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The Telford Snooker League kicked off in earnest last week
as all three divisions took part in last Wednesday's fixtures
And Bayley D got into the groove straight away with a 5-0
win which sees them rocket to the top of the third division
- the perfect tonic for their team-mate Brain Aberdeen who
is recovering at home following an operation.
Bayley captain Steve Lane was so pleased with the result
that he raced home and woke his wife Jan up to tell her the
good news and although Steve played his part in the victory
it was the Ice Man, Bill France who took all the plaudits.
Bill finished off a tremendous 25 clearance with a superb
black to take the opening frame by just three points from
John Yapp to give the home side the perfect start.
Dave Williams then took the next frame - also on the black
- against Keith Gardner before Darren Rhoades made it 3-0
with a 51-27 defeat of Manjit Gidda.
Steve Lane put in a captain's performance to continue the
trend with a 70-42 win over Alan Davies leaving Dave Dudley,
returning to the fold after only periodic appearances last
season, to round off an excellent victory by taking the last
frame 68-45.
With his team mates in this sort of form, Mark Beddall will
find it hard to break into the team and move up from the role
of beer carrier to cue carrier - and with eight players signed,
Bayley B captain Bob Tracey will also have selection problems
following an opening night win over fellow club-mates Bayley
C.
There was a welcome return for the Welsh Wizard, Paul Jones
as Bayley C invited their B team to step across from table
2 to table 3 for the opening match of the new season.
Paul, and his opponent Mick Healey, fought out a frame of
several missed chances before Paul sunk the final pink to
win the frame by 10 points for the 'B' side. He then went
on to attempt a pot on the black, but went in-off. With the
7 points for the foul added to the home's side total the score
still read 45-42, to the visitor. This caused a spot of confusion
as several players from both camps thought that because Paul
had gone in-off the black the game was still 'live', and the
game should continue as a 're-spotted black'.
Eventually after consultation with other match and club representatives
it was understood that the first foul on the black ended the
game, and the visitors secured their first point of the season.
Chris Haycocks then met Kevin Ryan, and following an in-off
on the final black by the C team player, the match went to
a re-spotted black. However the Chris held his nerve to make
the frame score 1-1.
Jim Lewis then stepped up and potted brilliantly to defeat
visiting captain Bob Tracey by a scoreline of 63-13.
Bayley B's Harry Parkes was then asked to retrieve the situation,
which he did with character, with a comfortable pillar to
post win against the ever flamboyant Pete Woodcock 59-50.
The deciding frame went the way of the visitors as Paul Easthope
potted well to secure the B team's first win of the season.
Another derby game saw Maddocks B "travel" to play
their D team - and the short trip across tables proved to
be well worth their while as the B string ran out comfortable
4-1 winners.
They had newcomer Doug Morrey to thank for getting them off
the mark as the former Wellington Billiard Hall man claimed
the first frame 58-34 against young Brendan Wincott, himself
making his first start for his new team after transferring
from Little Dawley in the close season.
Veteran Les Hicks made no mistake in the next as he put the
B team two frames up by beating Chris Eldridge and "visiting"
captain John Archer put them further ahead as he took the
next 57-39 from Roy Lowe to make it 3-0.
Ken Davies saved a point for the D team with a gritty black
ball win over Geoff Tudor only for Tony O'Neil to wrap up
a 4-1 win for the B side with a close 52-42 defeat of H Sharome.
Little Dawley C must be one of the favourites for the Division
3 title this year after adding young Lee Elcock to their side
in the summer.
Lee put them two up away at Wellington Billiard Hall F with
a 60-32 victory over Chris Durham after Byron Mitchell had
taken the opening frame from Rob Tranter.
Steve Farrington then made it three before Chris Fletcher
drilled in the final black to retrieve one frame for the home
side with a 42-39 win over Lee Drinkwater.
The home side's luck didn't hold out though as Mike King
took the final frame from Steve Weatherall on the black to
complete a 4-1 win for the visitors.
Little Dawley G also had a successful evening as they also
returned from the Billiard Hall with a win under their belts
after defeating WBH B 3-2.
Ray Leneveu and Graham Copson put the visitors in the driving
seat before Dave Leneveu extended their lead even further
with a 64-38 success over Alan Francis.
