Hills Lane A's Shaun Harris has shot to the top of the Telford Snooker League's highest break chart after rattling in a superbly crafted run of 99 as the reigning League Champions defeated Shifnal A by four frames to one.

The Madeley marksman narrowly missed out on the season's maiden century when, after potting the final red, he found himself straight on the black. And despite a brave effort to gain reasonable position on the yellow, he found himself faced with a tricky long pot into the corner pocket to reach the hundred mark.

However it wasn't to be as the yellow rattled in the jaws leaving Shaun content with the fact that he takes over from fellow team-mates Ian Duffy and Matthew Davies, who had each previously recorded runs of 87, at the top of the high-break chart.

And Shaun is now in line for a hat-trick of trophies as his win over Andy Easthope not only helped the reigning champions to a 4-1 win over Shifnal A, but also maintained his one frame advantage over Coddon's Darren Weston in the race for the most wins trophy.

Matt Bailey had earlier given the visitors the lead with a 59-24 success over John Fallows only for Linsay Knox to draw Shifnal level with a 75-39 defeat of Tim Hicks.

A close third frame eventually went Darren Pountney's way as he got the better of Roy Martin on the pink before Shaun Harris took centre stage against Andy Easthope.

And with captain Ian Duffy rounding off another excellent display with a 70-56 win over Simon Biddulph, Hills Lane now need just three points from their next two games to secure the League title for a fourth successive season.

Coddon A made certain of at least the runners-up spot when they returned from Broseley A with an impressive 4-1 victory.

Darren Weston set them on their way with an opening frame win over Tim Butler only for Richie Hulme to level matters by taking the next 65-21 from Zenon Lembicz.

Adrian Smith soon restored the visitors lead as he claimed the third frame against Mick Brezwyn and with Dave Lloyd and Ian Ferriday taking the last two frames as well, the Donnington side were able to open up an unassailable 12 point lead over their opponents and Anstice A who now share third spot.

The Madeley side suffered their eighth defeat of the season at home to Wellington Billiard Hall a who had Nigel Fletcher on hand to take the deciding frame against John Jones.

Morton Hughes gave the visitors the lead against Mick Cahill only for Neil Price to level things up at one apiece with a black ball finish against Ian Eldgridge.

Phil Reynolds then put the Anstice ahead when he beat Alan Turner 49-21 but it was to be his side's last success as Andy Kendrick got the better of Nick Oakley to leave Nigel Fletcher to seal a 3-2 win for the Wellington side.

At the other end of the table, Little Dawley A have all but secured their first division survival as they followed last weeks' win at home to Anstice with a 4-1 win away to bottom of the table Bayley E.

They took the lead through Graham Wiley's superb 68-26 win over Martin Watkins and things continued to go their way as Richie Heighway made it 2-0 with a narrow 52-44 defeat of Andy O'Brien.

John Squire's 65-55 win over Jesse Lowe gave the Bayley some hope but they fell two frames behind once more when Rick Cousins took the fourth frame on the black against Ali Jones.

And the Little Dawley boys moved six points off the relegation places when Ade Henry won the final frame of the evening 57-48 against home captain David France to leave the Bayley side precariously positioned at the bottom of the table with just two games remaining.

Bayley A are looking likely candidates to join their E team in division two next season after falling to a 3-2 reverse away at fellow strugglers Dawley Social.

Chris Woods' 37-20 win over Arthur Burrows put the home side in the driving seat - and they took the next two frames as well with Mark Jones taking the next against Bob Mason and Rick Bailey defeating Stave Fletcher 68-35.

However, all is not yet lost for the Wellington side thanks to Steve Nicholls and Chris Morgan-Adams.

Steve pulled a frame back against Barry Roden whilst Chris took a superb pink before clinching the final frame on the black to deny Pete Nolan 54-41.

Nonetheless Dawley's 3-2 victory sees them move two points clear of the Wellington side with just two games remaining.

DIVISION 2

Shifnal F look more and more likely to claim the Division 2 title as they now lead the rest of the field after a 3-2 win over their closest rivals Coddon B last week.

A tense opening frame went Shifnal's way when Wally Harper took the first frame on the pink to deny Coddon's Mark Wall 66-51.

Nev Whitehead then made it 2-0 to the visitors when an error on the final brown by Coddon skipper Steve Downs allowed the League President to clear up for a 66-35 win.

Andy Jones then pulled one back for the hosts when a 20 break saw him open up a 26 point lead on the colours which he eventually converted into a frame winning 64-26 score over Spencer Rowley.

Phil Szklarzewicz's victory over Chris Painter ensured there would be a nail-biting finale - although Shifnal needn't have worried as their not so secret weapon, Dave "Dependable" Peplow came up with the goods, securing a 62-30 deciding frame win over Nick Pearce.

Shifnal F now lead Coddon B by a single point - but also have the added bonus of having a game in hand over their Donnington opponents.

So do have Shifnal E - who lie third, four points behind Coddon, following a 3-2 reverse away at Wellington Billiard Hall X.

