Wellington Billiard Hall E are the early pace-setters in Division 2 of the Telford Snooker League following a close run 3-2 win over their closest rivals, Shifnal E last week.

John Powell was in fine form to open the scoring for the home side as he took the first frame from Chris Petford and although Aaron Sparkes levelled matters soon afterwards with an excellent win over Chris Morris and Rob Wright put the visitors in front the Wellington side took the last two frames for a hard earned victory.

Ray Evans is always a hard man to beat - and so it proved for Fred Harper who was unable to prevent Ray drawing the Billiard Hall level by taking frame four by 42 points to 25.

And with Nigel Stallard getting the better of young Jeff Sparkes on the pink in the decider, the home side were left celebrating their fourth win in five outings.

The Billiard Hall now head the table by two points ahead of Shifnal, who have played one game fewer. However things couldn't be tighter at this early stage in the season with Shifnal E joined in second place by no fewer than three other teams, each having 13 points so far.

Like Shifnal, Audco A have won three of their opening five fixtures, the latest of these victories coming at Pot Black D.

Neil Pearson put the home side in front though with a black ball finish against Colin Austin before Richard Hendy replied in similar fashion to take then next frame, also on the final ball, against Mick Pearson.

Another close finish saw the home side regain the lead with Mick Egan defeating Anthony Heathcote 58-45 before the visitors claimed the last two frames courtesy of Michael Matthews and Neil Hendy.

Wellington Billiard Hall X also took the last two frames through D Khan and M Shadab to record their second win of the campaign, away at Anstice B.

Nigel Wallcroft put the home side in front and John Darrock increased their lead with a black ball finale against A Ali only for M Shabir to kick start the visitor's revival with a 57-29 win over George Hammond to leave the Wellington side as one of the four teams on 13 points so far this season.

Coddon B had Andy Jones on cue to give them the lead over Pot Black A with the aid of a 30 break against Neil Robinson.

Mark Wall then put the home side two up before Tom Firmstone replied for the visitors. However that was all that the Oakengates side could muster as Nick Pearce made it 3-1 against Mike Thompson and Phil Szklarzewicz rounded things off for Coddon by taking the final frame by just ten points over Paul Crooks.

Mick Guest kept his cool to give Shifnal D the lead as they entertained Coddon C and eventually won by three frames to two.

Mick took the opener 63-50 despite his opponent Sef Tusel putting up a brave fight with a run of 31. Geoff French then doubled the advantage before Don Bayliss and Ray Whitehead drew Coddon level with victories over Barrie Easthope and Simon Ackland respectively.

But the comeback was then halted as Mick Smith claimed the fifth and final frame with a 61-41 defeat of Matt Bothwell to leave the home side victorious by the odd frame.

Shifnal F's winning streak continued as they had to fight hard all the way to achieve a 3-2 home victory over Wellington C.

Wellington drew first blood when Dave Blagbourgh showed he not only has a good eye for pool but is a mean snooker player too. He opened up an early 40 lead against Wally Harper then added a 22 break to give him a 31 advantage on the green, enough to secure his win by 71points to 34.

Nev Whitehead then squared the frames by pipping John Rawlings on the black. John played well to gain a 14 lead with just the pink and black to go but Nev wasn't dead yet as he achieved an excellent snooker to give him the points needed and finished off pink and black to win 59-54.

Spence Rowley's early 24 break was then enough to put Shifnal 2-1 ahead as he overcame Paul Lucas 63-31.

Super sub Ivor Peplow then disposed of any envy of his brother Dave sunning himself in Spain to dash any hopes of Wellington winning the match when he sealed victory over Wayne Weeks on the brown and a score of 58-31.

Alex Turnbull then ensured Wellington of two points by beating Shifnal skipper Brian Painter 56-30.A hard earned 3 points for the Memorial Men.

DIVISION 1

Hills Lane A now head the Division 1 table by two points after recording their second successive 5-0 win away at newly promoted Minnesota Fats.

Shaun Harris was as dependable as ever to take the first frame from John Wright and Matty Bailey and Darren Pountney followed suit to put them very much in control.

Tim Hicks then made no mistake as he put the Champions 4-0 up by beating Paul Devey before captain Ian Duffy completed the whitewash with victory over Steve Osbourne in the last.

Second placed Coddon A had Zenon Lembicz returning to league action after a gap of two years, and he duly put the home side in front with a comfortable win over Steve Fletcher.

Adrian Smith's defeat of Dennis Fletcher continued the trend and a break of 41 from Dave Lloyd and a 36 from Darren Weston put the home side 4-0 ahead.

Only Chris Morgan-Adams' last gasp black ball win over Ian Ferriday saved a point for the visitors who once again find themselves languishing in the lower half of the table.

Broseley A are the only other team with double figures after they returned home from Little Dawley with a well-earned 3-2 victory.

Richie Hulme and Carl Walker led the way with early wins over Ade Henry and Richie Heighway respectively before Mick Brezwyn weighed in with a 54 break to put them three up.

