A 65 break from Broseley's Mick Brezwyn ensured his side of at least runners-up spot in the Telford Snooker League first division as Broseley A defeated fellow title hopefuls Coddon A 3-2 to leave the destination of the League title between themselves and leaders Anstice A.

Coddon, runners up last season, started the day four points adrift of their opponents as they made the trip across the River Severn but they soon found themselves 3-0 down and despite a spirited comeback which saw them take the last two frames, the Donnington side will have to settle for third place this time around.

Once again Richie Hulme was in devastating form as he took on Darren Weston in what proved to be a frame of the highest quality. Darren played his part in an entertaining frame but eventually succumbed to an 84-49 defeat as Richie made sure of at least a share of the most wins trophy.

Tim Hicks' 67-46 defeat of Zenon Lembicz put Broseley within a frame of ensuring runners-up spot and it wasn't long before they secured the all important third frame too in some style.

Mick Brezwyn was the man of the moment as he coolly knocked in a run of 65 to take the third frame from Ian Ferriday to leave Coddon, with just one match left, with a mathematically impossible task of catching Broseley.

Donnington captain Dave Lloyd replied for the visitors with an emphatic win over Paul Humphries as he took the next in just two scoring visits. Runs of 42 and 38 made it 3-1 and although Adrian Smith took the last for Coddon too with a 47-17 success over Simon McLeod, Broseley's three points leaves them five points ahead of Coddon with a better matches won tally of 16 compared to Coddon's 14.

Those two frames won by Coddon could ultimately prove costly for Broseley as leaders Anstice A fell to only their fourth defeat of the season at home to Shifnal A.

The Madeley side took an early lead through the impressive Ian Duffy who gave Angus Way no chance but they were soon pegged back as John Fallows, who has returned to form in the last few weeks, took the next frame 70-38 to leave Shaun Harris trailing Richie Hulme by one frame in the race for the most wins trophy.

Breaks of 40 and 30 saw Keith Price to victory over Simon Biddulph as the home side restored their one frame advantage but things were all square again following Andy Easthope's fine 51-39 success over Nick Oakley.

And with Linsay Knox winning the deciding frame against Noel Stones the Madeley side's lead at the top of the table is now just three points with one match remaining.

Maddocks A still have a mathematical chance of finishing third, although they will possibly have to settle for their current placing of fourth following a 3-2 win at Minnesota Fats A.

John Wright gave the Canongate side the start they were looking for with an excellent 70-48 win over Maddocks captain Dave France. Steve Collins then doubled their lead with a single point victory over Darren Wincott before the visitors got on the board through Phil Davis' 70-49 defeat of Kevin Blackham.

Leigh France restored parity at two frames all with a good win over Paul Devey before Adrian Barraclough secured Maddocks' fourteenth victory with a 61-38 deciding frame win over Kev West.

Anstice D have enjoyed their first season in the top flight and look destined for a mid-table position following a 3-2 win away to Wellington Billiard Hall A.

The home side started brightly though with Andy Kendrick notching a 33 break on the way to taking the opening frame from Darren Stevens.

Nigel Wallcroft soon levelled however and the Madeley side took the lead when Phil Reynolds got the better of Andy Phelan.

Andy Elliott's 56-40 defeat of Graham Darrall made it 3-1 to the Anstice but with Alan Turner claiming the last frame of the evening from John Jones the final frames tally ended 3-2 in favour of the visitors.

Shifnal F made sure of retaining first division status next year when they clocked up four winners against visitors Wellington Billiard Hall E.

Wally Harper was in super form as he rattled in a break of 48 to beat Ray Evans 96-21. Spencer Rowley then made the brace with a high scoring game over Nigel Stallard 75-46.

A Ali pulled a frame back for the Hall as he beat sub Brian Painter 55-19 before Dave Peplow clinched the match against M Shadab. Dave produced some fine potting form with breaks of 39 and 22 and was unlucky not to go further when the middle pocket angle refused his red.

Sadly the Wellington team could not produce a fifth player giving Shifnal's skipper Nev Whitehead a walkover.

Another team celebrating first division survival are Little Dawley A after they too took four frames against Dawley A.

Jesse Lowe has been in fine form of late and he continued his recent form with a 49-32 opening frame win over Chris Woods.

Richie Heighway's 54-42 success over Gaz Bradshaw made it 2-0 before Mark Jones produced some respite for the home side with a 30 break in his win over Rick Cousins.

Any hopes Dawley may have had of producing a comeback were soon dashed however as an inspired Ade Henry potted them off the lampshades and a 25 break sealed a fine 67-33 win over home captain Rick Bailey.

Darren Pountney's 71-31 win over Pete Nolan ensured Little Dawley took the match 4-1 and maintained their place in the top flight for another year whilst at the same time condemning Dawley to relegation to the second division along with Wellington Billiard Hall A.

DIVISION 2

The promotion places in Division 2 have now been resolved following Shifnal E's 4-1 win away at Maddocks C.

However with no result yet in from Bayley E's game with Little Dawley G the destination of the second division title is still unknown.

The Wellington side still head the table by one point, notwithstanding their missing result. Shifnal E however will be well pleased with their performances over the campaign as they are now assured of top flight snooker next term after a 4-1 win left them some six points ahead of their closest rivals Coddon B.

Matt Davies rattled in a 33 break on the way to an opening frame victory over Jim Hill as Shifnal took on a Maddocks C side currently lying sixth in the table.

