The new Telford Snooker League season is only a couple of weeks old and already the destination of the League Title looks to be heading in the same place as it has for the past three years.

Hills Lane A's scintillating display of top class snooker left Wellington Billiard Hall A, historically their closest rivals, pointless and wondering just what they could do to prevent the Madeley side lifting the trophy for a fourth successive season.

Matt Bailey led the way with a 46 break against young Ian Eldridge as the home side drew first blood and Shaun Harris then made no mistake against Graham Darrell before the fireworks really started.

Having won the English Amateur Championship in 1998 and three consecutive West Midland Individual titles, Matthew Davies would be a welcome addition to any side - and his inclusion in this year's Hills Lane line-up has done nothing to diminish their chances of success.

A point which he duly emphasised with a superb run of 77 on the way to victory over an unlucky Morton Hughes who had started the frame in fine form himself only to find Matthew in his usual breathtaking form.

If that wasn't bad enough for the visitors they then fell further behind as Hills Lane captain Ian Duffy came close to notching the first century break of the new season only to let the cue ball over-run slightly when obtaining position on the last blue.

Having potted the blue into the middle pocket, Ian had to go in and out of baulk to gain position on the pink and with his break on 87 he just needed the last two balls for a clearance of exactly one hundred.

However, Ian saw his attempt into the corner pocket rattle in the jaws and so had to be content with recording the highest break so far in the league as well as putting his side four frames ahead with just one to play.

The final frame proved to be a tense affair with League Treasurer Darren Pountney taking on League Secretary Alan Turner. And although the Secretary tried hard to prevent the whitewash, it was Treasurer Darren who eventually pocketed the frame for a 5-0 win to the home side.

One of the teams sure to be chasing Hills Lane at the top of the table are Maddocks A and they followed last week's 3-2 reverse at Coddon A with a 3-2 win of their own at home to Little Dawley A.

Leigh France took a close opener 56-46 over Ade Henry before the visitors levelled thanks to Richie Heighway's high-scoring 71-60 win over Under 21 Champion Darren Wincott.

Jesse Lowe is always a difficult player to beat, and so it proved last week when he took on Phil Davis and ran out the winner by 59 points to 46 to give Little Dawley the lead at two frames to one.

Mark Finucane hit back for the Oakengates side to level matters once more by taking the next 70-45 against Graham Wiley leaving Dave France to win the duel of the captains with a 37 - 11 defeat of Rick Cousins.

The match also featured a spot of controversy regarding the introduction of the Miss Rule and players are urged to read the notes in the new handbook for guidance on how to implement the rule.

Another team with championship aspirations, Coddon A, maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an excellent 4-1 win away at Dawley Social.

Ian Ferriday put in yet another solid display to give the visitors the lead - taking the first frame 50-13 against Chris Woods.

Lee Szklarzewicz followed with a pink ball win over Mark Jones before Darren Weston got in on the act by making it 3-0 with a 60-35 defeat of Barry Roden.

Dave Lloyd's victory over Sean Nolan put the Donnington side further ahead before a last ditch effort from Rick Bailey saved the day for Dawley as he rescued a point with a 59-26 success over Adrian Smith.

Anstice A have also had a bright start and they followed last week's narrow 3-2 defeat against Hills Lane with a 3-2 win at Bayley A.

Nick Oakley gave the Madeley side just the start they were hoping for when he took the opening frame against substitute Dennis Fletcher. Neil Price then made it 2-0 as he accounted for Bob Mason before Keith Price retrieved a 20 point deficit with a 38 break against Arthur Burrows to put the Madeley side 3-0 in front.

Steve Fletcher then pulled a frame back for the home side as he took the next against John Jones and Chris Morgan-Adams doubled the home side's tally with a final frame win over Phil Reynolds to leave the final score 3-2 to the Madeley side.

Shifnal A enjoyed the same result when they entertained the former Hadley team who have now moved venue and have changed their name to Bayley E.

John Fallows' opening frame victory over Steve Hoof was matched by Mark Watkin's 69-35 defeat of Linsay Knox as the first two frames were shared.

Andy Easthope restored Shifnal's lead with a close 60-47 defeat of John Squire only for Ali Jones to restore parity once more with a 55-37 win over Roy Martin.

It is not known to what extent Simon Biddulph's moccasins may have put his opponent off but they certainly didn't hinder the former County Champion as he raced to a 52-29 win over visiting captain David France to secure Shifnal's second successive 3-2 victory.

DIVISION 2

Being relegated from Division 1 last year doesn't seem to have dampened Shifnal F's spirits as they enjoyed their second 4-1 victory of the early season this time at the expense of hosts Coddon C.