Jesse Lowe restored some pride for the home side with an excellent 61-26 win over Simon Mcleod before Graham Wiley doubled Little Dawley's tariff with another fine win against John Shepherd.

Ansice A now have nine points from their opening three games following a 4-1 win at home to Dawley A.

A superb 66 break from Adam Moore gave the former individual champion the opening frame against Sean Nolan before two 30 plus breaks saw Neil Price safely over the winning line against Mark Jones.

Phil Reynolds and Nick Oakley then made it 4-0 before the ever-reliable Rick Bailey came up trumps for the visitors with a 70-38 success over John Jones.

Wellington Billiard Hall A also have nine points following on from their 5-0 whitewash of Shifnal A.

Nigel Fletcher won a tight opening frame against John Fallows to give the home side the perfect start and Morton Hughes followed with a 54-10 defeat of Linsay Knox to put last season's runners-up 2-0 up.

Graham Darrell and young Ian Eldridge doubled that lead before Andrew Kendrick sealed a fine win for the home side by taking the final frame against Roy Martin.

Bayley E claimed their first win of the new season with a super victory over an in-form Maddocks A team. Martin Watkins led the way, notching a 28 break on the way to victory over Darren Wincott but Maddocks soon drew level thanks to another good display from Ian Skelton.

Home captain David France then accounted for Phil Davis as the Bayley went back in front and they made sure of victory when Ali Jones won a nail-biting fourth 67-57 against Leigh France.

And although visiting captain Dave France claimed the last for Maddocks it wasn't enough to prevent his side slipping to their second defeat of the season.

DIVISION 3

Leaders Little Dawley C suffered a surprise defeat when they travelled the short distance to Hills Lane B and left on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

Lee Harris gave the Hills Lane side the lead with a 28 break along the way to take the first frame from Byron Mitchell. Steve Weaver then made it two against Craig Walton before Steve Farrington hit back to give the visitor's their first win against Kev Davis.

Steve Powell then made victory a certainty for the home side by accounting for Lee Drinkwater only for Mike King to snatch the last for Little Dawley on the final black against Richie Jones.

Second placed Bayley D also fell to their first defeat of the season at home to Maddocks B who as a result join the Wellington side in second place just a point behind Little Dawley.

Les Hicks used all his experience to claim the first frame against Darren Rhoades and Doug Morrey won a tough second frame against Bayley favourite Steve Lane to put the visitors into an early lead.

And they continued to dominate proceedings as John Archer took the next frame too only for wins from Dave Williams and Dave Dudley to rescue two important points for the home side.

Little Dawley G's season seems to be ticking along nicely as they recorded win number two by the odd frame away to Bayley C.

Craig Whitehead gave the home side an early advantage when out pointing Darren Lenewe 44-30, albeit with the benefit of the rub of the green. Little Dawley bounced back immediately when Gary Clements took the second frame against an out of sorts Chris Haycocks 48-17.

Jim Lewis earned the come back of the night as he was well behind for the majority of his frame with Roy Lenevell, but got himself ahead just where it counts by taking the last 5 colours to pip his opponent on the final black, for a once unlikely win.

Bayley were then made to realise they were up against a talented side, when Graham Copson showed his class in this division by putting in a dazzling display against Ian Johnson.

Pete Woodcock, Bayley's anchorman by default, as he again turned up late for the match, took on Paul Perks to settle the match. The Bayley bird fancier however could not reproduce his guile of the previous week, and it was Paul who comfortably sealed the match for the visitors with a 47-26 win

Bayley B fared slightly better than their C side with a 3-2 win away at Maddocks D.

The Welsh Wizard Paul Jones continued is own fine start to the season when he got the better of Ken Davies to give the visitors just the start they were hoping for. Roy Lowe soon levelled for the home side though and they went in front when Colin Smith took the third frame over Harry Parkes.

However the Bayley were not to be outdone and further successes for Kevin Ryan and Dicky Beddall rounded off a 3-2 win for the Wellington boys.

Two Wellington sides in this division, Billiard Hall teams F and B had differing fortunes with the F team going down 3-2 at home to Anstice C and the B team coming out ahead 4-1 against Newport British Legion.

John Smith took a close first frame, 47-39 against Chris Durham to give Anstice the early lead against Billiard Hall F and they won another close frame 46-46 when Andy Elliott defeated former Bayley player Steve Williams.

None of the games were as close as the next however as Chris Fletcher took a brilliant 25 clearance before taking the third frame on a re-spotted black to deny Kevin Smith and put the first point on the board for the home side.

Frank Williams then took frame four for the visitors by ten points over Rob Cook before Steve Weatherall's black ball win over Steve Camp rescued another point for the Billiard Hall.

The Wellington Club's B side's 4-1 win over Newport British Legion saw them come from behind after John Yapp had opened the scoring for the visitors with a 47-22 win over Ken Francis.

However, Graham Hughes soon levelled things up before Alan Francis and Ian Atkinson put the home side well and truly in the driving seat.

And with Ron Francis claiming the last frame too for the Billiard Hall on a re-spotted black against Mike Doverskog, the home side were able to celebrate their first win of the season in some style.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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