Aaron Sparkes' 55-31 win over Dave Thomas doubled Shifnal's lead and they went further in front when Chris Petford got the better of Bill Rushton by 55 points to 26.

Jeff Sparkes' black ball finish against Joe Oliver made it four before Colin Smith rescued a point for Maddocks with a fine 62-35 success over Rob Wright.

Coddon B's title surge looks to have come just a little too late as they move into third spot after taking all five points from their tie with Anstice B.

Mark Wall set the ball rolling with a 44-34 win over Danny Weaver. Another close finish saw Andy Jones come out on top against George Hammond, 60-47.

It was nice to see a lady player once again taking part in the league, although sadly for Fiona Jennings Steve Downs proved too strong on the night as he made it 3-0 with a 55-22 victory and the home side took the last two frames too through Nick Pearce and Phil Szklarzewicz to leave them on 62 points from 21 games played.

Coddon leapfrog over Little Dawley C who now have the same points, but have won fewer matches, following a 3-2 win away at Minnesota Fats B.

Rob Palin gave Minnesota the lead with an excellent win over Mike King only for Byron Mitchell to level the score with a 24 break against Mick Pearson.

Lee Elcock then put the visitors ahead before Neil Pearson forced the decider by taking the penultimate frame from Steve Farmington on the black.

However Rob Withington ensured Little Dawley finished the stronger with a good win over Kirk Stevenson as the visitors completed their fourteenth win of the season.

Bayley A's promising season has petered out of late although they did return to winning ways last week when they defeated Coddon C by the odd frame.

Don Bayliss got the better of Bob Mason to put the visitors ahead only for Steve Fletcher to level by taking the next from John Whitehouse.

Fraser MacKinnon put Coddon in front again with a 57-25 win over Arthur Burrows but Steve Nicholls and Chris Morgan-Adams claimed the last two frames for the Bayley who have dropped to fifth in the table.

DIVISION 3

It couldn't be closer at the top of the third division as with just one match left just two points separates the top three teams with a fourth, Minnesota Fats C still in with a shout.

Maddocks B now hold pole position after a 5-0 win at Little Dawley B leaves them level on points with Anstice C but having won one match more.

The Oakengates side have chosen a good time to top the table for the first time this season but they had to fight all the way for every point against a determined Little Dawley side.

Les Hicks has recently taken to wearing sunglasses to aid his snooker and it certainly seems to be working. The Maddocks veteran left Gary Clements in the shade as he took the opening frame 48-28 and his side never looked back after Steve Pritchard took the next frame too with a 56-43 win over Phil Cottey.

Doug Morrey's 57-44 success over Rob Barlow made it 3-0 before Ant Loveitt and John Archer completed the whitewash with wins over Mike Rhoades and Craig Darrock respectively.

Long time leaders Anstice C still have a good opportunity of claiming the title after they defeated fourth placed Minnesota Fats C by the odd frame in the division's match of the day.

Darren Wilkie set them on their way with a 27 break against Dave Welsh and Steve Camp took a close second, 53-43 thanks to a run of 24 as the Anstice made the early running.

Tom Firmstone replied for Minnesota as he beat Jason Mills and the visitors drew level when Mike Thompson got the better of Kevin Smith 64-36.

However the all important decider went Anstice's way as Dave Harper made no mistake against Toby Welsh to leave the Madeley side level on points with Maddocks B and four points ahead of Minnesota Fats C.

Bayley F's first season in the league has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. For long periods they led the table but with just one game remaining now find themselves in third place.

However with the gap just two points they still have a realistic chance of lifting the league trophy although they will need to do better than last week's 3-2 win over Billiard Hall B.

Andy Summers' 63-36 win over Kev Whitehead was followed by Chris Shaw's victory against Ken Francis as the Bayley surged into an early two frames lead.

Roy Francis pulled a frame back for the home side though with a good 72-44 win over promising youngster Tom Maxfield and the Billiard Hall drew level when Allen Francis got the better of Paul Maxfield in the next.

However Eddie Whitehead's deciding frame win over Iain Atkinson no only kept him level in the race for the most wins with Anstice's Darren Wilkie but ensured the Bayley of a fifteenth league victory and a good chance of promotion.

Bayley D's hopes of promotion were put on ice for another year after they lost out to near neighbours Wellington Billiard Hall F by four frames to one.

Chris Fletcher played superbly to deny home captain Darren Rhoades 64-31 and although Dave Williams levelled for the Bayley with a fine 59-31 success over Spencer Clarke it was to be his side's only glimmer of light as the Billiard Hall took all three remaining frames.

Rob Cook's 60-27 win over Steve Lane restored the Hall's lead and further wins from Andy Fletcher and Steve Weatherall - the latter against the in form Dave Dudley - secured a morale boosting win for the Billiard Hall side.

Newport British Legion may be at the bottom of the table but they've now won eight of their 21 matches following a fine 3-2 win away to Shifnal D.

Darren Edwards led the way with a 67-24 win over Geoff French. Terry Askew replied for Shifnal by taking the next 60-25 from Alan Munn only for Keith Gardner to restore Newport's lead with a 56-31 success over Sanjay Chauhan.

Veteran Arthur Aston's 58-31 win over Manjit Gidda drew Shifnal level again but the spoils went to Newport courtesy of Alan Davies' fine 54-31 triumph over Barrie Easthope in the decider.

STEVE FLETCHER    

Steve.Fletcher@telfordsnooker.com

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