Things looked good for Shifnal early on as the Sparkes started to fly with Aaron Sparkes taking the first frame with a 67-35 win over Bill Gathercole and dad Jeff following up with a 63-19 success against Azza Khan.

Amm Ali began the home side's comeback by taking frame three 73-58 from Chris Petford and the usually dependable Rob Wright could do no right as M Shadab drew the Billiard Hall level with a 67-33 win over the rocket.

That left M Shabir to tidy things up for the home side with a 67-28 deciding frame win over Fred Harper - to leave the Shifnal side ruing a missed opportunity to make up some ground on the teams above them.

Wellington Billiard Hall E are now just a point behind Shifnal E following a 4-1 win away to Shifnal D.

Steve Morse's 22 break was enough to prevent Ray Evans giving the Billiard Hall the early lead even though Ray knocked in a 35 break along the way.

John Powell drew the visitors level though with a narrow 48-34 win over Terry Askew and things continued to go the visitor's way when Paul Wilkes took the third frame against Geoff French.

Chris Morris made it 3-1 by beating George Nelson leaving Nigel Stallard to seal an impressive 4-1 win for the Billiard Hall with a 22 break in his 58-25 win over Barrie Easthope.

The Shifnal side are now rooted to the foot of the table with 33 points from 20 games - three points behind Pot Black D and six adrift of Anstice B who did their survival prospects a power of good with a 3-2 home win over Maddocks C.

Nigel Wallcroft and Danny Weaver put them two up early on with wins over Graham Hoof and Dave Thomas respectively. Jim Hill replied for Maddocks with a 34 break on the way to victory over John Darrock but the Madeley side made certain of their fourth win of the season when Steve Smallwood took the next from Bill Rushton.

And it could have been even better for the home side but for Joe Oliver's last gasp 47-44 win over George Hammond as the visitors pulled another frame back to leave the final score 3-2 in favour of the Anstice.

Coddon C had Ray Whitehead to thank for giving them the lead against Audco. The Donnington man claimed the opening frame against Pete Smith on the black with a 22 break and it proved just the tonic his team needed as they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners.

Matt Bothwell followed Ray's lead with a 63-32 success over Mark Matthews, as did Fraser Mackinnon who beat Neil Hendy to put the Coddon 3-0 up.

Sef Tusel made it four on the trot with a high-scoring 62-50 win over Ray Hendy but thankfully for the visitors Chris Austin was on hand to knock in a well crafted 32 break to claim a consolation frame for Audco against Don Bayliss.

DIVISION 3

With no result yet in from leader's Little Dawley C's game with Bayley B, the champagne is still on ice as their lead over Hills Lane B is eight points with just two matches to go.

The Hills Lane side's hopes of claiming the runners-up spot were rocked slightly when they fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat at home to Bayley C.

Steve Powell gave Hills Lane the perfect start with a 70-26 success over Jim Lewis but home captain Kev Davis couldn't repeat the feat as Ian Johnson drew the Bayley level with a 55-42 win.

Chris Haycox's 64-30 defeat of Lee Harris put the visitors in front and they completed a brilliant victory courtesy of birdman Pete Woodcocks' black ball finish against Steve Weaver.

However, Richie Jones' 76-42 final frame win over Mike Heally ensured the Hills Lane team retain second place in the table - a point ahead of Little Dawley G who took all five points from their clash with Anstice C.

The Madeley side started play two points ahead of Little Dawley, but ended it three points behind them in fourth spot after the home side turned on the style with a five star performance.

Dave Leneveu opened the scoring with a first frame win over Steve Ward. Graham Copson doubled the home side's advantage by taking frame two by the narrowest of margins, 54-53 against Frank Williams and they never looked back with Ray Leneveu making it 3-0 against Kevin Smith.

Gary Clements and Colin Clifford put the icing on the cake to leave Little Dawley in with a shout of claiming the second promotion slot.

Maddocks D also kept their hopes alive with a 5-0 win over bottom of the table Newport British legion B.

Brendan Wincott gave the visitors the lead before Christine Eldridge came up trumps by taking the second frame with a 52-51 win over Alan Munn.

Martin Wincott's win over Manjit Gidda made it 3-0 and further wins for Roy Lowe and Coin Smith sealed a fine win for the visitors.

Bayley D warmed up for their team knockout semi final with Coddon A by returning to winning ways at home to Wellington Billiard Hall B.

They fell behind though when Kev Whitehead got the better of Bill France in the opening frame and then Iain Atkinson triumphed over Brian Aberdeen to put the Billiard Hall two up.

However, the home team didn't want to fall to a third successive defeat and they rallied superbly with Darren Rhoades giving them a foothold with a 74-29 win over Ken Francis.

Dave Williams drew the Bayley level by beating Alan Francis leaving captain courageous - this week sporting his plumb coloured socks, to take the plaudits with a 57-43 deciding frame win over Roy Francis.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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