Wally Harper drew first blood against Seth Tusel by winning 90-31. Wally showed some of his old form which included breaks of 19 & 28 to put the memorial men one up.

Not to be deterred, Coddon's Fraser Mackinon took some excellent pots to overcome Chris Painter 58-12. Fraser quickly took an early 25 lead and then increased it to 48 on the colours to which Chris had no reply.

Nev Whitehead then put the Islanders back on course by defeating sub Mick Stokes before Spencer Rowley left Ray Whitehead requiring all the colours from the brown to win but it wasn't to be Ray's day as Spencer used all his experience to run out a 59-29 winner.

Dave "Mr Stalwart" Peplow then wound things up by producing breaks of 24 & 22 to overcome an out of form Matt Bothwell by 86 points to 30 to maintain his side's excellent start to the new campaign.

Pot Black A were also in winning mood when they entertained Anstice B and came out on top by the odd frame.

However they had to come from behind after Nigel Wallcroft had given the visitors the early advantage by taking the first frame against Toby Welsh.

Paul Crooks soon levelled matters though, only for George Hammond to restore the visitor's lead with a narrow 46-36 win over Dave Welsh.

However the home side were not to be denied as Tom Firmstone first of all drew them level with a fine 62-20 defeat of Steve Smallwood and then in a nail-biting finish Neil Robinson just pipped Billy Watson 48-44 on the final black to secure victory for the Oakengates side.

Unfortunately only two match cards were received for the second division this week and captains are reminded that in order for their games to be featured in the Journal, match cards must be received no later that the Saturday morning following the match on the Wednesday.

DIVISION 3

Little Dawley C join Bayley D as the early pace-setters in the third division following a comprehensive 5-0 win at home to Maddocks D.

However they came close to losing the opening frame as it went all the way to the final black before Byron Mitchell eventually put the home side in front by defeating Ken Davies by just a single point.

Lee Elcock then made it 2-0 with a 31 break along the way as he defeated his former team-mate Darren Wincott by 60 points to 20.

Steve Farrington's 24 break helped him to make it 3-0 against the only lady playing in the league this season, young Christine Eldridge and with further wins from Lee Drinkwater and Mike King the Little Dawley side look to be well placed to challenge for the title this season.

Bayley D also have nine points from two games as they followed a 5-0 win last week with a 4-1 win away to Little Dawley G.

Steve Lane took the opening frame for the visitors with a narrow 56-46 win over Paul Perks and Bill France also won a close second 61-46 over Ray Leneveu to make it 2-0.

Dave Leneveu replied brilliantly for the home side to pull a frame back against Dave Williams only for Darren Rhoades and Dave Dudley to round off another excellent performance by the Bayley Boys.

League new boys Anstice C acquitted themselves well against visitors Bayley C, but could not help being on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

Bayley's Les France looked 'home and hosed' against Andy Elliott in the opener when his opponent needed 2 snookers on the green. But Andy showed great patience and picked up the two fouls he needed, and went on to take the final five colours to win by the odd point, and leave the Bayley lad emotionally 'gutted'.

The Bayley drew level in the next though, when unfortunately for the Anstice, Colin Westwood made a mis-calculation on the colours and not realising he needed a snooker to win, polished off the final blue and pink, only to find his opponent Chris Haycox offering to shake his hand.

The third frame went the way of the visitors too as Craig Whitehead took an early 20 point lead against Steve Ward. The lead was maintained almost throughout and was sufficient for Craig to knock in the final blue with a nice long pot to secure the frame, and run out 48-26 winner.

Anstice soon levelled however, as Steve Camp confidently took control of his frame against Mick Healey. Steve looked convincing as his potting won him the frame, out pointing Mick 70-46 to level the match up 2-2.

In the decider Anstice anchorman, Kevin Smith stepped up to take on Pete 'pigeon fancier' Woodcock. Pete, arriving late after attending a 'bird meeting', took an early advantage with some clever potting and safety.

Kevin had little answer to the 'craft' of Pete, and could not save the home side from their second 3-2 defeat, going down 23-59.

Wellington Billiard Hall F claimed their first win of the season as they travelled to Newport British Legion and came away with a 3-2 win.

Rob Cook set them on their way with a close 42-30 win over Alan Davies and although the home side took the next two frames they were unable to prevent the Billiard Hall claiming the last two games for a well-earned victory.

Manjit Gidda and Keith Gardner were Newport's winners over Chris Durham and Rich Tranter respectively however it was Steve Weatherall's victory over John Yapp in frame four that drew his side level and with Chris Fletcher taking the decider 53-22 against Mike Doverskog it was the visitors who left happy with their first win safely in the bag.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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