to make any sought of comeback and Dave finally took the game 69-20 giving Shifnal a 77point triumph.

Maddocks D also made it through to the last four courtesy of an away win over Anstice B.

Maddocks, from the third division, were receiving 60 points start from an Anstice team one division above them - and it proved to be too much for the Madeley side to recoup as Martin Wincott took the first frame for the visitors by 59 points to 48 against Nigel Wallcroft.

Steve Smallwood replied for Anstice with a 65-43 win over Brendan Wincott and although George Hammond took the next frame too - by two points from Ken Davies - it was Maddocks who secured the final two frames.

First Roy Lowe won a tight fourth frame by just one point over Billy Watson and then Colin Smith sealed Maddocks' place in the semis with a 40-13 final frame success over John Darrock.

Wellington Billiard Hall X won the all second division clash at Pot Black D by taking three of the five frames to pull back the 20 points start they were conceding.

However, it was the home side who started brightest with Mick Pearson taking the opening frame from D Khan by 55 points to 49.

But A Ali and A Alyas put the Wellington side firmly in the driving seat as they took the next two frames. And with M Shabir defeating Harry Jones 69-40 in the next the visitors found themselves 84 points ahead with just one game remaining.

Although Neil Pearson eventually took the final frame for Pot Black, his 52-38 win over M Shadab couldn't prevent the Billiard Hall progressing to the next round.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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