Ian Atkinson set up a mini revival though as he took the
next 63-21 over G Clements leaving Roy Francis to claim the
final frame for the Billiard Hall from Paul Perks.
Hills Lane B took an early 2-0 lead as they entertained near
neighbours Anstice C. Lee Harris and A Morris put the home
side in control only for Kevin Smith to reduce the deficit
by taking the next 45-28 against Steve Weaver.
Richie Jones then restored the home side's two frame advantage
but the visitors had the last laugh as Steve Camp took the
final frame on the black to deny Steve Powell and leave the
final score 3-2 to the home side.
DIVISION 1
Coddon A began their title challenge with a tough home game
against possible dark horses Maddocks A - and the home side
just managed to edge out a 3-2 win thanks to an unlucky in-off
in the final frame.
Phil Davis put Maddocks in front early on with a fine 56-34
win over Lee Szklarzewicz. A 31 break then put Ian Ferriday
in the driving seat against Under 21 Champion Darren Wincott
but the Little Dawley youngster, playing his first game in
the top flight after his move to Maddocks, sunk an excellent
long pink only to lose out on the final black by 52 points
to 41.
Ian Skelton then played superbly to defeat reigning individual
champion Paul Harper 72-35 with a 43 break along the way as
Maddocks continued their fine start. Paul, who was making
his debut for the Coddon after many successful years at the
Billiard Hall will now concentrate on his new career as a
Professional and we wish him well as he joins the likes of
Adrian Gunnell on the pro circuit.
Darren Weston then levelled matters for Coddon as he got
the better of visiting captain Dave France before an exciting
final frame went all the way to the last black.
Mark Finucane looked to be in control as he opened up a 30
point lead over Adrian Smith. But a gritty fightback saw Adrian
force the game to the final ball - and indeed he eventually
took the frame when Mark unluckily went in-off to leave Coddon
the victors by the odd frame.
Wellington Billiard Hall A are the early leaders along with
Broseley and Minnesota Fats as all three sides recorded 4-1
wins.
The Billiard Hall fell behind as they entertained Bayley
A after an opening frame which swung this way and that. Nigel
Fletcher rattled in a 41 break to lead Steve Fletcher by 20
points only for the Bayley captain to snatch victory with
a 39 clearance to the pink to give the visitors what was to
be their only frame.
Although Chris Morgan-Adams got the one snooker he required
on the blue, Graham Darrell kept his composure to draw the
home side level. Young Ian Eldridge, playing his first game
in the top division, then potted brilliantly to deny Arthur
Burrows and put the Billiard Hall ahead and further wins from
Morton Hughes and Andrew Kendrick secured an excellent opening
night win for the home side.
Broseley A had Carl Walker to thank for giving them the lead
as they travelled to the Bayley club to take on last year's
Hadley team who have moved to the Bayley and now play under
the guise of Bayley E.
Richie Hulme doubled the visitors lead with a 62-36 defeat
of Andy O'Brien - nonetheless our congratulations still go
to Andy as he got married last Saturday.
Mick Brezwyn made it 3-0 to Broseley before Andy Jones responded
with a 32 break to take the fourth frame for the Bayley against
John Shepherd.
Simon McLeod's final frame win over John Squire sealed an
excellent win for the visitors who join Minessota Fats as
the early leaders after the Oakengates side also claimed a
4-1 win at home to Dawley.
But they had to come from behind as Sean Nolan took the first
frame for Dawley against Paul Devey. However it was all downhill
from then on for the visitors as Steve Collins and Kevin Blackham
put the home side ahead and further wins from J Wright and
K West over Rick Bailey and Barry Roden respectively secured
a 4-1 win for last season's Division 2 Champions.
Champions Hills Lane A won a hard fought encounter with local
rivals Anstice A as Ian Duffy came from 30 behind to defeat
Phil Reynolds 58-38 in the deciding frame.
Matt Bailey gave the Hills Lane boys just the start they
were looking for with a 65-35 win over John Jones. Shaun Harris
then doubled that lead as he took the next frame on the black
against Nick Oakley only for the home side to reply through
the Price brothers Neil and Keith.
Neil took the third frame against Darren Pountney before
Keith won an exciting clash with Tim Hicks with a 56 break
after Tim has knocked in a run of 32.
And with captain Ian Duffy claiming the last frame, Hills
Lane look in good shape as the attempt to defend their title
for another season.
One Team who may have something to say come the final placings
are Shifnal A and they started their campaign with a 3-2 win
away at Little Dawley A.
John Fallows took the first frame 63-50 against Ade Henry
to give Shifnal the early advantage but the home side levelled
soon afterwards thanks to Richie Heighway's black ball win
over Roy Martin.
A 24 break wasn't enough to prevent Rick Cousins losing out
to Linsay Knox as Shifnal went back in front and they secured
victory when Andy Easthope got the better of Jesse Lowe in
the next to make it 3-1.
An excellent win for Graham Wiley over Simon Biddulph rescued
another point for the home side and left the final score 3-2
to Islanders.
DIVISION 2
Shifnal E's trip to Anstice B proved to be a profitable one
as they returned home to Shifnal with four very valuable points
safely in the bag.
Things didn't look too good early on though as Nigel Wallcroft
gave the home side the lead with a 45-26 win over Chris Petford.
The visitors soon rallied though and were inspired by Arron
Sparkes' 29 break which levelled the frame scores as young
Arron got the better of John Darrock.
Dad Jeff followed suit to post a 71-34 win over Steve Smallwood
and further wins from Rob Wright and Fred Harper completed
an excellent result for the Shifnal lads who discovered they
weren't the only Shifnal team to score four that night.
The club's F team also lost just one frame as they picked
themselves up from last weeks defeat and enjoyed a 4-1 win
over last season's third division champions Wellington Billiard
Hall X.
However the home side were given a fright when Azhar Khan
took the first frame from Wally Harper 61-32. Wally was given
a chance to draw on the last three colours but an excellant
double on the blue by Azhar gave the visitors the early point.
Shifnal's substitute captain Chris Painter potted well against
Amn Ali to square the score. The Billiard Hall man fought
bravely to gain the snookers he required from the yellow but
although he achieved some of them he could not stop Chris
sinking the pink for a 62-34 win.
Nev Whitehead then put the Islanders ahead by overcoming
Bash Hussain from the brown with a scoreline of 55-28.
Shifnal then welcomed back their former team-mate Spencer
Rowley who quickly showed his intentions of returning to Division
1 snooker by cracking in a 28 break against Kamram Ziaz and
making the match secure by winning 78-22.
Dave 'anchor' Peplow then put the icing on the cake by defeating
Moha Shadab 65-42. Dave will be first to admit it was a tighter
frame than he would have liked but his cool on the pink set
him up for a 65-42 win to leave the home side victorious by
4 frames to one.
Wellington Billiard Hall E fared somewhat better than their
X side as they entertained Pot Black A and came out on the
right end of a 4-1 scoreline.
Nigel Stallard set them on their way with an opening frame
victory over Dave Welsh and further wins from John Powell
and Chris Morris soon put the match out of reach. However
Mike Thompson wasn't in any mood to succumb to a whitewash
as he took Frame 4 for Pot Black on the final black to rescue
a point for the Oakengates side.
And with Ray Evans taking the final frame against Tony Darby,
the Billiard Hall were able to celebrate taking four important
points as they attempt to gain promotion having narrowly missed
out in each of the last two seasons.
Coddon B had their hopes of returning to Division 2 dashed
as they slipped to a 4-1 reverse at home to Audco A.
The Newport Team may be new to the League, but they have
certainly started brightly and they made their intentions
clear early on as Mark Matthews took the opening frame by
55 points to 39 against Andy Jones.
Mark Wall drew Coddon level by taking the next 51-38 over
Pete Smith but it was to be his side's only success as further
wins from N Hendy, R Hendy and A Heathcote secured a 4-1 win
for the new boys.
Coddon C however did end up on the right side of a 4-1 score
when they made the short trip to Oakengates to take on Maddocks
C.
Sef Tusel had a close battle with Dave Thomas before eventually
edging home on the final black to give the Donnington boys
the lead.
Don Bayliss then doubled their advantage before Joe Oliver
claimed what was to be his side's only win with an excellent
74-32 win over Fraser MacKinmnon.
Ray Whitehead then restored Coddon's two frame advantage
before Matt Bothwell wrapped things up with a 64-44 final
frame win over J Hill.
STEVE FLETCHER
Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com
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